Here's another one of those Mystery Heddons, a reel nobody seemed to know about other than it being one of their largest. Yes, it's a biggun, it outweighs any other reel I own, and that includes the biggest D-A-M Quicks, Shakespeare Sea Wonders, and the saltwater Mitchell 302.
I didn't expect a shelf queen from the pic on ebay, and I didn't pay much, so no disappointment. Quite a bit of pitting on the handle, the body and rotor were scuffed, but it had no effect on the reel's functioning. Bail worked, so did the anti-reverse, and the drag adjusted ok. Reeling was a little stiff, but most folks who know nothing about reel repair wouldn't complain.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_30_12.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_30_55.jpeg)
Popping off the side plate revealed that familiar simple Heddon engineering below all that nasty grease. This one had a brass-like flat head screw attaching the oscillation slide to the axle.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_31_25.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_31_56.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_32_28.jpeg)
Take my word, there is an oscillating slide you can't see underneath all that grease. I should have added more lighting or brightened these pics in PhotoPad editing software, didn't want to take the time.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_32_58.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_33_28.jpeg)
These reels use a 14mm nut with backwards threads to attach the rotor to the pinion/main body.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_33_56.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_34_20.jpeg)
No bearing here, but a nice strong bushing.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_34_59.jpeg)
Removing the pinion.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_35_22.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_35_54.jpeg)
Here's a better look at that bushing.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_36_18.jpeg)
Typical Heddon anti-reverse dog and spring.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_36_43.jpeg)
Not too dirty inside the rotor. Clean enough to leave the bail trip mechanisms alone.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_37_09.jpeg)
The bail arm is dirty, so that assembly came apart.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_40_05.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_40_33.jpeg)
The dirty parts.....
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_41_02.jpeg)
......cleaned up well enough with Simple Green and a toothbrush.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_41_26.jpeg)
Got ahead of myself. I shouldn't have reassembled the main gear before adding the pinion bushing.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_41_54.jpeg)
That's better.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_42_25.jpeg)
Now put the main gear back where it belongs.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_42_58.jpeg)
Next comes the pinion.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_43_39.jpeg)
Adding a smidgen of grease to the bail trip stud.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_44_33.jpeg)
Rotor back in place.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_44_57.jpeg)
Almost finished. Next add the oscillation slider back where it belongs.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_45_30.jpeg)
Innards are finished.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_45_56.jpeg)
Not much I can do with the cosmetics of this reel, quite a few scuff marks and as I mentioned earlier, the handle is pitted badly, but I've seen worse. I have no idea of line capacity, but betcha it'll hold at least a couple hundred yards of 20 lb. mono or more. The diameter of the spool is just a tiny bit more narrow than the Mitchell 302 and D-A-M Quick 270, 1/16" at most. Weighs 25.2 oz with an empty spool on my scales. Retrieve ratio is approximately 1:3.8. This reel would do fine fishing saltwater because it can be disassembled, cleaned, and back together in a few minutes.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_46_24.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/29/17863_30_09_19_6_46_55.jpeg)
Got one more Heddon on the way, the 260-R which should be here on a couple 2 or 3 days.
Another great write-up ! Thanks for posting.
That one appears to have the no-frills, rock solid build style of the 248, except for the lack of a pinion ball bearing. Thanks for the detailed look inside Chester...and don't throw your back out packin' that behemoth! 8)
I like the reel for salt because on no bearings. No worries if it goes for a swim.
The Man
Quote from: mo65 on October 01, 2019, 03:21:05 PM
That one appears to have the no-frills, rock solid build style of the 248, except for the lack of a pinion ball bearing. Thanks for the detailed look inside Chester...and don't throw your back out packin' that behemoth! 8)
Here's a side to side comparison with the 248 and the 277. The 277 is a big reel but the 242 is huge.
Good grief...that thing is a heavyweight! I never thought abut what Ron said, but he's right, for surf dunking that big bushing is the way to go. Thanks for posting the side by sides Chester, I wonder though, is that ol' girl bigger than the 295? 8)
Quite a reel.
Frank