Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Pro Gear Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Rancanfish on April 15, 2020, 03:02:56 PM

Title: CS501 and V20
Post by: Rancanfish on April 15, 2020, 03:02:56 PM
Are these basically the same, just different handles and such?  I have too many of this size reel and wondered if I'd be making a mistake cutting loose the 501's since I prefer the new knob.

Opinions welcome.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: alantani on April 15, 2020, 03:15:32 PM
randy, if i was going to make a reel, the classic series is what i would make.  they're great reels.  not fancy by any stretch, but they have all the attributes that i look for in a conventional reel.  the v-series, for me, is the exact opposite.....   :-\
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: Bryan Young on April 15, 2020, 03:40:20 PM
Personally, I would select the CS over the V20.  The CS is a smoother reel with less issues if fished as a 30# to max 40# reel.

The V series has SS gears and SS gear shaft/post, but appears to be made of the same material, and has a tendency of gauling against each other as materials of the same properties tend to do when rubbed against each other over a period of time.

My opinion for what it's worth.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: Rancanfish on April 15, 2020, 03:45:13 PM
Alan,  It has been a long while since I serviced them but I seem to remember thinking they were pretty much the same.  Are there specific details I'm not remembering?   Number of bearings, etc?

Other than price?  I paid $200 vs $125 for the V20.

Gotta run to Fremont, dropping my son's BMW for service,  so will have to follow up...

Oops, Bryan beat me in.  Thanks guys.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: alantani on April 15, 2020, 04:39:59 PM
they are probably very close.  i just remember cracking open that first v-series reel and feeling my heart sink.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: Rancanfish on April 15, 2020, 05:43:29 PM
Well I might just do that out of boredom (break them down).

I'm going to do a CS625 vs a AS540 too maybe. 

Thank god for old age,  my memory let's me rediscover stuff I used to already know,  lol.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: johndtuttle on July 14, 2021, 05:29:54 PM
Quote from: alantani on April 15, 2020, 04:39:59 PM
they are probably very close.  i just remember cracking open that first v-series reel and feeling my heart sink.

What was the trouble you found? From the outside they look pretty sweet.
Title: Re: CS501 and V20
Post by: alantani on July 15, 2021, 01:26:38 AM
it was clearly manufactured overseas.  it lacked the fit and finish that was typical of the reels made by randy kao in southern california.