Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Avet Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Bucktail on June 13, 2013, 10:28:51 PM

Title: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 13, 2013, 10:28:51 PM
I recently cleaned, re-lubed, installed new bearings and reassembled my friends SX 5.3.  It turns OK, has plenty of freespool, and the drag seems fine.  The only thing is that it sounds terrible when turning the handle.  It's making a zzzzzzzzzzz sound (if that makes any sense).  It's not a crunchy, corroded bearing sound, which is what it had when he first gave it to me.  It's like an annoying buzzing.

I don't own an Avet, so I can't compare it to anything, but it doesn't sound right.  I think that I might have installed the connection arm (part #23) incorrectly. http://www.avetreels.net/uploads/SX_5.3.pdf (http://www.avetreels.net/uploads/SX_5.3.pdf)  Unfortunately, the schematic doesn't have a good shot of how it goes in.

If any of you get a chance, can you please take a picture of the inside of the handle side showing how this is supposed to go?  If that's not the issue, I'm lost.

Thanks,
Bob
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Fish-aholic on June 14, 2013, 01:12:55 AM
(http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc146/Chriscpb/AvetSXMC93.jpg) (http://s214.photobucket.com/user/Chriscpb/media/AvetSXMC93.jpg.html)

Could the sound your hearing be the SS gears meshing together when cranking?
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 14, 2013, 03:16:33 AM
Thank you for the quick response Fish-aholic.  As you can see I had it installed correctly, except for the retaining wire being under the connection arm (it should be over).

(http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q767/BobFate/Solar_Heater026_zpsb319c6d9.jpg) (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BobFate/media/Solar_Heater026_zpsb319c6d9.jpg.html)

Unfortunately, even after I corrected that minor issue, the noise continues.  Maybe I'm crazy and this is how they're supposed to sound.

Anyway, I made this short video in which you can hear the reel in action.  Please let me know if this is normal or I need to open her up again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDu8ImTTGtE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDu8ImTTGtE)

Thanks,
Bob
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: SoCalAngler on June 14, 2013, 05:36:32 AM
They do make some sound but not as loud as yours, or maybe its my computer volume though. Open it up again and clean what ever grease is on the gears and replace with something thicker if you have it and see if that lessens the noise. It does sound like the pinion and main gear to me.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 14, 2013, 05:27:12 PM
I just regreased it with the Yamaha marine grease. The pinion is new. 

???
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: SoCalAngler on June 14, 2013, 06:18:42 PM
I just picked up a new SX last week and did a prefishing service to it, cleaned and relubed spool bearings with TSI 321, packed all other bearings with grease, greased drag washer and smeared grease here and there where needed. The reel does make a little noise like all Avets. It was kind of hard to tell how much noise your reel was making because I had to cranck up the volume on my computer to hear it. I could not compare it to like the sound of someones voice.

Edit: But, by the sound of the lever moving in and out of gear as a reference noise level you reels does sound a good deal louder than mine.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3a
Post by: Bucktail on June 14, 2013, 06:46:55 PM
As chance would have it, I'm sitting here watching Roland Martin catching grouper with an Avet.  And sure enough that reel is buzzing like a chainsaw!  So, unless somebody else wants to chime in on this and tell me I'm wrong, I think I'll leave it for now and assume that's the way it's supposed to sound.  ;)

Thank you Fish-aholic and So Cal Angler for your help.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: akfish on June 14, 2013, 06:50:39 PM
But Roland Martin was using and older MXL -- before Avet started using "silent" dogs. You reel should be pretty quiet. My guess is that the round wire that holds the dog spring is bent and thus the dog doesn't fit quite right.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 14, 2013, 06:55:22 PM
So Cal, it looks like I was typing my response while you were editing yours. Ok. It looks like I will have to open her up again and check it out again.   

