I had been eye-balling Alan's Jigmaster kits since the beginning, and had plans to build one, but missed the boat on the orange spools. Thanks to Dennis(Farmer56) I got that spool, then to keep within budget I commandeered all the other parts needed from various prior builds and my parts vault. It looked like this project would materialize after all!
Since my hodgepodge of parts had never personally met before, I figured I'd better do a little test fitting. The photo below shows the head plate completely assembled. I used one of those "eBay" gears from a few years ago, Alan's double dog bridge, and assorted bits and pieces. It all fit and functioned just fine. The only problem I had was the stock bridge screws. They were short...they only held by one thread. I shortened some 113H bridge screws a bit and they worked perfectly.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/853/41935881460_d69851658c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26TJmwY)
Probably down the road I'll get a JM500X package for this reel, but for now I'm going to use this set up. The "Newell style" 4-stack delivers around 15lbs. of smooth power, and that eBay special gear has spent the past three years in a 501 jiggy, so it's rough edges have all been smoothed nicely. Believe me...three years ago that thing was rough...but it's silky now. I wasted a good portion of my life making that gear work, so I'm sure as hell going to use it!
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/43030592724_ce78d7ba32_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28yt347)
I've noted on these reel tutorials they recommend greasing all screws and under stands to prevent early death by corrosion...so I popped off the stand.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1815/29873407998_ced7f93a69_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MvP2qA)
A good smear of Penn blue grease should work.
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/931/43744679771_d540e5bb41_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29DyVfK)
I did the same thing for the bearing caps.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1813/29873407338_4cba5ec69e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MvP2ed)
These reels are lookers! They are very comfortable in hand too. Thanks Alan for making another awesome product available to fishermen. 8)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/939/43028374484_a233352754_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28ygEDA)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/29873403448_1937d4d041_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MvP159)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1775/43028372934_bde89f3a90_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28ygEbS)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/43744678811_ac08dcf42c_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29DyUYc)
Very nice and such great pictures.
How is the feel of the handle arm. Is it just right or a bit too long. I wanted to know before buying any.
Keith
Quote from: handi2 on July 30, 2018, 09:52:02 PM
Very nice and such great pictures. How is the feel of the handle arm?
Thanks Keith. I had this handle arm on Tom's Squidder and used the inside mounting hole, but on this Jigmaster the outside hole fits my hands well. 8)
Wow, that orange spool really pops! Looks too ;D nice to add line to it.
Great pictures Mo !!! Camera or phone ? Great job on the reel also I am sure the drag will be like butter. Only complaint I have is how clean your bench is ??????? My bench wasn't that clean when it was new !! Lol !!! Super post ! Thanks John Taylor
PS below is my bench on a good day !!!
Quote from: mo65 on July 30, 2018, 10:06:12 PM
Quote from: handi2 on July 30, 2018, 09:52:02 PM
Very nice and such great pictures. How is the feel of the handle arm?
Thanks Keith. I had this handle arm on Tom's Squidder and used the inside mounting hole, but on this Jigmaster the outside hole fits my hands well. 8)
Even it is scratch & dent item, it does not really show that bad, right? It is a very nice looking reel with orange spool. For $135 (frame and sideplate), it is the best deal. The reel will not flex at all.
It really makes me want to make more orange color spools.
Thank you, Mo!
Great looking reel Mo! You'll like it better once you've fished it. Really like the clicker, audible but not annoying like the penn clicker,really nice touch.
Quote from: Black Pearl on July 30, 2018, 10:43:39 PMIt really makes me want to make more orange color spools.
No! :o Leave it as a one-time special-edition soon to become legendary! ;D
Quote from: nelz on July 30, 2018, 11:04:17 PM
Quote from: Black Pearl on July 30, 2018, 10:43:39 PMIt really makes me want to make more orange color spools.
No! :o Leave it as a one-time special-edition soon to become legendary! ;D
Ok. Because you have one, right.
Quote from: 54bullseye on July 30, 2018, 10:23:04 PM
Only complaint I have is how clean your bench is ??????? My bench wasn't that clean when it was new !!
What you
can't see is all the grease soaked rags and tools and peanut shells all piled up just out of the camera's eye...HA!!! :D
Quote from: Black Pearl on July 30, 2018, 10:43:39 PM
Even it is scratch & dent item, it does not really show that bad, right? It really makes me want to make more orange color spools.
