My 331 arrived and bought back some old memories of my 220 from the eighties.
First job is to wind some tape on the spool to build a convex section in the centre to counter the concave line wrap. This works.
Second job will be to hone and lap the stamped metal drag washers and replace the non metal ones with carbontex.
I have read on occasion that you can`t have a drag with an even number of non metal washers. Well DAM have, and it works.
That is all there is to do to make this a thoroughly enjoyable reel. The reel does wobble slightly when wound, but you have to accept some behaviours from a vintage reel.
I was delighted to get a Finessa with the tapered rod handle, which I think looks better than the U section chromed ones that my 2 previous DAM reels had.
Just my personal preference.
Back to the bench.
cheers
Basto
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/george8322/DAM%20331S_zpsda4f3phz.jpg)
Those are just beautiful reels.
Those are tough reels, Greg --
The cranks are a little longer on these compared to the 330 -- same with the 220 and 221.
And DAM used the nicer aluminum tapered cranks.
That indeed looks like a good one.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: foakes on December 02, 2016, 05:23:02 AM
Those are tough reels, Greg --
The cranks are a little longer on these compared to the 330 -- same with the 220 and 221.
And DAM used the nicer aluminum tapered cranks.
That indeed looks like a good one.
Best,
Fred
Hi Fred
Yes it is a good one. I was lucky. Just realised you can`t see the handle in the pic I posted. I changed it to the other side of the reel. I feel a bit kaky handed winding with my left hand.
All my spinners are right hand wind.
cheers
Greg
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/george8322/2016-11-30%2014.51.05_zpsqbecihd4.jpg)
Extremely nice reel, Greg...
One thing that can be done with this reel -- that few people know about -- is to get a metal spool from an older 280 or 285 Finessa in place of the plastic one -- it is a straight across snap-on switch over.
May not be needed, depending on your application --
Good job!
Best,
Fred
Quote from: basto on December 02, 2016, 07:21:20 AM
I feel a bit kaky-handed winding with my left hand.
That's funny, I can't reel a spinner with my right hand! I must not have the ambidextrous gene, or something. :D
~
A~
Hi Aiala
Yes, very curious, but I find most people I know here in Australia wind a spinner with their right hand, but on the other side of the planet it is their left hand.
I wind my conventionals with my right too.
cheers
Greg
Quote from: foakes on December 02, 2016, 05:38:23 PM
Extremely nice reel, Greg...
One thing that can be done with this reel -- that few people know about -- is to get a metal spool from an older 280 or 285 Finessa in place of the plastic one -- it is a straight across snap-on switch over.
May not be needed, depending on your application --
Good job!
Best,
Thanks Fred
Good to know. I will keep an eye out.
Greg
Fred
Yes I could manage, left hand, but prefer right hand, like most Aussies, cheers donnyboat.
Do Australians mount spinning reels at the bottom of the rod like you do conventional reels?
Quote from: oc1 on December 03, 2016, 08:35:54 AM
Do Australians mount spinning reels at the bottom of the rod like you do conventional reels?
Hi oc1
Yes we do mount our spinners under the rod, just as you do. The only conventionals we mount under the rod are Alveys.
To cast an Alvey, you press a lever at the top of the reel and rotate the reel 45 degrees to the left. This allows the line to come off the spool the same way it comes off a spin reel when casting.
After you have made your cast, you then turn the reel back 45 degrees to the right so you can retrieve line like any other revolving drum reel., i.e. a fly casting trout reel.
Basto
No, I mean mounting the reel near the butt of the rod and thumbing it with the left hand when casting. The right hand is up higher on the rod (toward the tip) while casting. It was discussed here before using conventional revolving spool reels.
-steve
Hi Steve, I haven't seen too many low mounted reels here - I think you might be thinking of another 'down under' place, South Africa. It was discussed in this post: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=16186.60 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=16186.60)
Mike
I'm so embarrassed.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on December 04, 2016, 09:38:12 PM
I'm so embarrassed.
-steve
HaHa - you shouldn't be, that thread was nearly 12 months ago!... In a far away land. :) :)
Hi steve & all fishos, I have my rod with the runners up when using overhead casting reels, such as the pen 113H, the bail arm type spinning reels I have the reel on the bottom with the runners pointing down, the rod for a alvey reel, generaly has a short bottom handle, you pivot the reel to cast with your right hand high up on the rod & the left hand holding the line, when casting the left hand passes the body down near your leg, so the short handle doe not hit against your leg, as a long handle rod does, also the rod for a side cast reel, alvey, has larger runners, to accomadate the line coming of the larger diamiter spool, & the first runner is much further up the rod for that reason, cheers donnyboat.
Question, this is a 331S how can you tell its a Finessa model, was there just a 331 standard produced? What does high speed mean for this reel, and I've seen the designation N at the end of the number on reels, what does the N mean? as you can tell I'm a newbie at this series of fine reels and there is zero info on the net other than this great forum ..appreciate your replies and patience ...
