SERVICING - Bogan Sharpeye

[LLCC]

This is a new brand that has hit our shores and like everything from China, it looks great from a distance, has all the features that Daiwa and Shimano have, and yet, they come at an irresistibly low price.

This was a pre-owned reel, and the new owner complained about its lack of drag power, and wanted a faster spindle speed so that he can experience a full blown birdnest! The reel felt smooth to crank, and the bearings are not corroded, but are covered with a rather thick oil. It all looks to me that this has potential to be tuned into a very usable reel without having to spend much more than some solvent, compressed air and good oils... pulled some line out on a spring balance and at full lockdown, it read less than 500g (1 lb).

So here are some shots of the reel before I pull it apart.


The reel has angular shape and a matt grey paint scheme that reminds me of the B1 Stealth Bombers. The handles, drag star and nose reminds me of Daiwa.




Titanium Nitride coated line guide and drilled lightweight spool endows the reel with a feeling that this could perform as good as it looks.




Recessed magnetic braking control will not get changed accidentally when you palm the reel as it turns with a purposeful click into each indent for each of the 10 setting positions. The sideplate securing screw would have been better if it is knurled for friction.



A huge overhanging gearbox is de rigueur for modern reels, and this reel has one no lesser.



The Chinese chose to use a huge 12mm aluminum Handle Nut that is reverse threaded for this left hand cranking reel. In contrast, the Cast Control knob is anorexic and also reverse threaded, requiring some getting used to when you make your adjustments. Each handle knob is supported by its own ball bearing.

Servicing the high speed bearings first


Begin by taking the spool out to reveal the spool bearings.




You need a spool pin plier/tool to remove the bigger spool bearing.




Bearings unshielded and degreased, these have seen some wear but are still capable of spinning for at least 20 seconds at a flick of a finger - pretty good results for unrated bearings! I used a light oil to lubricate them.

In case you want to change them out to faster grades or ceramics, the Smaller Spool Bearing is 10 x 3 x 4mm (OD x ID x Thickness); the Bigger Spool Bearing is 11 x 5 x 4mm.

The 3rd high speed bearing (8 x 3 x 4mm) is behind the Cast Control Knob. This one has press in shields so I didn't try removing them, but degreased and re-lubed with a light oil.

A simple reel


Here's all the parts in this reel.

Modified Drag


The Previous Owner had changed the original drag washers out (Originals look like Super Smoothies) with these HT100 looking graphite discs.




This Drag pressure washer was mounted upside down when I opened the reel. That's probably why there was only a pound of drag at full lock, and the presence of the extra HT100 washer when there was no steel keyed plate to bite on.

Slap on the protection


The frame insides have a coat of anodizing that seem to have been scraped off where the frame flanges meet the side plate. Coated everything with Quicksilver 2-4-C Marine grease for added protection.





Grease beneath this Thumb Bar guide as it is prone to collect salt water, and snap it in place.




Slip on Thumb bar and slide Stainless Steel pivot bar to secure in place.




Stainless Steel Clutch Link has a snug fit. Slide it through frame and Thumb Bar.




Secure Thumb Bar to Stainless Steel Clutch Link with a Self Tapping Screw. In the background, you can see how the threads on Gear Shaft are showing wear because Star Drag was forcefully cinched down tight in order to milk out some drag friction.

Levelwind assembly


Grease this side of frame with Quicksilver 2-4-C marine grease and attach the clear plastic Worm Shaft Holder, rotate till its tongue points to 7 o'clock position and sits withinin the shaped slot for it.




The Worm Shaft is supported by this tiny 7 x 4 x 2.5mm Ball Bearing. I didn't attempt the pry out the shields as they were not replaceable. Lubricated with Corrosion X and slip into the big end of Level Wind Tube.




