Hey all,
I tore down my friends other reel (Mitchell Avocet IV AVSIS2000) and am dealing with a "pinion down ball bearing" that feels completely stuck. I've soaked it in vinegar to remove the surface rust as there was some, and then blasted and soaked in WD40. I even tried the 'ultrasonic cleaning' method placing the bearing in a plastic condiment cup and holding it against the head of a Wahl razor. At first I thought it was loosening up but upon closer inspection it's not. This particular bearing was really wedged onto the pinion gear along with the clutch sleeve and it was already seized at that point - I had to hold them in place with channel lock pliers and tap the end of the pinion gear to slowly remove these. I'm wondering if the inner race has expanded (as the thing was wedged on so tightly) and or if the cage is damaged. The bearing itself looks pretty clean now that I've let it soak but there's just zero give on it.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yhRNdhMXRiO2Pw8LEeOh6_cKMr1ahw8VoZWftdTZyUzEB2PhuK-SOTjBxdPtt4oF4AFHuw60zGdSyusVI5VAWUfGx4oRkjjEC3ZZqwCYLlMd5-sjJuv9rK3UGm0bC51dCmBF-mApryBU1rhc39yx9LfdNX-okFn0dtvhgxAP96hzgEaMSI4Bbv2rKaepab4p1MLUBFdzCufUnLctRMNDGvw8vMZUQ5uYq8klEdWisPAXv6o7pLxLea5Lui1zjYUv1KwCzCUAWcckEpL7OhlrkuyLH9QrOP6QYcGfUmAtlg_tDE2wp4PZdOIMn2Jnxdm73jgT1bym_rK__0nIjgD9kUGc9xLvuw8zs5V54nGpjUlws0xHQpIMK5qZLz9kB55K4ihaD4mtcDRDPSV2ltS7RBjvLIcr4kMocbk4cuxz4HgWNx-CdDda9mFptQBR2HIS_Cx4bZK9-MUEn4L_DfMhAPei0XzB3upPl_vHOlh7HASuurGIti_p5AjzwlgoO8N0vsipJNrATZqGaY3NO1_3l1dzyzngWQSMsSCtG12-ZSYHcir7WtuXRB3kwzEdRK2tYz8XWI-N3gEZNIdy6ac6k-UJN_wT8UXn3TohqNtXzeh9Ofa8wGt_haknAy9iZp98QxpkiKmVa6dcw6sT3uQdoXvPHNRmOpVDWw=w888-h666-no)
Any thoughts on this? Would carb cleaner + compressed air do any good if nothing is even budging at all? The last reel I tore down the bearings were in bad shape but they at least would rotate some. In this case it's pretty drastic. Another thing I saw on Youtube was a guy repairing bearings from an RC where he wedged them on a thread between two nuts, tightened it down, and then took channel lock pliers to the outer race and forced it free. I'll have to check around to see if I have anything to even provision doing something like that though....
BTW: I realize this is a cheap reel. I'm doing this for more practice and to learn the 'art' but also as a favor to our friends, who often watch our kids which affords my wife and I the opportunity to go out :) Of course, if this starts involving having to buy new bearings and what not, it'll probably just be time to trash the reel unless I can acquire all the parts needing replacement at little to no cost. The initial issue with the reel was that it was stuck in reverse...! Quite a bit of rust and corrosion but not as much as the even cheaper GX2 reel I serviced and brought back to life for them. Apparently this reel got the worst of it though.
When in doubt, throw it out. I'd just get new ones. Even if you can get it freed up it'll never spin like a top again.
Quote from: MarkT on July 26, 2018, 04:42:02 PM
When in doubt, throw it out. I'd just get new ones. Even if you can get it freed up it'll never spin like a top again.
Yea, that's what I'm thinking... I called Mitchell just because and got a quote on new parts (all 3 bearings, o-ring, and a washer). It would cost $12-13 after tax and shipping.
