Hey all - I came across a Ryobi V-Mag 3 baitcaster a few weeks ago on EBay and after finding a lot of positive reports I bought a couple. My original intent was a first baitcaster for my 12 year old grandson. It's a tiny thing! Smaller than the original Shimano Bantams. What I couldn't find was a schematic except Ebay so I ponied up. I specialized in early Shimano repair, tuning and horse trading but I'm curious about this Ryobi given the ties between the two companies years ago. Anyway, it's attached. I can't recommend it yet but I figure an energetic 12 year old will put it to the test.
And thanks to Alan and all of you for sharing your knowledge, opinions, BS and jokes on this board. You all help keep me entertained when I'm not fishing.
Mike
That's really interesting MrMike. Thank you for posting it. I never heard of that reel and may go looking for one in a few months after your have bought what you need. You can definitely see the Lew Childers and Shimano influences but it's quite a bit later. Do you happen to know the year(s)? If it is ever convenient, can you let us know the spool dimensions or side plate dimensions to get a better idea of size?
-steve
I'm pretty sure that's one I owned in the early 80's. That was pre Alan Tani and all of my light stuff didn't last long back then.
Quote from: oc1 on September 14, 2016, 08:49:21 PM
That's really interesting MrMike. Thank you for posting it. I never heard of that reel and may go looking for one in a few months after your have bought what you need. You can definitely see the Lew Childers and Shimano influences but it's quite a bit later. Do you happen to know the year(s)? If it is ever convenient, can you let us know the spool dimensions or side plate dimensions to get a better idea of size?
-steve
1986-87 which would be about the same time the early Shimano Bantams were sold in the U.S. and pre-Lews. I'll take some photos tomorrow with it next to other reels for comparison. I think it weighs 6.4 oz.
Mike
Here's some photos of the V-Mag 3. In the one photo it's next to a Shimano Bantam B100 and a Shimano Scorpion 1500.
Quote from: mrmike on September 15, 2016, 05:10:50 AM
1986-87 which would be about the same time the early Shimano Bantams were sold in the U.S. and pre-Lews.
Mike
Isn't that more like 1976-77 and post-Lews, you mean?
.
I think you're right Robert. The Shimano Lew's Speed Spool came out in 1975. Childre and Shimano fell out, Ryobi started making the Lew's Speed Spool, and Shimano came out with the Bantam 100 in 1978. The V spool was being made by about 1980 but they still had the paddle handles. The early Ryobi-made Lew's Speed Spool were big and heavy compared to the Bantam 100 at about the same line capacity. I don't know when the magnets and smaller size appeared. I really like the looks of the V-Mag 3.
-steve
Yes, i don't know much about it though; i just think it is an interesting story.
I know only that Lew himself died around that time in the late '70s, and Fred Archer used to like to take a lot of credit for Shimanos tremendous expansion in the late 70s and early 80s. Maybe rightfully so; idunno. To me he was just a loudmouth jerk, but he had far more fishing accomplishments than i likely ever will.
.
What else happened in Ryobis future? They had great sucess with the Marfix and OEM products for other brands in the 90s, but for themselves? Was it only in North America they weren't so prevalent?
Quote from: Robert Janssen on September 15, 2016, 08:06:12 AM
Quote from: mrmike on September 15, 2016, 05:10:50 AM
1986-87 which would be about the same time the early Shimano Bantams were sold in the U.S. and pre-Lews.
Mike
Isn't that more like 1976-77 and post-Lews, you mean?
.
Robert & Steve: I went back to find the source for my dates and I'm still looking. In the process I ran across an article which maintains 1984: http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/the-ryobi-v-spool (http://bassfishingarchives.com/short-strikes/the-ryobi-v-spool)
I'm definitely not an expert on this topic compared to most on this board but here to learn. Appreciate your input.
Mike
Thank you very much for sharing that Mike. I thought the V-spool was a Lew's thing but maybe it was a Ryobi idea. Here is a listing for a V-spool Ryobi-made Lew's BB-1NG from the early 1980's
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Lews-Lews-Childre-Speed-Spool-BB-1N-Cranking-Casting-Reel-/371740782559 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nice-Lews-Lews-Childre-Speed-Spool-BB-1N-Cranking-Casting-Reel-/371740782559)
They were black and silver for at first and later there was a black and gold version. I said they were from about 1980 above, but they could have easily been a few years later. At this stage of development the 'V' was very pronounced. The 'V' turned into more of a 'U' as time went on; presumably to increase line capacity.
Every time this thread comes up I get a craving for a V-Mag 3 and might have to go ahead and pull the trigger.
-steve
(I think I confused the issue; sorry. I was referring to the Bantams as 1978ish and the term Post-Lews as in, Lew died. Which really had little to do with Ryobis v-spool.)
We now return to regularly scheduled thread.
.
I vaguely recall reading something about Mag3 being the smaller, lighter, "dinkier" version of Mag4, that didn't even come close as far as longevity, durability and ease of maintenance
I just have a penchant for small reels.
