I have a 525 mag which I took tuna fishing for the first time this summer. I was quite suprized to have this problem occur. A tuna would pick up the bait and go racing off at top speed I would let him carry it it for a few short seconds and put the the reel in gear. That's when the spool would continue to spin with the force of the tuna with the gears would not engage. I think I would put my thumb on the spool as well as moving the hand and finally it would engage but it felt and sounded horrible with a thumb burning delay.
Is this a common problem with these reels? Can I do anything to fix this?
Mine certainly doesn't do this nor have I heard of this, so no, I don't think it's a common problem. I also have original 525, 535 and 545 none of which have ever done this.
Quote from: Bill Carson on January 27, 2015, 09:15:51 PM
I have a 525 mag which I took tuna fishing for the first time this summer. I was quite suprized to have this problem occur. A tuna would pick up the bait and go racing off at top speed I would let him carry it it for a few short seconds and put the the reel in gear. That's when the spool would continue to spin with the force of the tuna with the gears would not engage. I think I would put my thumb on the spool as well as moving the hand and finally it would engage but it felt and sounded horrible with a thumb burning delay.
Is this a common problem with these reels? Can I do anything to fix this?
It sounds like you may have one of the following issues:
A burr on the pinion gear
A burr on the spool shaft mating with the pinion gear
Worn Yoke Springs
Sometimes, if the tolerance between the mating surfaces of the pinion gear with the spool shaft can cause this to occur because the spool is spinning so fast that the pinion gear would not be able to seat itself on the spool shaft while line if peeling off.
Quote from: Bryan Young on January 27, 2015, 10:13:18 PM
Quote from: Bill Carson on January 27, 2015, 09:15:51 PM
I have a 525 mag which I took tuna fishing for the first time this summer. I was quite suprized to have this problem occur. A tuna would pick up the bait and go racing off at top speed I would let him carry it it for a few short seconds and put the the reel in gear. That's when the spool would continue to spin with the force of the tuna with the gears would not engage. I think I would put my thumb on the spool as well as moving the hand and finally it would engage but it felt and sounded horrible with a thumb burning delay.
Is this a common problem with these reels? Can I do anything to fix this?
It sounds like you may have one of the following issues:
A burr on the pinion gear
A burr on the spool shaft mating with the pinion gear
Worn Yoke Springs
Sometimes, if the tolerance between the mating surfaces of the pinion gear with the spool shaft can cause this to occur because the spool is spinning so fast that the pinion gear would not be able to seat itself on the spool shaft while line if peeling off.
I'll take it apart and see if I can spot and of the issues. To me the worn yoke spring sounds the most logical only because I don't know how the pinion or the spool shaft could have been damaged.
maybe some corrosion between the spool shaft and the pinion gear, not allowing the pinion gear to properly seat against the spool?
Sounds like the notched part of the pinion, the part that engages onto the spool shaft got damaged. It could also be the spool shaft, the squared part that goes into the pinion.
This could very well happen when a nice size fish takes off and you shift it into gear, applying a little pressure with your thumb when shifting might prevent it, but you need some good gloves to protect your thumb.
Could also be some burrs on the shaft or pinion, but I'm betting the problem is at the notched area.