Fathom II 60NLD2 Loss of free spool

Started by Bill B, June 02, 2023, 05:20:57 PM

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Bill B

Is there anything that can be done to fix the loss of freespool on the Fathom II 60NLD2 when the drag at strike is set at 20#?  It was purchased new and never fished.  Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Bryan Young

I would first look to see if the Belleville washers had cracked.  Second would be spacing between the spool bearing should be a hair longer and the length between the bearing cups, similarly when adding a spool sleeve spacer.  There should be a hair shift of the spool right to left when you press both inner races of the spool bearing.
:D I talk with every part I send out and each reel I repair so that they perform at the top of their game. :D

Hardy Boy

Bill in my experience you never get the numbers for the fathoms that they say. I have worked on a few and they all do that. Maybe try different bellvilles. Luckily here no one is looking for high drag numbers

Todd
Todd

MarkT

#3
It probably needs a shim or two... or it has too many! It's been a fairly common issue with those reels.

Bloody Decks thread on the new Fathoms... 60n freespool issues are mentioned... including in the  Charkbait video.
https://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/threads/gen-ii-fathoms.808485/#post-5670935
When I was your age Pluto was a planet!

steelfish

I was hoping to hear good stories about the fathom Gen 2 but after reading the link that Mark posted, it seems that they're the same reels just painted silver instead of black with few new narrow models.  :-\

I sold my 1st gen fathom 40 LD2 because of the same reason, nice size and pretty reel but you couldnt pass the 15# mark at strike without feeling a good amount of resistance on the handle, forget about 25# at full or more and never dare to think about reach the promoted 40# drag at full.


The Baja Guy

Tunanorth

Quote from: Bill B on June 02, 2023, 05:20:57 PMIs there anything that can be done to fix the loss of freespool on the Fathom II 60NLD2 when the drag at strike is set at 20#?  It was purchased new and never fished.  Bill


Regarding the 60N models, this issue affected about 25 percent of the first production run.
It does not appear to have affected any of the other 18 models of the "II" series.
Once the cause was identified [my personal reel was the "guinea pig"], a revised part was manufactured, and any reels affected are covered under warranty.
You may have some recourse with your retailer, otherwise it should be sent to the service dept. in Philadelphia, following the instructions on the website.
 

Tunanorth

Quote from: steelfish on June 03, 2023, 12:32:57 AMI was hoping to hear good stories about the fathom Gen 2 but after reading the link that Mark posted, it seems that they're the same reels just painted silver instead of black with few new narrow models.  :-\

I sold my 1st gen fathom 40 LD2 because of the same reason, nice size and pretty reel but you couldnt pass the 15# mark at strike without feeling a good amount of resistance on the handle, forget about 25# at full or more and never dare to think about reach the promoted 40# drag at full.

There was a batch of 40N's that were missing a bellville, which caused issues above 15 pounds of drag, and can easily be fixed by the service dept. Not sure if the fix is illustrated somewhere here on Alan's site.
In general, the old [and new] 40N's fish best in the high teens or low 20's at Strike. this allows up to the high 20's during a fight.
As a "medium frame" reel, going towards 40 pounds is indeed difficult, and not an ideal application of the reel.
For the same line capacity, the 12VISX is a "heavy frame" reel that can handle those higher numbers easily.
 




Bill B

Quote from: Tunanorth on June 03, 2023, 10:31:04 PM
Quote from: Bill B on June 02, 2023, 05:20:57 PMIs there anything that can be done to fix the loss of freespool on the Fathom II 60NLD2 when the drag at strike is set at 20#?  It was purchased new and never fished.  Bill


Regarding the 60N models, this issue affected about 25 percent of the first production run.
It does not appear to have affected any of the other 18 models of the "II" series.
Once the cause was identified [my personal reel was the "guinea pig"], a revised part was manufactured, and any reels affected are covered under warranty.
You may have some recourse with your retailer, otherwise it should be sent to the service dept. in Philadelphia, following the instructions on the website.
 

