Abu XLT2 worm gear problem

retiredandfishing · September 20, 2024, 07:27:17 PM

Got a Abu XLT2 reel in the shop. This has the feature that disengages the pawl from the line guide when the clutch disengages the spool. Push down on the clutch button and a rod slides forward and pushes the pawl (holder) down. The pawl holder has a slot in it which is engaged to the line guide by a pin that hangs down on the line guide and fits into the slot on the pawl holder and that is supposed to disengage the pawl from the line guide. Then when the clutch is released the pawl holder is supposed to rotate up and permit the line guide (pin) to reengage the pawl (holder), via the pin reengaging into the slot. But this is not happening. The pawl (holder) just flops around and will not stay engaged. It rotates down and the pin in the line guide mechanism disengages from the pawl (holder) which will not permit the line guide to sink with the pawl (holder). I know this explanation may be hard to follow unless you have worked on one of these. I know it's probably clear as mud. LOL

My problem is I'm not sure what causes the pawl (holder) to rotate back up and lock in the line guide (holder). I can find no spring(s). Is anyone familiar with how this works? I know I am missing something here but can't figure it out.

Thanks, Steve

JasonGotaProblem · September 20, 2024, 07:49:01 PM

When you turn the handle nothing happens? I have 2 of these, the smallest and 2nd largest. The mechanism seems both robust and fiddly at the same time.

Gfish · September 20, 2024, 11:48:16 PM

I have the XLPLUS. Interested, I looked at it just now. Wasn't working right. All it turned-out to be was probably dried-out lub. stiffness, now it all works. First make sure the little spring/dentent at the bottom of the line guide is "springy".
If that's not the problem, it could be the rod up inside the cover and on the brake plate is not pushing that worm cover over(on mine about 1/4"). Put it in cast mode and push the black plastic pawl cover—-it should move.
Also, maybe most importantly, that system will not work at all if you have it in "F" flipping mode(slide lever on top gear-side cover). Shoulda wrote this first...
But yours may not have that "F" lever. The "2" is for 2-speed right? What's the "T" stand for?

Gfish · September 21, 2024, 12:10:59 AM

It's interesting on mine; the spool is only 4-cm across. If they made the worm/line guide just a little further out from the spool, you wouldn't need a disengagement of the line guide from the pawl. Instead the whole levelwind system in cast mode could completely disengage and from the spool and sit still while line passed through the guide wires with very little friction.

Of course, on the wider models it probably really helps for the wire guides to be moving back and forth relatively friction free as the line comes off different places on the spool.

Really a well thought-out system by the ABU engineers. Over engineered?

retiredandfishing · September 21, 2024, 05:14:35 PM

Quote from: Gfish on September 20, 2024, 11:48:16 PMI have the XLPLUS. Interested, I looked at it just now. Wasn't working right. All it turned-out to be was probably dried-out lub. stiffness, now it all works. First make sure the little spring/dentent at the bottom of the line guide is "springy".
If that's not the problem, it could be the rod up inside the cover and on the brake plate is not pushing that worm cover over(on mine about 1/4"). Put it in cast mode and push the black plastic pawl cover—-it should move.
Also, maybe most importantly, that system will not work at all if you have it in "F" flipping mode(slide lever on top gear-side cover). Shoulda wrote this first...
But yours may not have that "F" lever. The "2" is for 2-speed right? What's the "T" stand for?

The

The"spring dentent" that you speak of is the black button on the bottom of the pawl cover, right? When I push up on it I can lock it into the locked in mode but it will fall back out if I don't hold it in. It is not "springy" at all. I checked the rod that you describe during my initial tear down. It works fine although it was laying out of it's travel path when I opened it up. It does actuate pushing the pawl holder down as I think it should, but when released the pawl and holder do not lock back up as I think it should. I took the pawl cap off and the pawl looks a little worn but I think usable. If the pawl holder is supposed to be springy I'm not sure what would make that so. Is there a spring or something that is supposed to be in there that maybe isn't?

I don't have a flippin mode on this model. It is not a two speed.

Thanks

retiredandfishing · September 21, 2024, 05:17:04 PM

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on September 20, 2024, 07:49:01 PMWhen you turn the handle nothing happens? I have 2 of these, the smallest and 2nd largest. The mechanism seems both robust and fiddly at the same time.

