Newbie Mitchell 300 spool and washer questions

[rcmsangab]

Hey all,

Was cleaning up an older (boomerang style AR) 300 and it came with two large spools (4 spoke) that are identical except for bottom (first photo). Both have insets on top with reddish fiber washer under a brake spring. And both have identical insets on the underside which were empty.
My questions are-
1. Is there supposed to be another fiber washer or some other kind on the underside?
2. Fiber washers were very stiff and hard --had to wipe them off to even realize they were reddish. Are they supposed to be that way?

Thanks,
Russ

[Gfish]

Yeah looks like it needs one. Those spools look to be from different manufacture eras. However, the older 300 spools all seem to be interchangeable. The newer ones(past the '70's?) may not be... never owned one newer than '74.
The spring drag washer goes on the top "inset". Let me know if you need a picture of one.

[rcmsangab]

Yeah looks like it needs one. Those spools look to be from different manufacture eras. However, the older 300 spools all seem to be interchangeable. The newer ones(past the '70's?) may not be... never owned one newer than '74.
The spring drag washer goes on the top "inset". Let me know if you need a picture of one.

Thanks for the response, I have the springs with attached metal washers for both spools. Funny- one has 4 or 6lb test on it and the other is loaded with 20 lb test if label can be trusted (looks about right). Not sure how this drag system would handle a fish that needed 20lb test! Anyway, was just wondering if I should have 2 fiber (or other material) washers per spool -one for each of the recesses.  Both my other Mitchells are "newer" with straight AR lever, teflon drag washers and spring setup and and no recesses.

Happy Holidays
Russ

[Gfish]

Good question. I tried it once, the fiber washer I put on the top, underneath the spring-washer part, caused it to push-up too tight against the drag knob. Drag function was very bad. Who knows though, coulda been an odd part in there with all the interchangeability; spool?, spindle?, drag knob?...
Yeah, the latter reels all came new with the white Teflon washer underneath the spring-washer and alota plastic parts, especially in the spool assembly.

I have a version 3, maybe late 40's or early 50's. There are a lot more aluminum and brass and steel parts, especially in the spool/spindle/clicker assembly. Other than that, both the drag knob, & crank knob are aluminum and the A/R is steel.

[rcmsangab]

Good question. I tried it once, the fiber washer I put on the top, underneath the spring-washer part, caused it to push-up too tight against the drag knob. Drag function was very bad. Who knows though, coulda been an odd part in there with all the interchangeability; spool?, spindle?, drag knob?...
Yeah, the latter reels all came new with the white Teflon washer underneath the spring-washer and alota plastic parts, especially in the spool assembly.

I have a version 3, maybe late 40's or early 50's. There are a lot more aluminum and brass and steel parts, especially in the spool/spindle/clicker assembly. Other than that, both the drag knob, & crank knob are aluminum and the A/R is steel.

Back to puttering in the garage and found one red fiber washer in an envelope. So I can try both ways and see if I notice a difference. On another front - how do you clean up and maintain the spring style crank on the older 300s? The spring on this one is stiffer than my own arthritic fingers! Don't see an obvious way to easily take it apart - so was planning to take off the wood handle and soak the rest of it in solvent for a day, then clean up and flush as well as I can and add some reel oil. Is there a better procedure? Someone before me got frustrated with this one or banged it around. Thanks in advance, Russ

[Gfish]

Man, that thing's beat. Could've gotten tweaked and it's sticking. You can tell it's an older reel's handle from the shorter length.