Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Quote from: foakes on Today at 04:21:11 PMI have 4 line metering machines.  One very heavy duty Triangle for large Conventionals, a fairly heavy duty Triangle for Conventionals up to 9/0, and two smaller Berkley's for just spinning reels.

But I never spool a spinning reel with a powered line winder —- always by hand, on a rod lower section, and with a little resistance based on experience and feel.  Just takes a few minutes to do it right.  Plus I change my line pretty often depending on usage.  Generally every year or two.  Cheapest assurance of success.

Here is an old cast iron line winder that I keep around for fun.

Alan hasn't chimed in —- but he has the ultimate set-up for Conventionals.  None better.

Best, Fred

I like the cast iron line winder , some how Singer treadle machine comes to mind ..
      I would like to see Allens set up or any one else`s 

Please post a picture.

Quote from: Midway Tommy on Today at 03:30:00 PMSince I don't use conventional reels I'm the line winding machine and my line holder is my own  homemade design. It holds three sizes of spools, bulk, medium and the smaller ones. I generally have a bulk spool of mono and a spool of dacron on it at the same time so I don't have to switch things around. Since I only fish fresh water I never install more than 120 or 125 yards of top mono.

The copper sleeves and washers give the spools a smooth surface to ride on and spin against. The springs set the tension I feel is appropriate. I pinched the wing nuts so they won't turn under pressure, but one of these days I'll replace them with nylon wing nuts.

Drag really has no relevance in spinning reel line installation other than making sure the line isn't too loose or too tight and stretched. I set mine by feel and experience.

I mount the reel on the reel seat section of an old SB fiberglass rod with a plastic reel seat & rings. The line only goes through one guide thats right next to the ferrule.

I like the simple approach to hand winding .  I have one more in the works ,that I need to finish for spinners . A revolving yoke design .

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on Today at 01:28:44 PMI am slowly refining my setup. Joe what you're working on here is very interesting, I may try to adopt a bit of your idea. A bicycle rim might be useful for the larger wheel. I hear they already make brakes for those... And they're adjustable.

I like the way think , if I found a smaller wheel I may have used it .

Quote from: quang tran on Today at 10:48:42 AM

Quote from: oldmanjoe on Today at 04:43:24 AMTo be honest , I will not machine wind spinner spools.    I much prefer to wind on the reel it self , I want the line lay and know right away if the shimming is correct .

I do shim to get better spooling but unless you use old Mitchell reel that line spooling perfect , most spinner will get as picture when wind on reel itself ,few reels use oscillating gear similar to bait casting reel then line lay out good ( such as Daiwa SS1300,1600,2600 )

Ha the dreaded hour glass effect , even when you machine line fill , the hour glass start to appear after a few line cycles .   Different line dia will change that .

I have 4 line metering machines.  One very heavy duty Triangle for large Conventionals, a fairly heavy duty Triangle for Conventionals up to 9/0, and two smaller Berkley's for just spinning reels.

But I never spool a spinning reel with a powered line winder —- always by hand, on a rod lower section, and with a little resistance based on experience and feel.  Just takes a few minutes to do it right.  Plus I change my line pretty often depending on usage.  Generally every year or two.  Cheapest assurance of success.

Here is an old cast iron line winder that I keep around for fun.

Alan hasn't chimed in —- but he has the ultimate set-up for Conventionals.  None better.

Best, Fred

Greetings, found this old reel at auction (amongst other reels).  Didn't work.  I opened it up and cleaned out the accumulated grease and dirt.  The gears are in place. The problem is the handle won't turn. There's something broken, missing, or stuck inside the receiving end of the handle.  Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Since I don't use conventional reels I'm the line winding machine and my line holder is my own  homemade design. It holds three sizes of spools, bulk, medium and the smaller ones. I generally have a bulk spool of mono and a spool of dacron on it at the same time so I don't have to switch things around. Since I only fish fresh water I never install more than 120 or 125 yards of top mono.

The copper sleeves and washers give the spools a smooth surface to ride on and spin against. The springs set the tension I feel is appropriate. I pinched the wing nuts so they won't turn under pressure, but one of these days I'll replace them with nylon wing nuts.

Drag really has no relevance in spinning reel line installation other than making sure the line isn't too loose or too tight and stretched. I set mine by feel and experience.

I mount the reel on the reel seat section of an old SB fiberglass rod with a plastic reel seat & rings. The line only goes through one guide thats right next to the ferrule.

I've been known to use a drill, with a special head that I rigged up using a pipe tee and some padding, to spin the handle on a larger baitcaster or conventional to speed up the process. I've also modified a socket bit (again with a wee bit of padding) to spin the gear sleeve of a penn conventional for the same reason.

I modified the spool and spool shaft of a cheap spinner to mate up with and grip onto a filler spool so I can set the constant tension I want to load with. Then I just gotta make sure I keep the rod section im using straight because if I dip the tip the tension temporarily changes.

I am slowly refining my setup. Joe what you're working on here is very interesting, I may try to adopt a bit of your idea. A bicycle rim might be useful for the larger wheel. I hear they already make brakes for those... And they're adjustable.