I'm having a problem with a Daiwa BG3000 reel. The anti-reverse is only working intermittently. It mostly works but sometimes with a rod sitting in a rod holder the lure will just drop to the deck. And then yesterday while fighting a good fish I got the knuckle buster treatment as the anti reverse failed mid fight (still ended up landing the fish but I was not happy). I have inspected and ARB and while expecting to find some corrosion the thing looked brand new with all of the rollers shiny and completely free spinning, and no evidence of water intrusion or debris. As this is a $30-40 part I don't want to just replace it if there is something that I am missing.
Any suggestions?
Are you 10,000% certain that the AR switch isn't being flipped by something while it's in the rod holder? That's the most likely cause that intermittent symptom and would not warrant a parts replacement. I give your intelligence the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes it's something easy that doesn't get noticed unless you're looking for it.
Had you or anyone else previously opened up the reel?
Has it been used in locations where really fine sand might have made it in?
Did you try flipping the on/off switch back and forth while fighting that fish in knuckle buster mode to see if it made a difference?
Just trying to rule out the easy stuff first. A bit of corrosion could make an AR fail but usually it makes the reel feel noticably rough for a little while first.
(Edited bc apparently it's too early in the morning for grammar)
key #38, the anti-reverse one way clutch will likely need to be replaced. you could try to lube it and see if the rollers inside the clutch start working properly, but it might be best to replace it.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0060/3770/0678/files/BG_3000.pdf?v=1589172212
Jason - It never hurts to ask the obvious but it is not the switch position, the switch still works as designed (anti-reverse off in one position and on (at least sometimes) in the other position. And no foreign objects/debris inside the ARB - it looks brand new
Alan - #38 is the part that I removed for inspection and found nothing wrong. Clean, shiny rollers that all operated smoothly. No grease or contamination present on the bearing. I did lube it lightly with corrosion X to prevent any corrosion. Should the anti-reverse bearing be installed dry? Could lubrication cause it to intermittently skip?
I have been told that A/R bearings should not be greased, other wise they will not work as intended. I've only worked on a couple because I don't like the instant feature, but that is what I've seen being recommended by those that claim they know for sure.
there is a small lever that holds the AR bearing cage in the "open" position. is that arm linked properly to the AR bearing?
Yes. The lever that links the switch on the bottom of the reel(on/off switch) to the AR bearing is intact and engaged.
I do have multiple BG3000 reels so I may swap the AR bearing (part #38) from another reel and see if the problem persists.
you might want to just order a couple. they can be problematic.
Some of them can be extremely twitchy about being lubricated. If the rollers skid on the sleeve instead of turning then they won't climb the ramps that make the ARB bind up. I'd clean it and see if the issue persists, but also switching it with another reel and see if the problem follows it is a smart idea.
EDIT: Given the time of year... you're not fishing them in the cold, are you?
Yep. We have been fishing in the cold. Water temp when fishing last week was 39F and air temps were in the mid 30s. I am thinking the cold temps may have slowed the viscosity of the corrosion x on the ARB rollers just enough to make it skip. I have not been able to duplicate the issue with the reel in the comfort of my nice warm home. I removed the ARB again and swirled a couple of dry q-tips around to remove any excess corrosion x. After installation I was again unable to duplicate the issue inside my home. I haven't swapped parts yet - one fix at a time. Next fishing trip I will use this reel exclusively and try to make the ARB skip and see what happens.
Also, I did find a note on Daiwa's website under reel maintenance FAQs stating: "Please note, never put oil down the main shaft of a spinning reel as this is the most common cause of a slipping anti reverse."
I would tentatively wager it's the cold weather combined with the lubrication.
Ok I specialize in being wrong. Maybe I'm doing it again. But the anti reverse acts on the pinion. The spool shaft slides inside the pinion. It's the style of contact surface one would want to lubricate.
How does oiling a spool shaft affect the anti reverse?
I put a drop of oil on my roller clutches. Never grease though. I'm certainly not alone on that.
I must be missing something.
I haven't proven it out yet but I think Boon described the details of what is happening with the rollers slipping and not "grabbing". If grease is a definite no-no than it is not a stretch to think that "cold thickened oil" could cause the same issues. You guys in FL and your always warm temperatures wouldn't understand ;D
I had a BG 5000. Coulda sworn it had onea them wire dealies that kicked in a pawl-type anti-reverse if the rollers failed while in A/R mode. Maybe it was a different reel...
Ok. Just back from warmer climes where the fish were snapping. The anti-reverse performed flawlessly on a large number of fish. No bruisers but enough drag pulling to verify that the ARB was not slipping. It looks like too much corrosion-x and cold temps are a bad combination for an ARB. Moving forward, my ARB maintenance procedure will be to hit them with a shot of CX and then swirl a dry qtip around to remove any excess lubricant.
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.
Cheers
9 times out of 10, when having intermittent A/R issues —- whether it is an ARB or a dog —- it is dried/stiff lubricants causing the issue.
Generally just a good cleaning and service takes care of the problem.
Best, Fred
Quote from: Gfish on January 15, 2026, 07:35:43 PMI had a BG 5000. Coulda sworn it had onea them wire dealies that kicked in a pawl-type anti-reverse if the rollers failed while in A/R mode. Maybe it was a different reel...
I think the BGs only have the backup anti-reverse in the larger reel sizes.
Ah-ha. So maybe it did. Forgot who I sold that'n to. Forgetting alota stuff nowadays.