Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Other Reel Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: amoebasurgeon on May 28, 2016, 11:20:19 PM

Title: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: amoebasurgeon on May 28, 2016, 11:20:19 PM
Hi everyone,
                 Over the past year or so, I have bought new/slightly used reels, rebuilt them and upgraded the drags. All Okumas: 4 spinning, 1 baitcaster, 2 fly, 1 offshore. Trial-and-error at first but after a couple of reels the schematics were needed less. I realized how much I enjoy working on these things and how one reel is similar to another regardless of brand. I don't have enough experience to know how to diagnose a reel yet but I love a challenge and I might take this up as an expensive hobby. What was the most difficult/challenging reel you have worked on and what was the final result? Any "a-ha" moments? Fails? Proud moments of resurrecting a hopeless reel?
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Marcq on May 28, 2016, 11:39:45 PM
For me it was my everyday fresh water fishing reel for 25 years Penn 940, man!! you needed 3 hands to put it back together and you didn't want to mess with it while fishing, but I still love it  :-*

(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww177/Marc1956/DSCN0131.jpg) (http://s717.photobucket.com/user/Marc1956/media/DSCN0131.jpg.html)

Marc..
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: amoebasurgeon on May 29, 2016, 12:00:54 AM
Quote from: Marcq on May 28, 2016, 11:39:45 PM
For me it was my everyday fresh water fishing reel for 25 years Penn 940, man!! you needed 3 hands to put it back together and you didn't want to mess with it while fishing, but I still love it  :-*

(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww177/Marc1956/DSCN0131.jpg) (http://s717.photobucket.com/user/Marc1956/media/DSCN0131.jpg.html)

Marc..

Ha!...3 hands. But holy smokes that thing is beautiful!

Good idea: Please add photos if you have them!
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Marcq on May 29, 2016, 12:35:50 AM
Thanks! The only drawback with that reel beside putting it back together is the space between the spool and the ring

Marc..
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: alantani on May 29, 2016, 02:06:58 AM
the daiwa saltist lever drag......
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Dominick on May 29, 2016, 09:30:30 PM
Shimano Bait Runner.  Dominick
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: exp2000 on May 30, 2016, 08:46:33 PM
A used Luna 300. I got it for a bargain price since it was faulty and there was no drag adjustment.

It was like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Took me about 3 months in my spare time to figure it out!

A local shop had substituted about 10 parts from a 253 in place of of the standard ones.

The A/R core is considerably longer in the 253. So much so that they had to omit drag washers just so they could assemble it.

Don't you just love it when people screw with reels!
~



Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: steelhead_killer on May 30, 2016, 09:08:38 PM
My first one...
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: handi2 on May 30, 2016, 10:54:29 PM
I second the older Baitrunner if you have to take it all apart...
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: oc1 on June 02, 2016, 07:45:18 AM
Alcedo Micron.  Get out the jewler's screwdrivers. Some of the smallest parts you'll ever see in a fishing reel.  I chickened out when it came time to remove the pinion.  The ball bearing races are integrated into the frame and there is no cage. If the pinion is removed you would have to collect all the tiny balls and put them back in place... somehow.
-steve
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Alto Mare on June 02, 2016, 10:13:25 AM
Quote from: oc1 on June 02, 2016, 07:45:18 AM
Alcedo Micron.  Get out the jewler's screwdrivers. Some of the smallest parts you'll ever see in a fishing reel.  I chickened out when it came time to remove the pinion.  The ball bearing races are integrated into the frame and there is no cage. If the pinion is removed you would have to collect all the tiny balls and put them back in place... somehow.
-steve
X2
This one is a toughie, it sure gave me a hard time.
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: garking84 on June 02, 2016, 02:30:19 PM
My first one..

