No drag on a Vintage TED WILLIAMS 535.38490 Sears Roebuck Casting Fishing Reel

[JasonGotaProblem]

I have no interest in this whole category of reels. But this thread sure has been interesting

[Midway Tommy]

BTW, if you pay close attention to the posted video the guy tells you the approximate circa of when that style of reel was made. That can narrow down your ORCA Library schematic search quite a bit.

[jtwill98]

I don't know if this helps, but your reel appears to have been made by Shakespeare for Ted Williams and JC Higgins.  It looks similar to "Vintage Shakespeare Free Spool Sportcast #1982 Narrow Spool" on the auction site. 

According to an article on Shakespeare reel date codes, Models "QU" and "EJ"  somehow refers to the Shakespeare Reel Series Dating Formula which dates the reels to 1962 manufacture. 

There's also an article on this at ORCA that tends to agree. Have a look at Robyn Summerlin's reply, where he mentions the JC Higgins 535.39970 connection.

You should probably focus your search for schematic toward 1962 Shakespeare casting reels. 

I also agree with the others here that the star nut should move (CW) away from the reel and is simply stuck. Upon closer inspection, the threads for the star nut appear to be the opposite of the handle threads.  I don't see evidence of the threads being cross-threaded.  Maybe a few drops of some penetrating oil on the thread near the star nut will help.

We're all waiting on your success. 

[Gfish]

Don't know if this'll help but here's how the Shakes. 1796 handle/drag assembly looks. Video—-I'll have to work on uploading. Tap to enlarge.

[thehorseman@bellsouth.net]

Very thankful for all the responses but I'm afraid something happened inside both reels. Yes, both reels worked fine before I removed the handles. Guess I'm going in ! lol

[thehorseman@bellsouth.net]

Thank you for your time and disassembling your reel. But they are not close enough for any help. I'm afraid something has happened in the push button mechanism.

[oldmanjoe]

Very thankful for all the responses but I'm afraid something happened inside both reels. Yes, both reels worked fine before I removed the handles. Guess I'm going in ! lol

We be watching and waiting !!!

[Gfish]

Aw man, dude I feel really stupid(nothing new there), but I mixed up the part order, which I discovered upon trying to reassemble it. This part system is surprisingly complicated(for me). Just not used to this odd way of producing drag with a star system. This is the way it goes;

Aside from the handle nut, everything is loaded onto the left-hand-threaded unit that's on top of the cotton swab when assembled.

[thehorseman@bellsouth.net]

UPDATE: Going to send my reels to the "expert" reel guy for help. Just can't get it my self. I'm sure he or I will post an update when we find out what happened.

[alantani]

i'll let you know!!!!      

[thehorseman@bellsouth.net]

I can't wait! You are a very kind person!

[alantani]

both stars are indeed jammed tight.  they are also left handed.  just needed a bigger hammer.

[alantani]

Fred or anyone else. Do you have any parts for a Sears reel? One is plain and one is the Ted Williams version.  Both pieces shown are damaged. 

[alantani]

i hand filed the ratchet and sharpened the dog.  the anti-reverse mechanism works ok now, but it is very fragile.  the design is very interesting.  the star has reverse threads. when you turn the star clockwise, it rises up and squeezes the drag washer just outside of the handle to increase the drag. 

it's a backwards, single drag system, much like the front disc brake of a car.  very clever.  oh, and it now has a greased carbon fiber drag washer. 

[foakes]

Hi Alan —-

All good here —- but do not have any parts for those.

It is a Shakes Trade reel made for Sears —- kind of a special reel with that free-spool button.

Figured I might have a donor reel to send you —- but looked through an old footlocker of about 200 old bait-casters —- and no luck.

Sorry...

Been installing an under sink water 5 stage R/O water filtration system this morning.  Was able to fit it in and keep the garbage disposal.  I hate plumbing —- but after drilling a hole in the granite countertop —- the rest proved fairly easy.

If I run across one of these reels —- I will let you know.

Donor on eBay might be the only ticket.

Best, Fred