Mitchell 324 left hand wind.

[Donnyboat]

I brought a Mitchell 324, left hand wind reel, can anyone tell me if it is a fresh water reel, or salt, the spring in the bail arm is a little weak, but turns very smooth, also any info could be handy, cheers Don.

[Donnyboat]

I posted this post on August 10, can anyone tell me if the Mitchell 324 spining reel is for fresh water fishing or salt water, pluss any info of it would be handy, cheers Don.

[quang tran]

Mitchell 320,324 (left hand ) are same size with 300 ,gearing is more simple than 300 with separate gear to move spool in and out ,there is no plastic seal under side place so water easy to get in . You can use for salt water but need clean more often and I don't think you should

[akfish]

It's a freshwater reel, something of a low cost 300. As the previous poster said, you can use it in saltwater but it will require constant cleaning and lubrication. Personally, I'd put it on the shelf and admire it.

[Donnyboat]

thanks men, very helpful info, its working smoothly, but the soring on the bail arm is very week, cheers Don.

[quang tran]

Bail adj. on Mitchell reel is difficult .Most problems came from bail arm rubbing ,sometimes I removed the bail wire just install the bail arm ,then install bail wire so it won't push or pull either way . Fred can show you how to adj. the bail much better than me

[foakes]

Got to be careful when adjusting the bails on this series of Mitchell reels.

The reason is —- the bail wire and the bail mounts are all one piece. 

The sideplate, frame, and rotor are all a very brittle and cheaply made plastic. 

On a typical spinner, the bail spring can be replaced, and the bail wire assembly then can be attached and oiled properly.  Then the last adjustment is to insure there is no excess friction on either side of the bail wire/rotor attachment points.  You do this by "slightly" tweaking the bail arm with a pair of smooth-jawed pliers —- until it is free snapping.

Problem is, on these, the rotor is plastic, and the bail assembly is chrome plated.  So either the rotor cracks at the attachment points, or the cheap chrome starts to flake off.

When someone sends me one of these to work on —- I have been known to just send it back to them, as is —- then include a freshly serviced 300 at no charge.

Mitchell should have been ashamed for ever making these cheap reels.  And I think they probably were.  Plastic, pot-metal, and poorly made.

Bill recommended putting it on the shelf.  For me that is a waste of shelf space.

If you don't have a 300, Donny —- I'll send you one N/C.

Sorry to be so negative —- but I am telling you what I know from experience —- and that maybe others already knew, but didn't want to hurt your feelings.

Best Regards Always!

Fred

[Midway Tommy]

You just put into print, Fred, everything I have known about that series and decided to hold back so as not to be quite so blunt about their quality. I was shocked the first time I picked one of those up at an antique store/flea market. It was, and they are, quite inferior quality. Every time I see one for sale nowadays I immediately pass right on by.   

[Donnyboat]

Hi Fred, I thought I answer your post , but I must have, forget to post it, anyway you dont have to apoligize to me, I can take it on the chin, thanks for your generous offer, to send a reel to me for free, but the cost of postage to Western Australia, from your area, is astranomical, so give me time to make an order up, there is a few larger Mitchells I need some gear for, I also  picked up a 301, right hand wind, but that has the same problem, I also have a large Dam Quick that needs some TLC, cheers Don.