Hello,
I'm Bjorn and I'm from San Antonio, Tx. I haven't been fishing since 1997, but my son who's 33 asked me if he and I could go fishing as we never had the time when he was a kid due to my having to work six days a week for most of that time. Of course I loved the idea. Especially seeing his birthday is next month and my plan was to take him to go get a rig. Fast forward to last week and a lady I've been helping clear out her back yard and sheds from years of acquiring junk I found what I thought was an old ultralite Mitchell skirted spinning reel. Well after using the ol google image search it turns out it's not a Mitchell but a DAM Quick 265.
She actually said that I could have it if I wanted it. At the time I had no idea of its value but it was going to my boy regardless. Half his birthday present was knocked out. Let me say that I'm not sure if it was ever used much but it was totally stuck solid and would not turn for anything. While I finished working that day I used an old biker trick to unstick parts that should move freely. I loosened the side plate so it would allow fluid in and dumped it totally submerged in a bucket filled with used motor oil and some naphtha and automatic transmission fluid mixed in. This works really well although messy as it's dirty oil and tranny fluid. The broken down oil still will work as it will penetrate anywhere it can get to and the at fluid has all the additives which allow the parts in a transmission to move freely without seizing in highly close tolerances (way closer than a reels gearing even a West German one. At the end of the day the handle would crank but really sluggish and slow but it wasn't seized or rusted together.
I've since completely cleaned it and now waiting til I can get to a boat repair shop across town to see if I can make a purchase off a remakens worth of blue grease. I already have dry lube I use in my firearms so that covers the oiling. I've noticed that I'm missing a couple washers and I cannot pull the main center shaft from the body which includes the bearing but it moves freely some I'm wondering if I should leave it as it's not broken and I do not want to crack the body race that holds the shafts center and the bearing race. I'll make an order to Alan or Fred whoever might have what I need.
It I wanted to introduce myself and I appreciate the wealth of information the board appears to have on the era gear I was introduced to fishing with. I'm still pinching myself that I found an antique in nearly mi t condition. The only part that's what I would say isn't 100% is that the nail trip lever has rusted through the chroming in one spot.
Is the chrome of this reel actually chrome or nickel plating as it's not as shiny as I would normally think chrome should be?
Welcome aboard! That's a lovely find. And a very creative way of working on the reel. I've definitely never heard of that. If you haven't contacted Fred Oakes already (user name: foakes) I suggest you do so. I'm not sure what he'd charge for a full restore but I guarantee it'll be worth every penny, and if your son is looking to get into fishing that's a reel that's gonna be worth investing in. Just my 2 cents.
Hi.
welcome. if you can measure the drag washers and take some pictures, we might be able to convert these over to greased carbon fiber drags.
Welcome aboard, Bjorn!
Best, Fred
Howdy!!
Welcome Bjorn! - john
Greetings, Bjorn, from Minnesota.
Frank