Akfish, I guess you've seen that episode too huh?  :D I didn't think it was bent out of shape but I will look into it. Thanks.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 08:31:53 PM
The pinion gear does seem small, like there's a gap between the pinion and the main gear...or is it a shadow.  All the avets that I have worked on, it's a fairly snug fit between the main and pinion gear.  I don't think it's coming from the anti-reverse pawl.  That looks like it's positioned just fine.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 10:42:09 PM
Aaron from Reelspeed indicated that it could also be the position of the plastic retainer on the main gear. You may want to check that out.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 14, 2013, 11:29:40 PM
Quote from: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 08:31:53 PM
The pinion gear does seem small, like there's a gap between the pinion and the main gear...or is it a shadow.  All the avets that I have worked on, it's a fairly snug fit between the main and pinion gear.  I don't think it's coming from the anti-reverse pawl.  That looks like it's positioned just fine.

The main gear is pushed out from the frame a little in that pic from standing it up on the table.

Quote from: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 10:42:09 PM
Aaron from Reelspeed indicated that it could also be the position of the plastic retainer on the main gear. You may want to check that out.

OK.  I'll check that as well.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 11:34:57 PM
is the pinion gear backwards?
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Jon_Kol on June 15, 2013, 10:04:27 AM
I've never replaced/fixed anything in an SX myself apart from maintenance of the reel, but looking at the photo - is the circled area a bit "off" compared to the other photo posted here? It almost looks like the retainer(?) is not fully centered?

(http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo221/stadjon/AVETSX_zps9c750257.jpg) (http://s378.photobucket.com/user/stadjon/media/AVETSX_zps9c750257.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 15, 2013, 05:27:11 PM
Quote from: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 11:34:57 PM
is the pinion gear backwards?

No.  That's the only way it fits.

Quote from: Bryan Young on June 14, 2013, 10:42:09 PM
Aaron from Reelspeed indicated that it could also be the position of the plastic retainer on the main gear. You may want to check that out.

Yeah, it's pushed out in that picture because the handle was off and it was leaning  on the drive shaft.  Even with everything seated correctly it's still buzzing. ???

Here's a new shot of it all put together.

(http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q767/BobFate/Katie_Soccer_2013018_zps64427188.jpg) (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/BobFate/media/Katie_Soccer_2013018_zps64427188.jpg.html)


If I get a chance later, I'll take it apart again and try to figure it out.  Maybe, if you're lucky, I'll make another video.  ;D

Thanks for everyone's help on this.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 16, 2013, 07:19:47 PM
Fished with another friend today who just happened to have 2 Avet SX reels.  Man!  Those things are quiet! ;D  Before I left the dock I snagged one for research. ;)

So, after I open it, I'm either going to figure out what was making the noise and be able to fix my other friend's reel, or I'll have two reels that buzz! :D
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: SoCalAngler on June 17, 2013, 05:02:03 AM
I hope you get it all squared away.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Mandelstam on June 17, 2013, 05:39:43 AM
You sure the mute button is pressed in?
;D

Can't wait to hear (!) what you find out!

/Karl
Title: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3 (Updated with a new video)
Post by: Bucktail on June 18, 2013, 08:52:21 PM
I opened my friend's reel and found one difference between the two.  His has a drive shaft gear washer (part # 28A) which the schematic lists as "optional".  http://www.avetreels.net/uploads/SX_5.3.pdf (http://www.avetreels.net/uploads/SX_5.3.pdf)

Even so, I took that washer and put it in the camo reel to see if it would cure the problem.  It didn't.

Next, I swapped pinions.  (See video).

In the video you can see:

1.  The camo reel making noise
2.  The orange reel is almost silent
3.  I take the pinion out of the camo reel and put it in the orange reel.  Now the orange reel makes noise.
4.  I put the original pinion back in, and it's silent again
5.  I take the pinion out of the orange reel and put it in the camo reel.  The camo reel still makes noise.

