Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I ordered one of these online because options seem to be limited for jigmaster handle blades that aren't offset. (Am I the only person with big fingers here? How does nobody else have this problem? with an offset handle my fingers struggle to fit between the offset handle on a narrow reel and a non-skinny rod?)

But I digress. The maker made the hole for the gear sleeve a half a millimeter larger than the sleeve in both directions. I sent a message to see if this was intentional or if I got a lemon. No, it's intentional, supposedly to make installation easier. But with the gear sleeve held still the handle will rotate almost 45°. Seller says the handle will still work just fine (with the added "believe me") and maybe if you're fishing it at 2-5# of drag it'll be just fine, for a while. But that's not how I fish my jigmaster. I don't think I know anyone who fishes their jigmaster in that way.

If I knew the sleeve hole was oversized ahead of time I wouldn't have bought it. They don't advertise this intentional design feature so I'm spreading the word for them.

   That case has user error written all over it .

Thanks all! Very much appreciated!

I got to work on the 714z some more. The drag clicker is kind of funky on these reels. Bending it just a little brings it from barely audible to extremely loud. I kept playing with it until I got that nice ringing click I like. So there's a tuning tip for the 714 drag clicker. Just bend it until it works. Also a tip, that removable spool assembly can make is nice to see that drag clicker spring so you can see how it needs to bend.

This reel was another that needed a spacer under the spool to make the line lay level. I tried a carbontex washer, but it increases the drag. I used a second teflon drag washer which works great, and the line lays level. Now all that's left to do is spool it up with some nice thin braid.

I hear you Fred, it's absolutely ridiculous how costs have gotten out of hand the last two to three years or so. Those of us that tried to plan ahead for the "Golden Years" have really gotten a wakeup call and a big chunk taken out of our butt! 

On a little different note, I've got multiple small gas engine repair shops around my vicinity, probably 25 or so, but at $200 an hour shop time it has to be a pretty high dollar piece of equipment to justify taking it in for repair, and if you want to buy parts from them retail costs are ridiculous. I needed to buy a Cub Cadet snow blower auger belt so I got a supposedly correct (#s matched) aftermarket belt. It was a little wide, rubbed the guide and squealed & smoked like crazy. I got a genuine belt from the repair shop and that little sucker was $28 with tax.    At least now I have a sleeve with the genuine part #. If I ever have to buy another it sure won't be from the repair shop! 

I hear ya, Fred. It's easy to get on a soapbox about things like that until it's time to part with your hard-earned cash, and as you say these days there are plenty of other things competing for it.

Quote from: boon on Today at 01:05:22 AMI'm a bit torn. I have a little Honda stationary engine (GX270) and I have spent far more on genuine Honda parts to recondition the carb than a complete chinese clone carb would have cost me.
But then I would be supporting a business that does nil product development, and has just copied the Honda item, to unknown tolerance, specification, metallurgy etc. Would the chinese clone product probably do the job perfectly well? I would say there's a very, very good chance it would. But until the price difference becomes eye-watering, I will endeavour to use genuine parts.

EDIT: This does not apply when one can find out the originator of the genuine part, and buy it direct at a major discount with different branding. That's just being smart.

I used to feel the same way.  But, at least in my case, there are other factors to consider.  Factory magneto for my 036 Stihl chainsaw was around $130, compared to $18.

This tuneup kit for the blower was also 10 times the price of Asia.

Nowadays, with our homeowners insurance tripling, gas at over $5 a gallon, food prices up 45% across the board, and prices just at crazy levels on nearly everything —- we can't really afford to provide cut-throat corporations with obscene profits.

Not going to happen in our house.

Unfortunately...

Best, Fred

Just finished my 2.5 Penn Senator.

Free spools better than it's 3/0 donor ever did.

Last picture is a 2/0, the new 2.5/0, and 3/0 for size comparison.

Thanks Ted for the inspiration.

Ton's of possibilities for this reel but I think it's going to kill a lot of shallow Rock-Cod in the near future.

Steve

Quote from: boon on Today at 01:05:22 AMI'm a bit torn. I have a little Honda stationary engine (GX270) and I have spent far more on genuine Honda parts to recondition the carb than a complete chinese clone carb would have cost me.
But then I would be supporting a business that does nil product development, and has just copied the Honda item, to unknown tolerance, specification, metallurgy etc. Would the chinese clone product probably do the job perfectly well? I would say there's a very, very good chance it would. But until the price difference becomes eye-watering, I will endeavour to use genuine parts.

EDIT: This does not apply when one can find out the originator of the genuine part, and buy it direct at a major discount with different branding. That's just being smart.

I had a somewhat different Honda motor I was very particular about. It was in my 07 civic SI. I only used Honda parts. The difference is you and I likely both bought these things at or near fair market value.  Fred was given this one, with the implication that it was dead. Very different investment incentive.

don't laugh.  it actually works. 

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Self-Adjusting-Universal-Self-Adjusts-application/dp/B0177E9JPS/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.19OJUaILi-SxOK7Sq2Cuieh1M5Bt78WaC7eNqKOzRLoxQLgVW7v5d1yFlVFVh8MBh_oenlbhf17dlJpB7pyjIE_Oo9i4MXf1ftklBksJwBEr1FEzL5pxPFO79CRkjqnHm29cL5CKkuuoYeOTj4AcDbcN0aIXuqbWGxiOOBzaW-KdsfsF-MDQPMoV7DzWLEd67CJNOdP8ytJeyj-bB19_5gGtl-Gd19pbwM1xACpQbKGB-CkagHKFwkfqdZhVABqax55gbdgiF4dlIsJxPHAEwZDdLZxE4aRF3-neHte56Tw.A5V5F-kLu6nUlMFrYszSKNQrjnFHLIEHtZcpfKvu_iI&dib_tag=se&keywords=gator+grip&qid=1715304987&sr=8-2