Cracked beauty rings

Jerseymic · December 03, 2012, 12:53:45 AM

Hi Guys,
I have had to replace some cracked side rings on a 114h that I have recently acquired. I have looked at the posts on either filing or chilling the side plates and heating the rings. Now I am led to believe that the rings crack because of swelling of the side plates, so if you chill and heat to get them to fit, when everything returns to normal temperature they will be a pretty tight fit. If the sideplates swell again is it not likely that the rings will crack again. Because of my thinking I pared down the side plates so that the rings were a nice interference fit. Instead of filing, which I found to be a bit hit and miss! I used a Stanley knife to pare them down. The way I did this is to hold the sideplate against my chest, with the Stanly knife held with the blade angled away from me, drawing it towards me, and using it as a scraper I was able to pare down the sideplate quite easily, it is remarkable how much material one can remove by this method, also you can get a nice square angle up against the central raised part of the sideplate, which you can't do with a flie.
Your views on my theory of the heat and chill method would be much appreciated.

Regards,

Mike.

Irish Jigger · December 03, 2012, 01:29:37 AM

The old brass chrome plated rings cracked as you say due to the side plates swelling when the reel was left wet. The new replacement rings are stainless steel which should be stronger and I have yet to see one cracked.
Regards fitting new rings,I use a medium flat file which has one smooth edge and will not damage the side plate shoulder when reducing the outside diameter of the side plate. It only needs to be a slide fit .

When filing I paint the side plates with Tipp-Ex Rapid correction fluid to show where material has been removed,I know it's laborious but it works for me.

You could try a Skarsten paint scraper,as beloved by the boating fraternity they are a very efficient little tool and much
safer than a Stanley knife.

day0ne · December 03, 2012, 05:51:45 AM

All the cracked side plate rings I've seen were cracked at the screw holes from someone tightening the screws too tight.

Jerseymic · December 03, 2012, 09:12:31 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. I tried a flat file with a smooth edge but I found I could get in tighter to the raised part of the plate like I said. I did think of a Skarsten but I felt there was more control with the Stanley. It was quit safe with the Stanley as I wasn't using it with the blade cutting towards me I was dragging it backwards at an angle so it was scraping as opposed to cutting.
I like the idea of the Tipp-Ex.

Yes my plates were cracked at the screw holes, so I will take care when tightening the screws!

Mike.

Irish Jigger · December 03, 2012, 09:55:59 AM

Try and get the stronger SS Rings rather than the old brass ones. Mick at Penn Servicing 01386552949 should have them.

Jerseymic · December 03, 2012, 10:41:22 AM

Yes it's mick that I get my bits from, he is a really helpful guy.

alantani · December 04, 2012, 09:37:36 PM

that old plastic swells over time. it is very painstaking work, but you have to go in with a small file and file away at the side plate until the rings fit properly. it takes a very long time

broadway · December 04, 2012, 10:54:30 PM

Hey Mic,
I've done the freeze treatment on the plate, and as well as it works it's no fun to remove the rings in the future... You will have to freeze to remove every time you take it apart.
Dom

Jerseymic · December 04, 2012, 11:44:03 PM

Dom,
That is what I thought would be the case with the freeze treatment. Also like I said that if the rings were already tight from shrink fitting them, then any more swelling of the plate something would have to give, and it may not be the new stainless rings!

Alan,
I tried the file method, but I found it easier to use the Stanley, drawing it towards me as a scraper, and rotating the plate as I went, it is amazing the amount of material you can remove by this method.

My next project is to double dog this 114H. It all went well on my 113H which was my learning curve so to speak. If I learn to post photos without the help of the magic bass like last time, I will show the results for your scrutiny.

alantani · December 06, 2012, 05:30:29 PM

glad you mentioned that. ANYTHING would have been better than that stoopid file! $:-\$

Jerseymic · December 06, 2012, 08:06:22 PM

Alan

The files I have are not that good, they are a bit cumbersome and I wanted to get on with it, so instead of going out to find some files
I tried the Stanley which I am more used to using in my trade, an it worked fine for me.

As you said it does take a long time, especially as it was my first attempt, but fortunately all went well and the rings fit nicely.

Mike.

broadway · December 07, 2012, 04:01:58 AM

Mike,
Glad to hear she's back in action... There's usually more solutions than one for a single problem, as I'm learning here everyday.
Well done,
Dom

Jerseymic · December 07, 2012, 07:09:08 AM

You are certainly right Dom. I have serious joint problems in my fingers so I have to find the easiest way for me when using tools to do a job. Sometimes I laugh to myself when I look at the way I am using a tools, or the contraptions and jigs I have to use to make life easier and not make a mess of things.

Fortunately all went well, and the rings fit nicely.

Made a typing error in one of my above posts when I said my plates were cracked at the screw holes, I meant my rings were cracked.

Mike.