Tore into another of my Father in Laws old reels as a diversion and thought this might prove helpful to anyone with a similar reel. This weeks project: Pflueger Bond Model 2000 Levelwind. As always, if any of the Ohana have any information on the history of the reel, please share! I wasn't able to find out much about the reel, but "guessing" he acquired it in the 50's or 60's, but only a guess.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_29_06.jpeg)
I am going to try and highlight some of the things I found unique in working on this project. Starting with the right side head plate, the yoke engages the pinion and shifts in and out with a unique cam type arrangement with a pin that rotates 90 degrees on the spring loaded cam.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_32_29.jpeg)
The left side tail plate has a couple of fun things going on. Firstly, yes, those are METAL levelwind gears! Secondly, you can see that at some point my Father in Law was inside of this reel - that "custom" spring for the clicker started life as a paperclip. As a man who worked on everything from P51's to B29's and B47's, I'm sure that ingenuity was second nature to him.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_39_45.jpeg)
The levelwind assembly is pretty robust, with a shield over the worm gear.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_28_31.jpeg)
The bridge plate and drag assembly are pretty straightforward for anyone that has torn into a conventional reel, with 2 keyed and 1 eared washer sandwiching 3 fiber washers plus and undergear. Not sure what material the soft parts were made of, but it seemed very similar to what I found in the Diawa Millionaire that I went through a couple of weeks ago, almost like a graphite embedded paper, very thin and easily torn.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_27_06.jpeg)
A quick count of the main gear and pinion gear teeth reveals this reel has virtually the same gear ratio as the Diawa Millionaire as well: 3.77:1
Also since a complete drag package doesn't seem to exist, and the factory washers didn't seem to match and standard sizes: the ID matched a Smoothdrag #5 and the OD matched a Smoothdrag #4.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_26_22.jpeg)
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_25_36.jpeg)
After mulling over the options, a nice sharp step drill was employed by hand to open up the ID of the #4 washers which seemed to be the easiest approach. It was a little messy, but I only needed to gain couple thousandths
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_27_44.jpeg)
Here are a couple of other fun differences that I found in this reel. Firstly, instead of the press fit pin holding the gear sleeve onto the bridge that all of us Pennheads are used to the gear sleeve is retained with a screw down through the center of the sleeve.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_31_32.jpeg)
Also everyone is probably familiar with the metal ring that Penn employs on the pinion gear to help reinforce the end that engages with the spool. The Pflueger does not have such a ring or a provision for it.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_30_40.jpeg)
Instead, when the pinion is engaged with the spool, it "nests" down into a collar machined into the spool, in theory giving it reinforcement and preventing the end from splitting outward under load.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/32/18717_28_03_20_9_30_02.jpeg)
Beyond that, assembly was pretty straightforward: grease where needed, Cal's on the drags, oil where needed, and CorrosionX on everything else. I haven't put any line of this reel since I'm not really sure what I'm gonna use it for, but I am guessing just based on the washer sizes that it should get somewhere around 10# of drag - more than enough for this old reel.
Summary: Its purely coincidence that I did this reel right after doing another reel from my Father in Laws stash, the Diawa Millionaire. In size and function they seem pretty similar, but a couple of major differences. The most noticeable is weight, the Diawa makes ample use of lightweight aluminum and plastic, the Pflueger, while marginally larger, weighs substantially more. The metal spool alone might weigh as much as the entire Diawa :D I don't have access to my digital scale at this time, but hope to update this in the future when I can actually weigh them both. The Pflueger is unquestionable more robust, and yes, I can see how one can get seriously pinched in the event of getting their fingers caught in the levelwind!
As always, if anyone can shed any additional light on the history/background of this model, you thoughts will be appreciated!
Good job ! Thanks for showing it.
Thanks for showing, some info 1957 black side plates 1959 red side plates ,freshwater stand model 2000 salt water stand 2002,gear ratio 3.77-1 ,300yds 15lb
Kim
Kim - That looks SWEET! Thank you for the info and hope there are some cool fish stories on that awesome reel you shared!!!! - john
Agree,
Sweet reel Kim !
Thanks for the info on the Black side plate 1957's. That's really good to know.
From what I've seen of the internals, these reels are 2x Super duty. I believe I read a statement from Fred Oakes that I'll quote as close as possible when he was discussing old reels from back in the day. ...."well engineered and over built".....
John,
Were the springs and washer in your Bond the same as the ones in mine ? My spring appears to have sprung in this one. The coils are not on top of each other anymore and appears to be collapsed.
As for the cut washer, it actually will pass through the spring ID. Virtually doing nothing at all....