When I turn the handle to trip the clutch back into position the pawl and holder do not lock back up into the work gear. I can push it back up and if I hold it up it will stay that way but eventually drops back down so that the pawl is not in contact with the wormgear.

Gfish · September 21, 2024, 06:20:47 PM

Hmmmm, the spring loaded dentent isn't that. It's molded into the metal unit that the wire line guides are also molded into. Maybe not a factor...? The dentent is pushed up by the metal part of the pawl and sorta grabs it by springing back into a slot.
I think the internal kick lever actuates the spinning movement of the pawl/worm cover via that rod. Possibly it's not staying put cause something is amiss internally with the worm cover—rod connection. "We'll have to operate doctor".

retiredandfishing · September 21, 2024, 11:10:44 PM

Quote from: Gfish on September 21, 2024, 06:20:47 PMHmmmm, the spring loaded dentent isn't that. It's molded into the metal unit that the wire line guides are also molded into. Maybe not a factor...? The dentent is pushed up by the metal part of the pawl and sorta grabs it by springing back into a slot.
I think the internal kick lever actuates the spinning movement of the pawl/worm cover via that rod. Possibly it's not staying put cause something is amiss internally with the worm cover—rod connection. "We'll have to operate doctor".

I got it wrong. Yes the pin you spoke of is springy and is working fine. I thought you were indicating the bottom part, the part that houses the pawl. What seems to be malfunctioning is the worm cover not coming back and locking the pawl into the worm gear. The rod you speak of seems to be functioning by pushing the worm gear cover down just fine. It's when it is released and the pawl and housing must move back up to allow the pawl to mate with the worm gear that it seems to be having trouble with. The bottom part with the pawl in it is floppy and will not stay locked up into position. I don't understand how that is supposed to work unless there is a spring or something that will hold the pawl and housing up against the worm gear.

Gfish · September 22, 2024, 01:57:58 PM

When in free-spool and the handle is turned, the kick lever moves the pinion from free-spool position to engagement with the main gear. Underneath the main is a nylon-looking gear also turning as you crank. That nylon gear engages another nylon gear that is attached to the worm. As this is all turning, the worm gear shield/pawl(and black plastic cover) should turn back up into position where the line guide unit can grab and hold the pawl as it moves horizontally.
Check the 2 white nylon-looking gears and check that the worm gear itself is turning as you crank.

I don't actually see how the worm shield stays up in position after it moves up on mine. Friction? Check the ends of the shield where they attach to the frame inside, it sounds like maybe one of those fragile nylon bushings there could be broken or installed backwards.

retiredandfishing · September 23, 2024, 10:10:43 PM

Quote from: Gfish on September 22, 2024, 01:57:58 PMWhen in free-spool and the handle is turned, the kick lever moves the pinion from free-spool position to engagement with the main gear. Underneath the main is a nylon-looking gear also turning as you crank. That nylon gear engages another nylon gear that is attached to the worm. As this is all turning, the worm gear shield/pawl(and black plastic cover) should turn back up into position where the line guide unit can grab and hold the pawl as it moves horizontally.
Check the 2 white nylon-looking gears and check that the worm gear itself is turning as you crank.

I don't actually see how the worm shield stays up in position after it moves up on mine. Friction? Check the ends of the shield where they attach to the frame inside, it sounds like maybe one of those fragile nylon bushings there could be broken or installed backwards.

Thanks. Yes, checked the two white gears (removed them during servicing). Gears seem fine, and the worm gear itself turns fine too. I did not check those bushings very carefully, could be they contribute to locking the pawl down onto the worm gear. I'll go back and look. And I too don't understand how that worm shield is supposed to lock back up against the worm gear. It will work when I manually push the pawl up against the worm gear.But, falls out eventually.

retiredandfishing · September 25, 2024, 10:48:29 PM

Could find nothing that looks to worn in the worm gear or worm gear bushings. They are installed correctly as well. The worm gear itself was a little loose from side to side so I shimmed it but that didn't do any good.. So I'm at a loss as to what is wrong with the reel. I'll have to continue searching for info on this. Thanks to all for the help.

Steve