I was able to free it up!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YPjOdJVE2w8wvIJXIUYAm7BTIm-X8Kd0qZMnu_yJyM3WSF0x_yYCU7GsQrc7eEA-JLs00-7AH5pEglR-L9nA-CV9w4IostllNEWqELn3vkw4zjYLnKvdGxRq3hNa477Lxv66myAg2GPwujRmWr7zdhwGUqYMOUCRgZm5VsArwPDULRD4BddRm0ru2AgA5zWhbDk-qjN6R0G6Adqtd7vWbDospPqRbwEf-0V3AJdRTkgKnBlR2c3jZrtxHD0BiFeUmfDGnfJavsb42RdrZTg5KYMFuHVxgB6YJXfEaP5hZKHJIPeymtbVex45DfU0e0A7xPJBtFNlSg1_vMtttKf8LSsZC82Y5-CJ8TmIJHkaXtHcO8j4lAzl_BN5TMiyhg_8BsHSpK9T8FvcQNkBG5KW4FHTbHrzehXhTpab18EjirR0_sW_maAA-dw_VsDAf_CQ6r0EIstcIlvs254HyOoWeFVPpvBNyWiQuMqulP_zoVMDHzt5TrDi8qEmGE_y4jsTvUG4JuvZYoccM2zHSzFQvPI1VfyQXbXJ9q02tuiypuH5K1GERj__khzKwulA46bI5DQHwu34WmOWBmf2IuC3INAF2S_W-tyIpg0PxEoZqTwZvuu9I2V3izlxS0EUYB5HnPTh4MzoV48s6SM7w7VPQI0AXllXIJdTCg=w711-h533-no)
For reference, I got the idea from here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnLHLkvL_v4
It's a pretty simple brute-force fix to do. The bearing seems to be spinning pretty well but yea not as well as it would if it weren't damaged in the first place lol. I think it'll be functional though, so I'm gonna pack grease into it and then put the reel back together. I have a feeling it'll be OK. This reel was originally only used in freshwater mostly but my friend started taking it to the salt and that's when the breakdown of it happened (and pretty fast). She'll be using this one and the GX2 as beater freshwater reels moving forward :)
you've gotta throw these away...... :-\
The most cost effective thing to do is just throw the reel away and buy another one. For the $30 they cost they aren't worth messing with and are disposable. I assume that's why you didn't want to spend $12 on new bearings?
Mark is right —
Less than $30 with free shipping for a brand new one.
There is a point of excess work for no reason, mediocre operation at best when complete, and wasted time.
We could repair ball point pens, cigarette lighters, and cell phones — but we (unfortunately) live in a world of corporate profit above all — built in obsolescence — and cheap imports from Asian countries stamped with trusted old school proven brand names.
Good practice, though.
But for me, I get enough practice on decent reels worth repairing.
I just strip the crank, bail, line guide, and spool — then try for a 3 pointer in the trash bin.🏀🏀🏀
Just my opinions.
Best,
Fred
This is starting to remind me of work. They take a completely worn out part and put it back on the shelf. Then when you need a new part you find a worthless pairt in a new box. Buy new bearings and toss the worn out ones so they can't be recycled.
Mike
I only grabbed a bearing with pliers one time.
It was a 4500ss I found in the surf after a hurricane.
The bearing was stuck on the main gear.
It shattered like a piece of glass.
Lesson Learned. ;)
I'd a done what you did jplee3.
'Cept I'da started off with carb or brake cleaner first thing. The bearings may never be the same, but it shouldn't matter on a cheaper reel, especially if they aren't conventional/baitcaster spool bearings. You did the economical thing and as you and Fred mentioned, learned some good stuff. Now if you were in the business(reel repair for $) I'd a done what they said.
Pretty creative pseudo-ultrasonic system!
If your friend does get a new reel, best to tear it down and marine grease everything, BEFORE it ever tasts saltwater.
I agree with Gfish and jplee. It's the appropriate thing to do with a $30 spinner. Might not be so lucky next time.
-steve
If I have a bearing that isn't completely smooth after a light spray of brake clean and some oil it goes in the bin. For all the effort that goes into trying to resurrect a bearing that has failed somehow you may as well spend the $10 and buy a new bearing, every single time. The revived bearings almost always either feel horrible as soon as the reel or reassembled, or about 15 minutes into your first fishing trip with them. Not worth it.
I respectfully disagree. Then again I'm doin a Don Quixote with the new age consumer throw-away culture. Losin alla time. It's only a $30 probable brother-in-law spinner, why not practice on it?
There are many good things that can be said about practice...(can't think of one right now, but I know there is!)...I was taking apart everything when I was a kid and Mom went to stop me but realized I started fixing everything because of it. It's practice on junk that teaches a man how to fix the good stuff.
Quote from: RamseyReelRepair on August 01, 2018, 01:45:28 AM
There are many good things that can be said about practice...(can't think of one right now, but I know there is!)...I was taking apart everything when I was a kid and Mom went to stop me but realized I started fixing everything because of it. It's practice on junk that teaches a man how to fix the good stuff.
Same thing with many of us on this forum
I always try and salvage the bearings, without too much effort. This case I personally would of thrown them out. You have your typical bearing that feels rough but spins. I clean them, grease/oil them and see how they feel. If its not good, then I get new ones.