Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Press it back on. Been there, done that.

I have not tried the carbontex drag washers.
Can you send me a link?

Looking for a newer version of the calcutta 250 i am replacing.
I want more cranking power and better drags.
i was considering Pluton, Ryoga, Calcutta TE and Conquests?

Yeah. I paid... prolly $200+ for an Orvis 8.5' 3wt, years ago. Good on ya Steve!

Looks great!

Picked this up a few days ago, along with a few others.

Got a large storage bin of worthwhile spinning reels down on the floor next to the main bench.  Penns, DAM Quicks, Mitchell's, ABU/Zebco Cardinals, and a few Daiwa Minis.

In between parts being cleaned, I take a few minutes to maybe do a few of these a week that will be offered to members.

I have always thought that the gold spool, crank handle, and black knobs looked much better on the greenies.  Plus they match the sideplate badge.

Original is silver and white.

I went to Roosevelt High School, where our school colors were green & gold.

Best, Fred

I always put a drop of oil under the line roller/guide.

I have seen too many line guides either frozen or corroded onto the bail wire.

Even if a line roller is not a roller —- just stationary —- it is still a good idea, at least for me and the clients reels.

A reel gets used, then stored for a week, 2 weeks, 2 years, or 10 years.  Just good preventive maintenance.

A lot of the things that we read about reels are not written by the reel techs or anglers out in real world fishing conditions.  Many instructions are basically "dumbed down" for easier warranty issues, ability to market that a reel has a lot of bearings (which are needful on most graphite reels for mechanical support), and the marketing department.

For me, common sense dictates a little oil or grease in spots that I know will benefit.

Best, Fred

I am with Alan.   If it is actually a ball bearing on the inside, I'm keeping that puppy lubricated.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on June 20, 2025, 06:34:20 PMMaybe they're just using a concave bearing like one would use for a yoyo? Sure would eliminate a few parts. If not, maybe we should consider it?

Exactly. But the groove shape does not look the same as a yo-yo bearing.  Plus, I doubt that a yoyo bearing is going to have the right dimensions and be made out of 440c stainless.

Lots of Stradic models out there, but here are a couple of the line rollers.  Looks to me like the very outer part might be press fit on a "normal" bearing.

If I designed a line roller, I'd first think; bushing, no ball bearing(s). Something with single screw removal that wouldn't strip easily. Remove, rinse, lube if you wanna. I always thought the M.G. stationary tungsten carbide line "guides" were a good idea: just rotate or replace if a groove developed. Chances are, you can catch it before the line starts to fray.
It' no biggie to me to clean and lube a handle knob, IF it's removable and there's no stupid ball bearings to deal with.

Quote from: Hardy Boy on June 19, 2025, 07:48:49 PMYes just press it back in.

Todd

yup...

i'd vote for oil.....