When things go wrong(a story about not giving up)

[Killerbug]

I guess we have all tried to destroy or loosing parts, when trying to repair things.  The most amateurish event from my hand, was when I was servicing an old Cardinall 33 spinning reel, who needed a new bail.  After 4 month of searching I found two new bails at ebay.com, ordered them both immediately. Great was the day, when the postman arrived, and I could sit down at my workbench with a nice cup of cofee

After something that was about to turn into a full scale war with two minor bail springs, the moment had arrived, when I could mount the bail arms. The screw securing the right bail arm was a bit tigh, Hmmm it has to go in, and crack!! screw head broken, and this left a broken screw inside the Rotor cup. 

This was luckily my own reel, so disappointed and angry, I threw all the reelparts in a plastic bag and packed it deep into my closet,, swearing I would never touch a Cardinal agian. 

A few days later, I was on it again though, calling ABU, begging them, giving them love on the phone, hoping they could provide me with a new rotor. But NO!,we do not have any Mr, it's an 30 years old reel, so please understand. 

Six month later, after mailing several ABU collectors(as faar as Japan), I received a brand new rotor cup for my Cardinal 33, as well as a new screw for the bail arm.  Burned from my previous experiences, I carefully planned the action and stated to mount the bail arm. But the Cardinals have some hellish annoying bail springs to mount, and suddently BLING!, this
hatefull sound of a small spring ejecting out in nowhere, and me trying to listen to the direction it took.  I searched around my desk for 30 min, with no luck. Later my wife hovered the area under protest, and a crisis in our marriage was about to emerge.  I lost the battle, and my bail spring forever.

2 month ago, I received four new bailsprings from a guy in Texas, and my little pearl of a spinning reel is now going with me on the water tomorrow.

Never give up!, and thank christ for the internet. 

[Bill B]

That's funny....glad to hear others have the same fear of the "bling" sound...so how does the newly repaired reel fish?  any photos.

[Gr8White]

whenever u strip anything with circlips(jesus clips- jeezs where did that go ) or small springs do it inside a see through plastic bag
the old man was a gunsmith and beat the crap out of me once as i lost a customers hammer spring -after he told me to be careful
lesson learned the hard way, but i thank him regularly for that beating when taking small stuff apart

[philaroman]

Ah, the vile little springs & C-clips 

Whenever possible, TETHER THE LITTLE BASTARDS!!!  A long, strong, BRIGHT thread can usually be attached to the spring/clip, in some manner that allows you to install them unhindered, then remove the string...  THINK AHEAD -- if you won't be able to easily cut the string out when you're done, use some sort of loop/noose with a LONG tag end

[floating doc]

I'm so glad I read this post. Good tips.

It makes me think of when I spay a dog or cat. Don't let go of the pedicle until you're sure that your ligatures are tight and secure.

[Dominick]

I'm so glad I read this post. Good tips.

It makes me think of when I spay a dog or cat. Don't let go of the pedicle until you're sure that your ligatures are tight and secure.

You are right doc good tips.  I will make sure I don't drop a stitch in the pedicle.    Dominick

[Killerbug]

That's funny....glad to hear others have the same fear of the "bling" sound...so how does the newly repaired reel fish?  any photos.

Hi, stills runs perfectly well, I will actually bring it with me this weekend.

[floating doc]

It's amazing how big the European walleye get. Thanks for sharing your photo.

[Killerbug]

It's amazing how big the European walleye get. Thanks for sharing your photo.

I would gladly swap it for musky