X2.  Mine was a shimano spinning reel I forgot the model. I was so mad that I threw it in the trash.  :D
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: thorhammer on June 02, 2016, 03:41:56 PM
Quote from: Marcq on May 28, 2016, 11:39:45 PM
For me it was my everyday fresh water fishing reel for 25 years Penn 940, man!! you needed 3 hands to put it back together and you didn't want to mess with it while fishing, but I still love it  :-*

(http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww177/Marc1956/DSCN0131.jpg) (http://s717.photobucket.com/user/Marc1956/media/DSCN0131.jpg.html)

Marc..

all tru, dat.....
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: thorhammer on June 02, 2016, 03:48:10 PM
I'm ashamed to say, but I have a Jiggy sideplate I have to send to Sal though I have built a couple dozen. Can't keep bridge from binding eccentric jack on this coffee can special.

And AR on a Slosh 30.

I hate coiled bail springs on spinners in general. PITA to reseat bail arm.
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: foakes on June 02, 2016, 04:27:57 PM
Probably should send Sal the entire reel, John.

Sometimes with the JM's -- it is necessary for testing and operation -- to have the entire intended reel to check all functions for proper operation under pressure.

But Sal may have a different take on this -- generally one of the ears need adjustment or slight filing.

The Master will get it done.

Best,

Fred
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Rancanfish on June 02, 2016, 07:47:22 PM
I bought a Jigmaster that would not go into gear without instant grind to a stop of everything.

Someone swapped in the wrong pinion gear and the hole on the bottom wasn't big enough, so crunch........

Pretty quick fix.   :D
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Lunker Larry on June 02, 2016, 08:36:20 PM
Can't think of one in particular but there were a few where I kept telling myself that I know I'm smarter than this inanimate object  :D
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: newport on June 03, 2016, 04:23:46 AM
Shimano baitrunner. I gave up on it. Though it did become quite handy for parts, since a lot of other shimano reels share the same materials, for instance: shims, bearings, CF washers.
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: Jon_Kol on June 03, 2016, 07:50:43 AM
Hmm so far I've been lucky, but a few reels do come to mind. A Shimano Calcutta 400B which had laid on a river bed for two months, I had to remove eeeevery single part and clean them one by one because of the sand and the silt. I think it was around 102 or 103 parts? The drag washers were brittle as crisps, they were replaced with Carbontex. I spent some time on that reel, but it was worth it when the owner replied that "the reel has never felt so good". :) At a point I was wishing I had four hands, but that was due to two springs being set up to pull in each direction, and with no screw to hold the entire part + springs in place, it sure took its toll on my fingers holding it all in place.

Also the Okuma Makaira spool system really had me thinking "don't drop anything!", so many washers had to be removed in order to get the spool bearings out.

So far it's been a Stella 5000 SW HG which haunts me, I replaced many of the internal parts and yet there is a slight grinding sound and feeling to it. I still hope to have a closer look at that reel one day..
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: boon on June 08, 2016, 08:49:35 PM
Just finished up a couple of Shimano Thunnus Baitrunners... a 6000 and a 4000, which use somewhat different mechanisms in the gearbox.

The 4000 was pretty hard work but the 6000.... phew... different kettle of fish, it was horrendous  :D
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: thorhammer on June 09, 2016, 02:13:13 PM
Quote from: thorhammer on June 02, 2016, 03:48:10 PM
I'm ashamed to say, but I have a Jiggy sideplate I have to send to Sal though I have built a couple dozen. Can't keep bridge from binding eccentric jack on this coffee can special.

And AR on a Slosh 30.

I hate coiled bail springs on spinners in general. PITA to reseat bail arm.


Wrong pinion!!! Same as further down in this thread!!! Gotta start wearing my glasses!!!!
Title: Re: Your most challenging reel rebuild/repair
Post by: ez2cdave on June 11, 2016, 04:37:10 PM
Quote from: newport on June 03, 2016, 04:23:46 AM
Shimano baitrunner. I gave up on it. Though it did become quite handy for parts, since a lot of other shimano reels share the same materials, for instance: shims, bearings, CF washers.

I second the SHIMANO BAITRUNNER . . . That is the most fiendish contraption, ever designed for fishing !!!

Tight Lines !