In looking at the auction listings there is a V-Mag 3 with metal spool that holds 90 yards of 12 lb mono and one that has a composite spool marked 100 yards of 12 lb mono. Hopefully the metal spool is aluminum and the lighter of the two because that's what I bought.
There's several biographies about Lew Childre on the web. After he crashed his plane and was killed his family kept the business going and then sold it off to Browning. After Browning let it fade away a family friend bought the name and revived it in it's present form.
-steve
Well I gave the little Ryobi V-Mag 3 a field test and was somewhat disappointed in the casting distance but not surprised given that bushings (bronze impregnated I believe) are used. There's not a bearing anywhere. My brother and I took a trip to Grand Lake of the Cherokees this week and I gave it a try. I spooled it with 8lb. P-Line fluoroscent coated mono and used it to fish various baits. With a ΒΌ oz. lure the best I could do was 35' guesstimated. I suspect it could be increased somewhat if I were to polish the spool shaft and the cast control braking disc. It would be fine for a young beginner fishing off the bank or shore (lake or pond) who is new to baitcasters but I bought it with my 12 year old grandson in mind and he is a little more advanced from that. Otherwise it is a well designed and built little reel. One thought that occurred to me was the possibility of replacing the bushings with bearings if I could find the correct size. I've not researched that to any degree but would appreciate any thoughts you all might have. I'll open one up (I now have 3) and take some measurements.
Mike
Mrmike, chances are that little reel takes the same size bearings as Bantam 100s and Daiwa Prolites. This size is pretty easy to find, but, I changed a Prolite 100 to bearings and it picked up little more distance than well lubed bushings. I think your polishing idea and some fast oil should produce the best results.
I really like this little reel. It is so compact. My son has commandeered my Curado 70 for now so I have been using the V-Mag 3 as the go-to reel. It is on a ultralight 10 ft graphite rod. Have not measured distances but think it is about 80 ft for a 1/4 oz jig and 130 ft for 3/8 oz jig.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/VM1.jpg)
I polished the bushings and spool shaft with jewelers rouge on a cotton buff while doing the pre-service and was surprised by how well it did. Then I put in ceramic hybrid bearings and squeezed a couple of extra yards out of it. The tail plate bearing is 3x6x2.5 mm with a flange and the spool shaft bearing is 5x11x3 mm without flange. Below are the Boca item numbers for ceramic hybrid but they also have stainless.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/VM2.jpg)
You need to put a thick spacer under the tail plate bearing. I forgot to measure and take pictures but think it is probably about 1.3 to 1.5 mm thick. You will know it is the right thickness when the spool is properly centered. I filed down some Shimano composite spacers but you could also do it with brass.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/VM3.jpg)
There is no room for a third bearing under the head plate cast control knob but as long as everything is aligned and the inside of the knob is kept clean you should not need one there.
The things I do not like so much about the reel are the speed, lack of a thumb bar to take it out of gear (the fast-cast thing) and accessibility of the bearings for service. Part of the reason it is so small is it does not have a large diameter main gear; hence the slower gear ratio. Three screws are removed from the tail plate and the inner magnet ring is removed to access the bearings. So, there is no quick and easy way to clean and dry the bearings. Mine is splashed with saltwater at every outing so the bronze bushings would tarnish again soon and lubricated bearings would have to be cleaned frequently to get the emulsion out. Hence, the choice of non-lubricated ceramic hybrid bearings.
Mike, thank you very much for drawing attention to this little gem. If you still need that original bushing and shim I will send you mine.
-steve
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/VM6.jpg)
I broke the cheap Mud Hole 2 wt fly rod blank this reel was on. It was a two piece blank and broke a foot above the ferrule with a crack that ran upward another foot. I think a good blank should only break at the fulcrum under the fore grip or reel seat. Perhaps it had been damaged. Perhaps it's just as well because I stayed with the reel as long as I could stand it. This reel has been a maintenance hog.
From my perspective, the Achilles heel of the V-Mag 3 is the aluminum spacer between the drag star and drag plate. There is no shield and the reel takes in a lot of water between the spacer and brass head plate bushing and between the spacer and the shaft. The grease will emulsify and disappear, salt will crystalize and the aluminum spacer will seize to the brass. I tried shaving the spacer to increase the tolerance which helped a little. I replaced the aluminum with a piece of delrin tubing and that helped even more, but it will still seize up between uses.
I've been into the reel so many times that the head plate and tail plate screws are starting to get sloppy. The screws are really thin and the metal seems soft.
The clutch is a bit squirrely. It is like an old Penn in that the spool sometimes needs to be rocked back to get it out of gear, especially if there is the least bit of tension on the line.
The casting distance is good enough (but not great) and the little reel feels great in the palm of your hand. The footprint is similar to a Calcutta 50 but it is not as high (low profile). It's just too much trouble. Someone who fishes freshwater and is more fastidious than myself may have better luck with it.
-steve