Lubricate and Slip Worm Shaft through bearing, Worm Shaft Gear and Worm Shaft Pin




Worm Shaft Pin sits in recesses casted into plastic Worm Shaft Gear




Thread Level Wind Shaft assembly through frame and Line Guide. Rotate Level Wind Shaft till the castellated end mates onto matching grooves on clear plastic Worm Shaft Holder



Grease, attach washer and secure with E-clip.




E-Clips have a tendency to fly off and get lost. If you don't have a box of these as spares, then it is safer to assemble them under a clear plastic bag




Lubricate Levelwind Pawl with Corrosion X and install in Line Guide




Secure with Line Guide Nut, do not overtorque




Pass Stainless Steel Line Guide Shaft through holes in the frame and Line Guide. Lubricate with Corrosion X. You are now done with the Level wind.

Fitting the Nosepiece


Grease side of frame where grease had been smeared off  and slip on plastic Nosepiece




Nosepiece is held by 2 different screws - Domed head on the left and chamfered Philips head for the right.




Philips head screw secures the chamfered right side




Domed head secures the left side

Installing the Clutch and Drivetrain


9 x 5 x 3mm Gear Shaft Support Bearing's shields cannot be re-fitted so I oiled with Corrosion X and filled the Bearing housing on the frame with grease.




Gear Shaft plate is slightly angled like a war boomerang. Rotate till it match mountings in the frame.




Secure Gear Shaft plate with screws. After fitting this in, I realized that it will be easier to fit the clutch mechanism first... So you'll see this disappear in the next few pics.



Yoke Holder sits within grooves in the frame. Pins beneath each post fits into corresponding holes in the frame. Take careful note of its seating position as you need to displace it slightly in order to install the springs and Lift Curve. Insert tabs of the 2 clutch springs into the respective holes in the frame. You might need to feel around to find the holes beneath the grease.




Hook the steel Kick Lever to Kick Lever Spring. The white plastic Lift Curve is connected to a post on Kick Lever and Clutch Spring. Its travel is restricted by the 2 posts of Yoke Holder



Attach Gear Shaft assembly (from the steps outlined above) and work Cal's Grease between the teeth of both plastic gears



Grease and seat Clutch Plate over Yoke Holder



Fasten Clutch Plate with 2 Screws



Lightly grease Ratchet with Cal's Grease



The Pinion Gear's inner tube had been polished with Autosol till a mirror finish to minimize friction on the spool spindle. Work Cal's Grease between the teeth, taking care not to have any grease contaminate inner tube. Hang it by the neck onto white plastic Yoke, with its wedged shaped wings facing down



Assemble Yoke to the two mounting posts of Yoke Holder, making sure Pinion Gear is between Yoke and Main Gear. Insert Yoke Springs to the two posts of Yoke Holder

Modified Drags


Place HT100 material drag washer on top of Ratchet



Work Cal's Grease between teeth of Main Gear. Lightly grease other surfaces and install




Carbon drag washer goes in next.



Lightly grease both sides of Drag Pressure Washer and install with the convex side facing up. If you look at this one closely, one part of the convex is flattened due to incorrect installation.




Lubricate Antireverse sleeve with Corrosion X and install.

Finishing up


Side plate is a piece of molded graphite reinforced plastic. One can still see the coarse grinding marks of the mold on it. There astrally is no need to grease this piece at all, except for the hole where Antireverse bearing sits in.



Oil Antireverse bearing with Corrosion X. Do not use grease as it may cause slippage. Install into Side Plate with the metal end facing into the reel (white plastic end faces handle)




Touch up Frame flanges that may have grease smeared away, then join side plate to frame taking care not to pinch the two Yoke Springs. Secure with screws. This slot screw is a long self tapping screw.



The smaller screw at 8 o'clock position is very very long............................. I wonder why it need to be that long. You screw and screw it in (or out) and it is still not there yet! I've heard that some people get a blister from this protruding screw.

Oil 8 x 3 x 4mm Cast Control bearing with a light oil and install.




