Fathom 10XNLD grinding

[fishgrappler]

Hello all, new here but I've been browsing the forums for a few years.

Today I serviced my first gen Fathom 10XNLD. Everything went well, no corrosion, maybe a little too much grease from my last service. Cleaned a little off, oiled the bearings and reassembled. Free spool and drag functioned well, but there was a grinding sound/feel when turning the handle. I didn't pay attention to how it felt before I opened it, but I don't think it was as bad as it was after service.

Disassembled again, inspected, cleaned, regreased - still grinding. Repeated this several times until I noticed some marks on the pinion gear. Just about every tooth had a small mark, perpendicular to the spinning axis. Cleaned and regreased a couple more times, tried cleaning off most of the grease and assembling semi-dry, and tried loading a slightly excessive amount of grease, all of which did not stop the grinding.

Bearings seem fine. If I have just the right side plate, main gear, and pinion gear I do not hear the grinding. Not sure what else to try.

Any tips on some common issues that might cause the grinding? And if the grinding could have caused the marks on the pinion gear, and would you guys consider replacing it?

[Bill B]

Don't know about the marks on the pinion, but I would check the thrust bearings and washers to ensure proper arrangement.

[fishgrappler]

I should also add that the grinding occurs when turning the handle while in gear, and in free spool.

Don't know about the marks on the pinion, but I would check the thrust bearings and washers to ensure proper arrangement.

Thanks, I'll check this next.

[sabaman1]

Try checking the clicker alarm to see if it is tight, sometimes they are a little loose and sloppy. Main gear and pinion will run you around $60 also tax and shipping. May as well replace pinion bearing also which is around another $20. From mystic Penn parts. I would clean out and regrease pinion bearing first though before I proceeded to invest any further. I have a 40nxldhs that I use for rockfish and yoyo and it gives me some noise now and then but it is from loose clicker button.

[boon]

We had a Fathom LD that had a little rough spot when turning the handle, tried a thousand things, in the end only a new pinion+drive gear fixed it.