Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Spinning Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => D.A.M. Quick => Topic started by: JeffG on April 11, 2024, 01:27:08 PM

Title: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 11, 2024, 01:27:08 PM
Open for opinion. This was an eBay buy that said it had a bail issue. Thanks to Fred that was taken care of, but I noticed the oscillating gear did a little wiggling. I thought maybe it would be too bad, but this much slop is going to cause the oscillating gear wear quick and I'm sure the line lay will suffer also. Looks like it was just pressed and, more or less riveted in. Tried to upload a quick video, but not happening.
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: foakes on April 11, 2024, 02:35:48 PM
Quote from: Cubby1973 on April 11, 2024, 01:27:08 PMOpen for opinion. This was an eBay buy that said it had a bail issue. Thanks to Fred that was taken care of, but I noticed the oscillating gear did a little wiggling. I thought maybe it would be too bad, but this much slop is going to cause the oscillating gear wear quick and I'm sure the line lay will suffer also. Looks like it was just pressed and, more or less riveted in. Tried to upload a quick video, but not happening.

——————————————-

Hi Jeff —

The worm pinion will not wear out, since it is steel.  It rides in the steel bearing & the rear frame housing bushing — which is brass.  DQ, as well as other quality reel makers would use "material selection of aluminum, brass, bronze, steel, and some softer alloys" — so that the parts would play well together, be smoother, and in the case of a failure — the lease expensive parts would ideally go first.

In the case of your reel, I suspect that the grease became caked and hard over decades of "non-use".  Then someone came along and tried to "free" it up by continuing to crank against the resistance — instead of doing a full cleaning, evacuation of all crud & grease, burnishing and polishing of internals, then reassembly with modern synthetic grease.  This is what broke the oscillation gear post that is attached to the frame.

There are a few remedies — the first two will result in perfect results.

A replacement frame housing, $20.

Send me the reel as-is in a plastic baggie —- and I'll replace the frame, remove the old bearing, replace any questionable parts — and get everything operating 100%, and good for another 30 years, $40.

Try to replace the post with something else.  While possible, this is time consuming with no guarantee of a successful result — and will likely end up with a reel of low confidence performance — which could fail at a critical time.

The engineering tolerances are exact and tight on these reels.  Any slop or deviation will not go well.  The A/R dog also operates on this steel post.

Glad to help, however you decide..

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 11, 2024, 03:11:36 PM
Thanks Fred. I will most likely have you send the whole frame since I got the bearing and pinion out, but will message you the final decision.

Thanks
Jeff
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 03:14:11 PM
:(  Can you load a picture ?   
broke the oscillation gear post that is attached to the frame.

That kid can break a bowling ball in a sand box !
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 11, 2024, 03:37:12 PM
Quote from: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 03:14:11 PM:(  Can you load a picture ?   
broke the oscillation gear post that is attached to the frame.

That kid can break a bowling ball in a sand box !


There's not much a picture will do. It's just loose, very loose, in the housing and the post itself can spin.
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 04:28:12 PM
Quote from: Cubby1973 on April 11, 2024, 03:37:12 PM
Quote from: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 03:14:11 PM:(  Can you load a picture ?   
broke the oscillation gear post that is attached to the frame.

That kid can break a bowling ball in a sand box !


There's not much a picture will do. It's just loose, very loose, in the housing and the post itself can spin.
OH   Ok ,Makes me think that the post is held in place with a twist grip rivet.
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 11, 2024, 07:07:34 PM
Quote from: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 04:28:12 PM
Quote from: Cubby1973 on April 11, 2024, 03:37:12 PM
Quote from: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 03:14:11 PM:(  Can you load a picture ?   
broke the oscillation gear post that is attached to the frame.

That kid can break a bowling ball in a sand box !


There's not much a picture will do. It's just loose, very loose, in the housing and the post itself can spin.
OH   Ok ,Makes me think that the post is held in place with a twist grip rivet.

Yeah, not sure. I gave it a tap up against my vice the best I could, but didn't feel like anything changed. When I get a replacement I'll look into grinding it out to see how. Maybe I'll be able to somehow affix it back.
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: Steve V. on April 19, 2024, 03:44:59 AM
Quote from: oldmanjoe on April 11, 2024, 03:14:11 PMThat kid can break a bowling ball in a sand box !

I thought it was break a crowbar in the middle of the desert with his bare hands.

 :d
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 19, 2024, 05:55:09 PM
Well, I was able to grind the oscillating wheel post out and then while waiting for the replacement frame from Fred, post office is really taking it's time, I got some JB Weld and secured the post back to the frame and after some crappy grinding with a Dremel it's temporarily back together and working flawlessly!
    Posting a few pics of the journey.

Thanks
Jeff
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: foakes on April 19, 2024, 06:21:01 PM
Please let me know when the 265 frame arrives, Jeff —-

According to the latest USPS tracking, it is still enroute!

Tracking shows it left our P.O. on 4/11/24.

Nice work on the 265 oscillation gear post.

Best, Fred
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 19, 2024, 06:40:04 PM
Quote from: foakes on April 19, 2024, 06:21:01 PMPlease let me know when the 265 frame arrives, Jeff —-

According to the latest USPS tracking, it is still enroute!

Tracking shows it left our P.O. on 4/11/24.

Nice work on the 265 oscillation gear post.

Best, Fred

Yeah, I had something a couple of months back do the same thing was "moving through the network" for 11 days! But I'm sure it will get here.

     I wasn't sure the a/r dog would run true, but all runs well. I will have an extra, although "Frankensteined" frame, rotor and faceplate. Maybe I'll piece a whole one together some day.

Thanks
Jeff
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: quang tran on April 19, 2024, 07:11:37 PM
I have a question about Microlite reel ,does spool for Microlite and 110 the same ? Have line spooling problem but remember it was fine before,I may mix up the spool with 110 ?
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: Midway Tommy on April 19, 2024, 07:31:56 PM
Quote from: quang tran on April 19, 2024, 07:11:37 PMI have a question about Microlite reel ,does spool for Microlite and 110 the same ? Have line spooling problem but remember it was fine before,I may mix up the spool with 110 ?

110 & Microlite 265 spools will interchange, but a 110N spool will not work in either the 110 or Microlite 265. 
Title: Re: Microlite, never seen this!
Post by: JeffG on April 26, 2024, 11:00:42 PM
Quote from: foakes on April 19, 2024, 06:21:01 PMPlease let me know when the 265 frame arrives, Jeff —-

According to the latest USPS tracking, it is still enroute!

Tracking shows it left our P.O. on 4/11/24.

Nice work on the 265 oscillation gear post.

Best, Fred

Hi Fred! The 265 frame came Wednesday all is well now. Thanks again!

Jeff