Hxw 3sp dog implosion

[aguachico]

While fighting a 180# bft, the dog imploded.  The retaining ring came off and the dog arm was bent.

Anyone seen this before?

[Keta]

In my opinion the Avet HX is not a plus size tuna reel.

[aguachico]

Looks like I am not the only one this has happened to:

https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,30628.0.html
Sent Scott the info.  Looks like fault lies in the:

67. ANTI REVERSE CONNECTING ARM

[aguachico]

In my opinion the Avet HX is not a plus size tuna reel.

The drag is rated for 40/50#. I fish at at 25#/30# on standup gear.  What is your opinion based on?
saludos

[Keta]

More on shaft diameter and gear speed.

[alantani]

you know, it really should have held.... 

[JasonGotaProblem]

In a perfect world the line breaks not the reel.

[Keta]

In a perfect world the line breaks not the reel.

When you push anything beyond its design limits things tend to fail.

[Brewcrafter]

Not shown in the photo; how does the drag plate with the gear (Part#26) that the dog engages with look?  Reason I ask; while I will say that the friction spring and the anti reverse connecting arm do seem somewhat flimsy, truthfully they don't carry any true load: they only exist to engage the dog with the gear, and at that point the dog and gear should be "locked" and holding 100% of the stress of the drag working.  I'm only guessing but I am thinking that the actual dog/drag plate is where the failure was, and the rest of the carnage (friction spring, conntecting arm) were collateral damage once the dog/plate failed. - john

[aguachico]

Not shown in the photo; how does the drag plate with the gear (Part#26) that the dog engages with look?  Reason I ask; while I will say that the friction spring and the anti reverse connecting arm do seem somewhat flimsy, truthfully they don't carry any true load: they only exist to engage the dog with the gear, and at that point the dog and gear should be "locked" and holding 100% of the stress of the drag working.  I'm only guessing but I am thinking that the actual dog/drag plate is where the failure was, and the rest of the carnage (friction spring, conntecting arm) were collateral damage once the dog/plate failed. - john

There was a bit of damage on the teeth.  I'm guessing most likely when the handle went spinning the opposite way with the dog partially engaged. 

My guess is the friction ring #66 came loose from the ring knob $64. That allowed the arm #67 to leave the dog $68.   

[Brewcrafter]

My guess is the friction ring #66 came loose from the ring knob $64. That allowed the arm #67 to leave the dog $68.

That's kind of where I was heading, but in a different direction so to speak.  In my limited experience with Avets the friction spring and arm only serve to engage the dog, but at that point the angle of the dog (and the teeth on the gear) are what locks the dog into contact.  So once the dog is engaged the friction spring and arm are under no load, and no reason to fail.  They don't "hold" the dog in contact; the only serve to make it engage the drag plate (#26) and after that they just float while the dog is locked with the plate.  I would believe if you were to turn the handle while a fish is taking drag (hence the dog and drag plate are locked together) the friction spring will slip and prevent the cranking action from disengaging the dog while it is under pressure.  In my mind I suspect in this case the dog and drag plate were just overwhelmed by the incredible amount of drag force that Raptor's can generate.  Just my take; I will look to wiser minds on this one. - john

[aguachico]

@brewcrafter;

I find it interesting another member experienced the same issue, under similar circumstances, 5 years ago.  Same reel and the arm looked to be the same distorted mess.

[Brewcrafter]

I would bet friendly pints of ale that their failure back then was probably identical to yours.  The interface between the drag plate and the dog became "compromised" and when that failed the arm and the friction spring, both relatively delicate, became collateral damage in the carnage.  I love my Avets, but my HX Raptor is set up as an 80# reel; if I'm looking at anything more robust the VISX 20 is coming out to play (or an EX Raptor would probably be a good choice).  And as far as it being similar in terms of failure, in a way that is a good thing; Thoughfully designed/engineered/built products will tend to have a consistent "failure point", as opposed to haphazardly designed/slapped together/poor quality control systems seem to have multiple seeming random failures when pushed beyond their limits.  Having myself also gone down the rabbit hole of hotrodding reels, one of the mantras you will see from wiser heads than mine of this site is that as soon as you modify/upgrade one thing, you simply "change" the failure point.  Aftermarket power handle on an old Penn?  Get ready for a rounded off brass gear sleeve.  Big aftermarket drag stack?  Get ready for frame flex and shredded gears.  It's part of what makes this fun.  Your HX is a fine reel for the money (again, I have one but only a two speed model) but I think it was just a little overmatched in that battle.  Repair it and go get 'em! - john