1960 French RuMer 101 stripdown and refresh/ Completed

Started by Woodbilly, August 07, 2025, 11:18:12 AM

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Woodbilly

Hey all!

After a long search, I finally acquired the rare gem of the French  Ru Mer spin reel world.

A 1960 Ru Mer 101 ultralight spin reel with original exploded parts diagram and price list sheet.

This one is the "Jade" color scheme.
 A two tone green finish with green handle knob.
 It looks more grey, than green,  but it does have a greenish tinge to it.

Original finish with slight wear.
 
It didn't really need it, but I gave it a complete stripdown and refresh, plus, I wanted to see it's inner workings.
 Just how I roll.

Over-engineered?
Heck yeah, but I like em like that!

Reassembly went smooth and I painted the ends of the a/r button, green, to match the knob.

All finish was left original with all wear intact.

I also used my letter punches to initial the lead counterweight.
 My personal touch...

The before and after pictures don't look much different, other than, no nasty grease present.

 Gave all parts a full fresh oiling and reel is very smooth, now, after sticky grease gone.

Taking this old girl out for some crappie fishing action, this weekend.

Peace!!

JasonGotaProblem

I've got a box of kinda rough looking half bail French reels of this variety that will never do me any good. One of these days I may offer them to you at the cost of shipping. They deserve a better home.
Any machine is a smoke machine if you use it wrong enough.

Woodbilly

Final pictures

Woodbilly

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on August 07, 2025, 11:26:15 AMI've got a box of kinda rough looking half bail French reels of this variety that will never do me any good. One of these days I may offer them to you at the cost of shipping. They deserve a better home.

Throw a post up on the forum with some pictures, if you have a chance.
 I may be interested depending on make/models

oldmanjoe

 :)  Very well done , That may be the first one "ultralight " that I have seen .  I do have the bigger half bails .
Grandpa`s words of wisdom......Joey that thing between your shoulders is not a hat rack.....    use it.....
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Character is doing the right thing when nobody is looking .   There are too many people who think that the only thing that!s right is to get by,and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught .
The power of Observation   , It`s all about the Details ..
" Life " It`s a thinking man`s game
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 Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will.   Alto Mare

jtwill98

Excellent job.  You do a great job capturing the teardown and results. I hope this message encourages you to continue your documentation series. I know it requires patience and it's a lot of work. 

The former (patience) is my issue. I'm too eager to get to the result and find the photo taking gets in my way.

Woodbilly

Quote from: jtwill98 on August 07, 2025, 03:30:29 PMExcellent job.  You do a great job capturing the teardown and results. I hope this message encourages you to continue your documentation series. I know it requires patience and it's a lot of work. 

The former (patience) is my issue. I'm too eager to get to the result and find the photo taking gets in my way.

I love documenting the process and try to take very detailed pictures for the next guy or even myself, as I have gone back to my old threads for advice, due to the fact that mine may be the only stripdown info available online.

Thanks for the words and glad you enjoy!!

Peace!

Woodbilly

Quote from: oldmanjoe on August 07, 2025, 01:49:56 PM:)  Very well done , That may be the first one "ultralight " that I have seen .  I do have the bigger half bails .

Yes. It's the rarer ultralight Ru and engineered with same quality as the larger 201, 401, Sport,etc.

Very nice vintage action.

Midway Tommy

Well done! An intricate procedure with lots of parts on that little dude! I applaud your patience & attention to detail.  8)

Been taking a summertime hiatus from reel teardown & resto the last 3 or 4 years since we bought a place on a lake. Spend most of my warm weather time fishing & mowing  ;) nowadays. Fish just about every day & put playing with reels on hold until the snow flys.

I enjoy your detailed tutorials.  :al
Love those open face spinning reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco Cardinals)

Tommy D (ORCA), NE



Favorite Activity? ............... In our boat fishing
RELAXING w/ MY BEST FRIEND (My wife Bonnie)

Midway Tommy

Quote from: jtwill98 on August 07, 2025, 03:30:29 PMExcellent job.  You do a great job capturing the teardown and results. I hope this message encourages you to continue your documentation series. I know it requires patience and it's a lot of work. 

The former (patience) is my issue. I'm too eager to get to the result and find the photo taking gets in my way.

I don't have a problem taking photos along the way but what get on my nerves is is putting it all together & uploading it all into an understandable tutorial. For me, at least, it seems like that takes more time & patience than working on the reel in the first place. 🤯 🙄 😁
Love those open face spinning reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco Cardinals)

Tommy D (ORCA), NE



Favorite Activity? ............... In our boat fishing
RELAXING w/ MY BEST FRIEND (My wife Bonnie)

Woodbilly

Quote from: Midway Tommy on August 07, 2025, 04:50:16 PMWell done! An intricate procedure with lots of parts on that little dude! I applaud your patience & attention to detail.  8)

Been taking a summertime hiatus from reel teardown & resto the last 3 or 4 years since we bought a place on a lake. Spend most of my warm weather time fishing & mowing  ;) nowadays. Fish just about every day & put playing with reels on hold until the snow flys.

I enjoy your detailed tutorials.  :al

Thanks, man!

I fish every weekend with my 83 year old Vietnam veteran father, who still loads his own boat every time.
 We live very near Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., so crappie fishing is our passion, ne.xt to vintage gear.

happyhooker

Beautiful reel!  Leave it to the French to come up with something "different".  Thanks for sharing, and especially thanks for posting the reel parts diagram, which I bet is something hard to come by (and which I suspect you made extensive use of in your rehab!)

Frank

Woodbilly

#12
Quote from: happyhooker on August 07, 2025, 08:33:21 PMBeautiful reel!  Leave it to the French to come up with something "different".  Thanks for sharing, and especially thanks for posting the reel parts diagram, which I bet is something hard to come by (and which I suspect you made extensive use of in your rehab!)

Frank

Thanks,Frank!

Actually, didn't really need the diagram, as it was a pretty straightforward stripdown.

I take many pictures before actually pulling things apart, so that helps immensely when wondering, "how's this part go?" Lol

Woodbilly

#13
Working flawlessly on the big black and white crappie!!
Giving the 1936 Hardy Altex some action, too.

happyhooker