Identical setup to mine. They both function as springs, under the sleeve/hat, however they do not act (or stack) directly on each other, but work together as the drag star compresses on the top drag washer of the stack. The round spring washer should nest into the recess in the bottom of the drag sleeve/hat. Then the cut/spring/lock washer sit inside the circumference of the wire spring. Think of it as a spring inside of a spring. I think (only my guess) is that it was a crude way to build a progressive ramp into the drag - under light pressure the coil spring is providing the minimal pressure between the drag star and the top metal washer (and keeping the drag star from migrating lighter or tighter). But as the drag is cinched down, the second, heavier split washer begins to add to the pressure. Also, do you have a small, thin plastic/nylon washer that sits on the top of the drag sleeve between the star and sleeve? Allows it to operate smoother. I do not think I will get to it until later tomorrow but I will try and post another photo. - john
Quote from: Brewcrafter on February 18, 2021, 05:50:58 AM
Identical setup to mine. They both function as springs, under the sleeve/hat, however they do not act (or stack) directly on each other, but work together as the drag star compresses on the top drag washer of the stack. The round spring washer should nest into the recess in the bottom of the drag sleeve/hat. Then the cut/spring/lock washer sit inside the circumference of the wire spring. Think of it as a spring inside of a spring. I think (only my guess) is that it was a crude way to build a progressive ramp into the drag - under light pressure the coil spring is providing the minimal pressure between the drag star and the top metal washer (and keeping the drag star from migrating lighter or tighter). But as the drag is cinched down, the second, heavier split washer begins to add to the pressure. Also, do you have a small, thin plastic/nylon washer that sits on the top of the drag sleeve between the star and sleeve? Allows it to operate smoother. I do not think I will get to it until later tomorrow but I will try and post another photo. - john
Thanks John,
That's really helpful information.
No, didn't see a nylon washer in it. But I kinda figured there should have been something between the these washers and the first drag washer ? Something to spread the force out across the surface area without cutting the washer
I plan on putting this rascal on a good rod and see what it can do. It's built tough and maybe with a few modifications, "she'll be a contender!"
Thanks again for your help
Mic
It looks like I will need to reach out to Gobi King to "relearn" how to post photos since I do not see a "Gallery" feature anymore (maybe he restricted my account because I was sucking up too much bandwidth :D). Hard to see in your photo but does the lockwasher/split washer have a small amount of offset between the two ends? This is what allows it to function like a spring when it is compressed. If the reel was left for a very long time with the drag totally locked down I can see how it would be permanently compressed flat and would not function properly. - john
Nice view of a tough lookin lil levelwinder. Thanks for posting. Another reel I've never heard of. I always think of Pflueger's as those older all metal baitcasters, even though I have a "Capitol" with black sideplates.
Quote from: Brewcrafter on February 18, 2021, 02:59:20 PM
It looks like I will need to reach out to Gobi King to "relearn" how to post photos since I do not see a "Gallery" feature anymore (maybe he restricted my account because I was sucking up too much bandwidth :D). Hard to see in your photo but does the lockwasher/split washer have a small amount of offset between the two ends? This is what allows it to function like a spring when it is compressed. If the reel was left for a very long time with the drag totally locked down I can see how it would be permanently compressed flat and would not function properly. - john
Ha !
Gobi King hasn't blackballed me yet.....YET
There is about 1/8" or lees gap on the spring washer
PS....Thanks for the input
Mic
That's perfect for the lockwasher. I was talking with Gobi King this afternoon and he "swears" it wasn't him that blackballed me - said it might have to do with the Commodore 64 computer I'm using :D. He's going to try and help me figure it out tonight. Benni figures that since I never catch fish - I don't need to be able to post photos :D - john
Here is a photo of the reel and the drag
Kim
Quote from: Sharkb8 on February 19, 2021, 05:16:16 AM
Here is a photo of the reel and the drag
Kim
Thanks Kim ~!
John mentioned a nylon washer above the springs. Is that it under the drag star in your picture ?
Mic
Yes it is between the drag star and the top hat .
Kim
Very nice piece of work! Thanks. I'm gonna test your memory a bit. I've got a 2002 Bond I cleaned up.
According to the drawing the original drag material is leather. Anyway, I'm a rookie on the site, so please cut me a little slack. When I assembled after cleaning there was very little, if any drag. I replaced the old with new carbonex. Still no drag. I am stumped and looking for suggestions, hoping that
the problem is something simple.
Welcome to the Forum !
If you have everything in the right order then you need thicker Drags or make sure you have everything in the right order .
In other words the Star Wheel needs to be able to push pressure on the drag Stack so if it is bottoming out and the spool has no Tension or very little you need to shim with another washer or longer bushing .
Let us know how it works out and feel free to ask more questions.
It usually is something simple. I went and checked the box, and while I always measure the drag stack thickness of "factory" vs. "aftermarket" during assembly to make sure it is relatively close, I did not toss the working notes into the box. I could always pop this apart pretty easily and measure it for you. Many of the really common "ooops" for having a conventional style reel with little/no drag (in no particular order) - 1. If the eared washer is not properly seated in the groves in the main gear, and is sitting on top of the gear (preventing the drag stack from being compressed as you tighten the star). 2. If the friction (CF) washers are substantially thinner, and the grooves in the main gear are not cut deep enough again the eared metal washer will "bottom out" and the drag stack will not fully compress. 3. If you have Spectra spooled on the reel and you are pulling on the line, and the Spectra is not packed on tight it will "slip" or compress on the spool - line will go out even with the spool not turning so it wont move a drag scale.
There are a lot of really great minds on this Forum - I am sure if I cannot help someone else will can step up! - john