I
did move the angles around to hide the scratches. They aren't really scratches...just little dings. On the silver finish they don't really show unless you get just the right angle. I was floored by that orange spool from the beginning. It's not really orange...it's a darker orange color. I had a '75 Impala that was real close to the spool's color, they called that color "Saddle Bronze".
Quote from: Swami805 on July 30, 2018, 10:49:20 PM
Really like the clicker, audible but not annoying like the penn clicker,really nice touch.
Yes, the clicker has it's own sound.
Thanks everyone for the compliments. 8)
Alright Mo! Orange-spool-cool! Best Jigmaster after-market-product produced yet by Pro Challenger, or anyone else. Just needs a couple of additions to make pert near perfect: nylon or delrin washer for the E. Lever and ss screws slightly longer than the stock Penn bridge screws.
beautiful reel Mo
now go and catch a bigcat with it
Quote from: Black Pearl on July 30, 2018, 11:05:35 PMOk. Because you have one, right.
Yes well, you know, I actually was looking for a blue one at the time, but you were down to just the orange. So, I decided to take a chance on that ugly-duckling sitting all alone in the corner, like that girl with the mousey hair that nobody talked to all night long... but it was getting late, and I too was lonely...
Nice Mike! Mine had one tiny nick on it that I'm sure I will find a way to worsen. I'm gonna fish it.
Another great looking reel Mike, your starting a great collection!..................Joe
That is a sweet Jiggy. Colors are perfect!
Nice job Mike!
.....................Lou
Nice !!! What spacer was used between eccentric lever and frame
Beautiful reel.
MO-meister!!!
What a stunning looking reel!! REELY!!!
I for one don't have any shelf queens, I fish all my reels,
How will you fish this jacked up 501????
Inquiring minds want to know,
Wayne
Quote from: Luis5981 on March 29, 2020, 05:51:24 AM
Nice !!! What spacer was used between eccentric lever and frame
That spacer comes with the PC kit...I think...I know I didn't buy it separately.
Quote from: El Pescador on March 29, 2020, 02:26:27 PM
How will you fish this jacked up 501????
I'm gonna catfish it Wayne...hopefully...it still hasn't been wet yet! I spooled it with 40lb. mono and did some test casting with a 4oz. sinker, it tossed very well.
Quote from: mo65 on March 29, 2020, 03:34:43 PM
Quote from: Luis5981 on March 29, 2020, 05:51:24 AM
Nice !!! What spacer was used between eccentric lever and frame
That spacer comes with the PC kit...I think...I know I didn't buy it separately.
Quote from: El Pescador on March 29, 2020, 02:26:27 PM
How will you fish this jacked up 501????
I'm gonna catfish it Wayne...hopefully...it still hasn't been wet yet! I spooled it with 40lb. mono and did some test casting with a 4oz. sinker, it tossed very well.
No, the spacer did not come with the kit. I think it is from Tom or Ted.
Wow Mo, that is the perfect reel. I always feel like i'm late to the game. I would love to have a reel exactly like that. Nice build!!!!
I'm thinking it's a long-shot for me to get the frame and spool to do a build right now? Got some free time on my hands due to this lockdown.
last I looked Alan still had inventory on the Prochallenger web site.
good luck!
John
Got it.
Thanks.
Quote from: Black Pearl on March 29, 2020, 03:37:51 PM
No, the spacer did not come with the kit. I think it is from Tom or Ted.
I'm befuddled now...HA! I have no clue where it came from. ???
Somethin I noticed this time around Mo. In the 1st pic., 1st thread post, the pinion looks like it's missing one a the "shoulders" that engages the spool. Optical illusion?
Oh man! I think I've been SIP too long...
Good grief G...now ya got me thinkin' it's missing...it sure does look like it! It has to be an optical illusion because the thing works fine. I'm fighting the urge to open the reel now. :D
Very unique reel.
At first glance l thought it was a broken pinion too, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Curiosity killed the cat...it made Mo open his reel too.:D Oh well, we can all sleep better now. This pic is a little better angle, it shows the pinion is fine. Carry on...8)
Inline, up tight, dy-no-mite! It's in fine shape. ;D
That's really fashy, great job, Mo!
Regards,
Charlie
Does the pro Jiggy have good tolerance with thin spectra? That Reel Looks Awesome!!!!
I've been using 65lb power pro on mine with no issues. Much better tolerances than a regular jiggy, shouldn't be a problem
Beautiful reel!!
Butch