Thank you Steve, I will get it out asap.  BTW is it possible to share with us which part is causing the issue?  I suspect the bearing sleeve is too short.  Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Tunanorth

Quote from: Bill B on June 04, 2023, 12:29:51 AM
Quote from: Tunanorth on June 03, 2023, 10:31:04 PM
Quote from: Bill B on June 02, 2023, 05:20:57 PMIs there anything that can be done to fix the loss of freespool on the Fathom II 60NLD2 when the drag at strike is set at 20#?  It was purchased new and never fished.  Bill


Regarding the 60N models, this issue affected about 25 percent of the first production run.
It does not appear to have affected any of the other 18 models of the "II" series.
Once the cause was identified [my personal reel was the "guinea pig"], a revised part was manufactured, and any reels affected are covered under warranty.
You may have some recourse with your retailer, otherwise it should be sent to the service dept. in Philadelphia, following the instructions on the website.
 

Thank you Steve, I will get it out asap.  BTW is it possible to share with us which part is causing the issue?  I suspect the bearing sleeve is too short.  Bill


Cal Sheets and Ken Corwin came up with a "temporary fix" by shortening the sleeve very by just a few 1000ths.
The longer term fix is a "heavier drag spacer spring".
Right now they want the affected reels back to be covered under warranty, no DIY yet.



Tunanorth

Caught last week using my repaired 60N.


Bill B

Nice fish Steve!  What is the reel spooled with?  Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!

Tunanorth

Quote from: Bill B on June 04, 2023, 02:23:19 PMNice fish Steve!  What is the reel spooled with?  Bill


Reel filled with 80-pound Pro-Spec solid braid [675 yards], with a 25-foot wind-on of 100-pound mono, plus a 3-foot leader of 200-pound.
Rod is the Carnage III "West Coast" Rail Rod, 7-foot, 60-100 pound model.


steelfish

Quote from: Tunanorth on June 03, 2023, 10:39:45 PMThere was a batch of 40N's that were missing a bellville, which caused issues above 15 pounds of drag, and can easily be fixed by the service dept. Not sure if the fix is illustrated somewhere here on Alan's site.
In general, the old [and new] 40N's fish best in the high teens or low 20's at Strike. this allows up to the high 20's during a fight.
As a "medium frame" reel, going towards 40 pounds is indeed difficult, and not an ideal application of the reel.
For the same line capacity, the 12VISX is a "heavy frame" reel that can handle those higher numbers easily.
 

I never knew about that "Recall" or bad batch of 40's reels or I would have tried to fix mine before I sold it, I never actually was expecting to reach those 40# advertised but really wanted to reach at least 25# without much binding on the handle.

thanks Steve for the info, I least now I can check that up if someone brings me a LD Fathom reel with those symptoms.

The Baja Guy

Tunanorth

Quote from: steelfish on June 05, 2023, 06:59:08 PM
Quote from: Tunanorth on June 03, 2023, 10:39:45 PMThere was a batch of 40N's that were missing a bellville, which caused issues above 15 pounds of drag, and can easily be fixed by the service dept. Not sure if the fix is illustrated somewhere here on Alan's site.
In general, the old [and new] 40N's fish best in the high teens or low 20's at Strike. this allows up to the high 20's during a fight.
As a "medium frame" reel, going towards 40 pounds is indeed difficult, and not an ideal application of the reel.
For the same line capacity, the 12VISX is a "heavy frame" reel that can handle those higher numbers easily.
 

I never knew about that "Recall" or bad batch of 40's reels or I would have tried to fix mine before I sold it, I never actually was expecting to reach those 40# advertised but really wanted to reach at least 25# without much binding on the handle.

thanks Steve for the info, I least now I can check that up if someone brings me a LD Fathom reel with those symptoms.




It was not a huge number of reels, and "seemed" to be isolated in Southern California; meaning it was probably a batch shipped to a wholesaler serving that area.
IIRC it was about 3 years ago, on the "Gen1" 40N's only, and was a pretty short-lived phenomenon.

 

Bill B

Got my 60N into the mail system today... Steve can you put a good word in for me and have a few stickers placed in the return box 😉. Bill
It may not be very productive,
but it's sure going to be interesting!