440N on the Delaware

[PhillyJoe]

Only last month I stumbled onto this site while researching 704 updates...

All of a sudden I have a bench full of DAM Quicks-- Finessa, some N series, and a couple Champion series awaiting service, and a few more specimens on the way from auction land. As one could say, that was pretty DAM Quick!

Very satisfying pieces of machinery to work on and to use. I had a 330, I think it was, years ago in Texas. Learning a lot from the knowledge shared on this forum.

Pic is on the Delaware River waterfront a few blocks from my house. Urban angling to be sure. Coast Guard ship and Philly Fire Department pumper in the background. That was the site of the first Navy ship yard in The USA c.1800 and the site of a commercial ship yard before that.

I was somewhat overgunned for the dink smallies I caught with that 440N and 8.5' steelhead rod, but I was mainly looking to try out the freshly cleaned up reel. The combo felt nicely balanced otherwise.

My question to the DQ aficionados is about the knurled sleeve that screws up to hold the handle in place. This one keeps unscrewing itself. Any hints on how to cure that? I'm thinking some beeswax on the threads maybe.

Last trip I played with a 385 that generally seemed more solid and no loose handle issues. I do like the N series package though and I'm hoping to figure out how to get these the way I want them.

The other oddity I noticed is that every x cranks of the handle, the bail would slightly tap the handle when the handle and bail came around to that certain alignment. I figure I might have to slightly bend the bail wire to eliminate that issue.

I have a pile of modern reels--Stradic, Spheros, BG, etc--and an arsenal of trusty hometown favorite Penn spinners, but I love fishing vintage reels and I'm really appreciating DAM Quicks these days. I guess I'm ever more vintage myself. 

[oldmanjoe]

    There should be a wavey washer in between the handle and nut ,to act as a lock washer .    I do put a nylon washer in there also for a better hold ..  the bail should have plenty of clearance .    A picture will help to see if the handle is that loose or in fact your bail is bent .

[foakes]

Joe is right —-

A 330N needs a nylon washer or a metal wavy  washer between the knurled nut & the crank arm.  Unless the threads are worn on either the knurled nut (chrome over brass) —- or the steel crank axle —- but first make sure a locker washer is in place.

I have these, if you need one, N/C.  Glad to drop one in the mail.  Or anything else needed.

The bail is easy enough to slightly bend so it won't touch the crank.  It isn't shown in your photos —- but first, check to make sure the angle lever (bail mount) is not bent before bending the bail. 

And, it is also possible that if the locker crank washer is missing —- it could contribute to crank/bail rubbing.

You likely mean't that you were fishing a 285 —- not a 385.

Bails, cranks, and angle arms are the first things to get bent on spinners.

Best, Fred

[jtwill98]

I had a similar issue and solved it by removing the handle, the wavy washer and the knurled-knob.

I then reassembled starting with the addition of a small lightweight spring under the knob, followed by the knob, wavy washer and handle.

There just wasn't enough tension on the wavy washer to hold the knob in place and I had a spring on-hand. 

[happyhooker]

Greetings, PJ, and welcome to the site.  Lots of folks here who like vintage equipment.

Frank

[PhillyJoe]

You guys called it! Thanks! No wavy washer came with the reel. Handle contacts Knurled knob directly. Not good.

Funny but it doesn't appear to have been taken apart before. Maybe I lost it myself during service? Time to crawl around with a flashlight under the table?

Fred, I PMed you a parts order last week while you were away. I'll have to add one wavy washer to that tally.

Thinking it through in an armchair, 440N in hand, rather than on the river bank. I think my bail collision issue might have been caused by the loose handle.

Yeah, the other reel I've been fishing is a 285. Typo above. Man, this thing is rock solid and a beautiful chunk of German handiwork. As an old radio guy, black wrinkle paint is a sign of quality and seriousness of purpose to me!  Heavy sucker though. Loudest anti reverse clack on the planet.  I think I might ultimately prefer a 330N or 3002 in my repair queue for fishing with lightweight  modern rods but this Finessa is a fun old school reel to fish with and I can't stop looking at it and playing with it. A very satisfying piece of machinery.

Need a left crank oscillation arm for the 3002 then I have no doubt that will be an outstanding fishing machine also!