Secure with C-clip




Lubricate threads of the anorexic Cast Control knob and thread in, taking note it is reverse threaded



Grease Drag clicker and install




For greater drag pressure, grease Belleville Drag Springs and install them spooned like (( or ))




Grease threads and ratchet in Star Drag and thread in. Cinch Star drag down tight as you can by hand




Grease spring washer and install




Grease contact surfaces of handle to delay corrosion




Carefully thread in aluminum 12mm Handle Nut taking note it is reverse threaded. Secure with Handle Nut cover and screw.

Clean off grease from the outside with a piece of Kitchen Towel moistened with Simple Green. Refit spool, sideplate and you are done!

PS: when I tested drag after servicing, the line burst at above 4.5kg when it embedded itself into the spool. I had used an additional Belleville Drag Spring from Shimano's Antares DC7 on top of the 2 original Belleville Drag Springs. It was excessive, so I removed it and final Drag numbers are a "Safer" 2+kg.

After installing everything back, we found the spool did not have much longer free spin times than when we started. (We got around 10 seconds before, but after all the work, it barely broke 20 sec). It might be because the Magnetic brakes are still working at the lowest setting, or some dirt (eg Autosol dust) had gotten into the bearings. Have to revisit this on another day.

HTH,

LL

[alantani]

painstaking work.  thank you!

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=1059.new#new

[fishingjack]

I was lucky. I picked up one of these reels back in Dec 2011 on my last trip to Bangkok for about $38 while I had been looking at Abu's and the like for much higher prices.
I have a 6500 Abu Garcia but this is too big for the little bass rod I also picked up on holiday. I planned to use the setup back here in the UK for Pike and carp. You could catch pike and carp on a piece of string, so I wasn't too concerned about the power of this reel. I decided today to actually grease the drags for this reel and that's when I came across this particular service guide, which I must say is top class. You have really done a great job and put in a huge amount of effort in here. Thank you sir!



Anyway, I later looked for reviews on this reel days after I had bought it and I found that it is hugely popular in Thailand. It has a rave 94% approval rating from almost 1300 owners. It is the work horse of the masses. Anglers across Asia have caught impressive species on this reel. While the standard target species is small and large snakehead, anglers have also tamed barramundi, arapaima, Amazon red tailed catfish and even GTs on this little reel. Yes Giant Trevally! Do a google search for "BOGAN REEL FIELD TEST" if you don't believe me. 

I then saw a new baitcast reel released by the famous jigging master brand. Take a look!

Name: Jigging Master Arrester
Price: $200 to $250

Spec exactly matches what I have on my Bogan Sharpeye.  

[Dynamo]

Wish I could see the pics

[day0ne]

Wish I could see the pics

Are you logged into the forum?

[Dynamo]

Yes sir, i am.

[erikpowell]

Hi Lawrence,
Thanks for your time and efforts on this tutorial, very nicely done.

I noticed the hedgehog studio spool pin tool you use..... has that tool been working well for you?
I've been meaning to order one for awhile now... seems a little more user friendly than the pliers type.

Thanks again & cheers,
Erik

[LLCC]

Hi Lawrence,
Thanks for your time and efforts on this tutorial, very nicely done.

I noticed the hedgehog studio spool pin tool you use..... has that tool been working well for you?
I've been meaning to order one for awhile now... seems a little more user friendly than the pliers type.

Thanks again & cheers,
Erik

These work well. But on some spools, the screw threads will scratch the rim of your spool.

[fishingjack]

I am looking to replace the black plastic maingear with a metal one. Like from an abu.

The outer diameter of the gear is 34mm, 8mm diameter hole in the middle.
The area for the drag washer is 8mm wide.

The drag washer in the gear has 26mm outer diameter, 5mm width and 15mm inner diameter.



Does anyone know if this is the same size as an abu 5500, 6500, 7000? Or any other reel.

Thanks

-Jack