Paul
Quote from: SilverRidge on December 29, 2016, 10:03:26 PM
Question, this is a 331S how can you tell its a Finessa model, was there just a 331 standard produced? What does high speed mean for this reel, and I've seen the designation N at the end of the number on reels, what does the N mean? as you can tell I'm a newbie at this series of fine reels and there is zero info on the net other than this great forum ..appreciate your replies and patience ...
Paul
The Finessa is the body style and started with the 280 in 1956, and continued through the Ns into the early/mid '80s with various upgrades and/or changes. The skirted spool reels beginning with 1000, even though they have a similar body style, were not designated Finessa.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/34/17004_03_02_21_5_07_10_34323425.jpeg)
South Bend Tackle, along with Herter's, Cabella's and some others also distributed/sold Dam and Quick reels. While the red S sticker is on the high speed versions they were distributed by South Bend and some think the "S" indicates South Bend distributed. For those Finessa reels ending in a #"1" the "1" designates high speed.
Here's more Dam information and history than you probably care to read: :) http://home.kpn.nl/roland.lindenberh/index.html
Quote from: SilverRidge on December 29, 2016, 10:03:26 PM
Question, this is a 331S how can you tell its a Finessa model, was there just a 331 standard produced? What does high speed mean for this reel, and I've seen the designation N at the end of the number on reels, what does the N mean? as you can tell I'm a newbie at this series of fine reels and there is zero info on the net other than this great forum ..appreciate your replies and patience ...
Paul
During the 50's and early 60's, D-A-M had the SW68, Standard 250, Super 270 & 275, Junior 240 & 245, small 238, medium 248, the Microlite 265 -- and the Finessa 280 & 285.
The Finessa was a good design to start a new series of (7) different sized reels from small to large.
This series was called the "Finessa" series -- although it does not reference the word Finessa on the reels -- just a model number -- paperwork and packaging do refer to Finessa.
This series consisted of the 110, 220, 221, 330, 331, 440, 550.
The older 280 & 285 Finessa were the same size as the 330 & 331.
In the late 70s or early 80s -- the Finessa series was retired -- and the "N" series was introduced. N stood for "New Style". (7) more reels -- 110N, 220N, 330N, 331N, 440N, 441N, 550N. This was a completely different design from the Finessa. Same main, bearing, and worm drive pinion -- but a different location for the A/R behind the rotor instead of at the main gear. Plus other differences such as the bail trip assembly. A few basic parts would cross over from Finessa to "N" -- but only a few.
All of these were made in Germany.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: Midway Tommy on December 29, 2016, 11:26:52 PM
Quote from: SilverRidge on December 29, 2016, 10:03:26 PM
Question, this is a 331S how can you tell its a Finessa model, was there just a 331 standard produced? What does high speed mean for this reel, and I've seen the designation N at the end of the number on reels, what does the N mean? as you can tell I'm a newbie at this series of fine reels and there is zero info on the net other than this great forum ..appreciate your replies and patience ...
Paul
The Finessa is the body style and started with the 280 in 1956, and continued through the Ns into the early/mid '80s with various upgrades and/or changes. The skirted spool reels beginning with 1000, even though they have a similar body style, were not designated Finessa.
(http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q695/midwaytommyd/Reels/Dam/manuals/Dam%20Quick_zpsnph2sgne.jpg) (http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/midwaytommyd/media/Reels/Dam/manuals/Dam%20Quick_zpsnph2sgne.jpg.html)
South Bend Tackle, along with Herter's, Cabella's and some others also distributed/sold Dam and Quick reels. While the red S sticker is on the high speed versions they were distributed by South Bend and some think the "S" indicates South Bend distributed. For those Finessa reels ending in a #"1" the "1" designates high speed.
Here's more Dam information and history than you probably care to read: :) http://home.kpn.nl/roland.lindenberh/index.html
Thanks for clarifying that better than I did, Tom --
Best,
Fred
I decided to modify my 331 to carbontex drag. It had plenty of room for 2 x 1mm thick washers and an extra fibre washer on the bottom and works very smoothly.
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/george8322/DAM%20331%20DRAG_zpsy1qre6om.jpg)
(http://i1286.photobucket.com/albums/a601/george8322/modified%20drag_zpsyqemhm8s.jpg)
Fred, if you see anything of concern here, please tell.
cheers
Greg
That looks great, Greg --
Nice job.
If you used a light coating of drag grease such as Cal's, Shimano, or whatever Daiwa uses -- work it into the CFs with your fingers -- wipe off any excess -- it would be even smoother.
Try not to get any grease on the hard washer -- that is like greasing the brake pads on your car -- doesn't work -- just becomes ineffective.
That will be a good set up you have.
Best,
Fred
Thanks for your advice Fred.
Greg