Any more ideas???

http://youtu.be/u-PrdK2OU1E (http://youtu.be/u-PrdK2OU1E)

Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: SoCalAngler on June 19, 2013, 05:46:40 AM
I only have one more thing to offer and you most likely don't want to hear it. Send it to Avet and let them sort it out, I'm sure they will make it right.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 19, 2013, 02:03:23 PM
With all the experience, knowledge and expertise on this site I'm surprised we can't figure this out. :-\
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Jon_Kol on June 19, 2013, 05:25:34 PM
No visible difference between the two pinions - the one from the camo and the one from the orange?

First thing that comes to mind is a slight dent or bend in one of the fine metal teeth on the pinion, but you've probably looked at it from all angles already.

Interesting case - I guess there's no visible difference in the thickness of the pinion; that it's slightly too big/too small to fit perfectly against the other components and therefore is making the sound?

Note that this is just me thinking out loud..
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: JGB on June 19, 2013, 10:25:15 PM
Read all the post up to here. I just had one that had a distinct 'bzzzz' sound while the spool turned. turned out it was on the left side plate.
The plastic click bushing was worn or deformed slightly (it has little slots for the detent fingers). tried beding slightly - no good. Ah the remedy was simple - turn the bushing 180 degrees so a unworn  detent held the clicker up when off ( instead of part way up). It was quite baffling taking the reel apart at least 4 time before it came to me ( pushing the click button while cranking eliminated the noise.

There is also a second source of noise and that is also in the left side plate. The spool shaft can knock if there is not a stiff grease in the side plate spool shaft slot. This is a common issue that kind of sounds and feels like a gear problem. Had to call Avet on this - replaced the shaft and it helped but the grease fixed it.
Jim N.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Fish-aholic on June 22, 2013, 03:48:01 PM
Any updates, Bucktail, to your issue after Jim's suggestion?

I had a similar scenario to yours with one reel. I never did put my finger on the root cause of the increased gearing audio being heard. At the time, I wished I had an inventory of Avet spares to hand.  :-\   
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 22, 2013, 05:53:11 PM
No.  I haven't had the chance to put it together again.  Probably this week.

I was thinking maybe I need a new main gear.   :-\  Hopefully those other suggestions will pan out.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: swordfishsteve on June 22, 2013, 10:52:32 PM
Hi Bucktail
Swordfishsteve here from NZ, I do a lot of work on these Avets and sounds to me like you have a gear mesh issue, where the Pinion and Main gears are not meshing perfectly either due to wear or out of alignment, so I would recommend replacing both gears and lubing with Yamaha Lube or similar, possibly caused by original bearings worn causing gear misalignment, once either gear is slightly worn or damaged then noise will develop, good luck Swordfishsteve
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on June 22, 2013, 11:57:03 PM
Quote from: swordfishsteve on June 22, 2013, 10:52:32 PM
Hi Bucktail
Swordfishsteve here from NZ, I do a lot of work on these Avets and sounds to me like you have a gear mesh issue, where the Pinion and Main gears are not meshing perfectly either due to wear or out of alignment, so I would recommend replacing both gears and lubing with Yamaha Lube or similar, possibly caused by original bearings worn causing gear misalignment, once either gear is slightly worn or damaged then noise will develop, good luck Swordfishsteve

OK.  The pinion is new, so I can just order a main gear?  Or will the pinion be messed up just by spinning the handle to test it out?  I haven't fished this reel since replacing the pinion.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: jonathan.han on July 12, 2013, 09:25:57 PM
Check to see if the clicker is quiet when it is engaged. If so, you may be experiencing a worn plastic clicker retainer. I fish my rods in the rod holders in gear with the clickers on when fishing for white seabass. When I am hooked up on multiples, I am usually too busy to get to my reels to turn off the clickers all the time. Plus, I'm always clicking it on and off. Just another downside to Avet's reels. Damn. I like the price and performance for what I use them for, but it's a an annoying drawback.

