Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Shimano Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Fishgolfman on April 05, 2025, 10:34:26 PM

Title: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 05, 2025, 10:34:26 PM
Got a cheap shimano 401 missing parts. Two problems. The release button wont go down. When i took reel apart to investigate and re assemble. I got this part extra. It's a circular item with 8 loose ball bearings. My401 Te schematic does not show. Also button wont free spool. Probably two different problems. Help please. Don't want to send to Shimano service yet
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 05, 2025, 11:15:20 PM
That part in the bag looks like the inner part of the bearing on the main shaft .
    The release button is cracked , possible to glue it .  When you go to put the side plate on , you have to manually trip the lever so as the release button wont jam and break when installing side plate .
                Pictures show what needs to be tripped  Lever at 3 o'clock now pushed down in free spool .
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 05, 2025, 11:38:00 PM
weird.  that almost looks like a thrust bearing.  it's possible that you have a plain radial ball bearing that corroded and fell apart, leaving the inside race and the balls themselves.  all of that would be really weird.

now, for the problem of not shifting into free, it is common for the kick lever to cause corrosion in the aluminum at one particular spot.  it creates a divot, and now it won't shift.  you have to go in with a dremel and diamond bit and grind away a the aluminum.  hopefully it will work.  if you take apart the side plate, you will see where it digs in. 

if you want, i can take a look.  it might be so bad that it's not fixable.  send a pm if you want me to take a look. 
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 01:24:40 AM
Agree that the part its from main bearing. Ordering new set of bearings. The pics of the side plate clutch mechanism is helpful for me to understand. Will check on this
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 01:47:36 AM
please keep us posted.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 02:39:28 AM
I can confirm that eight ball was from the main bearing bnt 2927! It looks like the shielding corroded off.
Now for the quick clutch issue. See pics. Clearly clutch is cracked. Replace or glue. What i think is wrong is the white plastic mechanism with white yoke. See pic. When clutch depressed. The white plastic moves but is it cracked or that way. Also no part on list. Spring yoke Bnt 2556. The other is bnt 2213. While in schematic blow out, neither in parts list. Or is it the clutch cam bnt 2755 that is white plastic broken??? Help
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 03:51:28 AM
here is your schematic.  can you tell me the Key # and part # of the parts you need?  for the bearing, i can't go by part or key #.  i would need the IDxODxHT.

https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-content/uploads/schematics/Shimano/Calcutta/CALCUTTA%20TE%20CTE401(2003).pdf
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 04:04:20 AM
I think Bnt 2755. Clutch Cam is broken. Hard to find. Shimano out on website
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 04:11:53 AM
that one i do not have.   :-\
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 04:17:17 AM
May have to glue with something to hold it. Suggestions. Parts places? Tried shimano.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 04:33:44 AM
southwest parts, dallas tx.  also, put a call into shimano.  sometimes they have things just laying around. 
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 05:16:21 AM
Mikes reel repair on line says has. Mat's nothing and southwest nothing. Will call shimano too
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 06:28:20 AM
what happened to me in the past was that he took my money, looked for a month, then gave me a refund.  i will never go back to him. 
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 11:11:12 AM
Thanks for heads up. Will call everyone to confirm
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 06, 2025, 01:56:43 PM
Steve  I think that your reel has 2556  180 degrees wrong .
The yoke is under the gear .  IT will not ramp up !
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 03:40:42 PM
the calcutta 401 TE is a left handed reel.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Lunker Larry on April 06, 2025, 04:35:04 PM
TE parts are next to non existent now.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 04:39:54 PM
Have an email to hedgehog studios which can find Japanese parts was planning to buy aftermarket stuff from them anyway.. Yes the this part is almost non existent in US market.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Its a 0.99 part making reel non functional!!!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 04:45:59 PM
It is a 401 part no BNT 2755. Clutch Cam. The 400 part is BNT 2710 for Clutch Cam. For 0.99 part to make a reel non functional... Crazy
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems! 3D printing a part
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 05:04:39 PM
Considering doing. help?.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 05:08:28 PM
wouldn't it be awesome if someone could 3-D print this?
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 06, 2025, 05:26:51 PM
Can you show were it is broken  ? all I see is 2556 is in backward and will lock it up ,it can`t ramp up to work .
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 05:38:08 PM
I cant as I have no functional knowledge. My pics show a gap with button engaged or not. I assume it's broken but defer to your and Alan wisdom.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 06, 2025, 05:42:15 PM
Look at the schaminics , that even shows how it is supposed to go in .
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 05:46:10 PM
My schematic does not show...  orientation.anyone with a picture of a 401 internal?
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 08:53:47 PM
Ah ha oldmanjoe. You were right! The previous owner had yoke upside down. Loosened two screws and re oriented it! Still the release clutch slides but sticky. Could be cracked and needs replacing as well. Can of worms this reel. Needs now in addition to quick clutch, bearing and the little spring ball belw anti reverse dog clicker.
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: alantani on April 06, 2025, 09:26:37 PM
yeah, send it over!!!
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: oldmanjoe on April 06, 2025, 11:37:49 PM
Quote from: Fishgolfman on April 06, 2025, 08:53:47 PMAh ha oldmanjoe. You were right! The previous owner had yoke upside down. Loosened two screws and re oriented it! Still the release clutch slides but sticky. Could be cracked and needs replacing as well. Can of worms this reel. Needs now in addition to quick clutch, bearing and the little spring ball belw anti reverse dog clicker.
A picture is worth a thousand words .     I feel that reel design is ruff when in open face , until you fully assemble it .    Some how the the thumb button holds the mechemesium  to make it work smooth when fully assembled " springs don`t over cam" if that makes sense !
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Fishgolfman on June 05, 2025, 11:19:57 PM
Sometimes, troubled junk reels have a great ending. Alan Tani offered to figure out the issues and fixed it beautifully. It was a saltwater intruded, poorly maintained, with broken thumb bar and rusted bearings. All around mess! See pics. Can't wait to fish this. Many thanks
Title: Re: Shimano 401 TE. Two problems!
Post by: Gfish on June 06, 2025, 06:59:31 PM
Cool!
I got taken to school on my first Shimano baitcaster, a Chronarch SF 100. It took about 5 rebuild tries to get it right and nothing was broken.
Nothing better than a "happy ending"!