If you undo the clip for the clicker assembly after unattaching the two springs hooked to it, you'll see the black plastic piece with a "figure-8" cutout. The two points will wear out when you engage and disengage the clicker constantly. Alan pointed it out to me since my clicker was very quiet to the point where I could not even hear it when I was on the water with any amount of wind. Try replacing that piece. If allowed to wear out even more, it would probably fail to hold the clicker far enough away from the clicker ratchet and cause a light buzzing noise. I have come across a few with this problem. I'd check this before replacing expensive gears and what not.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Drisse on March 03, 2015, 08:13:51 AM
I have an Avet SX 5.3 with the same sound. Replaced the pinionbearing without any change. Ordered a new driveshaft gear and piniongear, but still the same sound. After that I changed every bearing one by one, but still the same annoying sound. So now I'm out of ideas and patience :)

How did it end up with your reel Bucktail ?

Any more ideas to get rid of this sound ?
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: mike1010 on March 03, 2015, 03:08:52 PM
I have a self-serviced SX 5.3 with the same behavior.  I don't worry about it, because I used to have an MXL that came back from Avet service sounding the same.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bryan Young on March 03, 2015, 03:14:55 PM
is the reel silent when you turn the handle without the pinion gear installed?
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: mike1010 on March 03, 2015, 06:28:31 PM
Quote from: Bryan Young on March 03, 2015, 03:14:55 PM
is the reel silent when you turn the handle without the pinion gear installed?

I have not used that reel since late last spring.  Checking it now, I think it's just making normal stainless gear noise, and my recollection was a senior moment.

Mike
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bryan Young on March 03, 2015, 06:35:14 PM
One other thing I would check is the pinion bearing.  I have found on a couple of reels that the pinion bearing were acting like self aligning bearings (http://www.bocabearings.com/ShowImage.aspx?img=self-aligning-bearing.jpg&w=300&folder=types) (photo from Boca).  Not quite to this extent, but it was substantial enough to misalign the gears.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Bucktail on March 04, 2015, 04:32:26 AM
Quote from: Drisse on March 03, 2015, 08:13:51 AM
I have an Avet SX 5.3 with the same sound. Replaced the pinionbearing without any change. Ordered a new driveshaft gear and piniongear, but still the same sound. After that I changed every bearing one by one, but still the same annoying sound. So now I'm out of ideas and patience :)

How did it end up with your reel Bucktail ?

Any more ideas to get rid of this sound ?

Never got it to be silent.  As far as I know the reel works just fine though.
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: Drisse on March 07, 2015, 03:37:59 PM
Ok, the reel I made service on sounds quite normal after about 15 teardowns :) . But I still don't know what made that sound ?
Title: Re: Looking for some help: Need a photo of an SX 5.3
Post by: the rockfish ninja on March 17, 2015, 12:21:09 AM
Quote from: Bucktail on March 04, 2015, 04:32:26 AM
Quote from: Drisse on March 03, 2015, 08:13:51 AM
I have an Avet SX 5.3 with the same sound. Replaced the pinionbearing without any change. Ordered a new driveshaft gear and piniongear, but still the same sound. After that I changed every bearing one by one, but still the same annoying sound. So now I'm out of ideas and patience :)

How did it end up with your reel Bucktail ?

Any more ideas to get rid of this sound ?

Never got it to be silent.  As far as I know the reel works just fine though.

Just my experience with "that sound", when I first broke down my Avet for clean & lube it was just to keep it up to specs. Around the 2nd or 3rd time I used lighter/faster lube on the bearings & shaft, and went sparingly on the grease for the other moving parts. The result was better casting distance and less resistance on the crank, the trade off?.............noisy zzzz sound when cranking and *possibly* more wear on the gears/moving parts that had may be underlubed. (did I make up a word there?)

Since then I've fine tuned my lube game and have fast/light lubes for the bearings/etc and heavy for the large gear and other parts, it works perfect for me.

Hope this helps.