Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Spinning Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Zebco => Topic started by: Marlinmate on October 11, 2020, 04:59:10 PM

Title: ZEBCO
Post by: Marlinmate on October 11, 2020, 04:59:10 PM
What is this knob supposed to do on this reel?   Says off and on
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Wompus Cat on October 11, 2020, 07:23:28 PM
It is the Drag Tension (Pressure) adjustment on that pictured version of your Zebco Reel.
It is not simply On or Off but rather an adjustable range of tightness applied to a lever inside the reel which expands a wafer or flat curved  lever inside the Spool Post if you will  applying pressure to the inner spool by degrees of tension provided by the threads on that Knob. Newer versions of the Zebco's have More and Less engraved on that Tension Knob and different ways to apply that tension to the Spool rather than inside the spool but to the bottom of the spool where it touches the base with  actual drag washers  and spacers.
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Gfish on November 21, 2020, 05:48:05 PM
A good old school lookin version of 33. It is a 33, right?, it looks kinda small. If it is the 33 and there's no AR lever on the opposite [handle] side, then it's maybe a '55-'57. If it has brass gears, those are supposed to be the best for smoothness. From the time they settled on the 33 model [1954] there was a lot of little changes over the years. Then plastic/Lexan  and foreign production came along... lookin for a good old school version, but the info. Out there is kinda incomplete and at times contrary.
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Midway Tommy on November 22, 2020, 03:15:47 AM
Quote from: Gfish on November 21, 2020, 05:48:05 PM
A good old school lookin version of 33. It is a 33, right?, it looks kinda small.

It's a Super 22. (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/zebco-super-22-condition-168236226) Although the Worthpoint reel has an incorrect handle nut.
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Gfish on November 22, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
Ah ha, a 22. Was thinkin, Marlinmate has big fingers. Tommy, or anyone else; what's a good reference for the Zebco's? There's some stuff out there but it's not complete or sequentially logical to me.
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: happyhooker on November 24, 2020, 05:18:51 PM
There's a guy on the fishingtalks.com website by the name of dustyjo (dustyjoe?) who is a Zebco whiz.  Lots of good blogs there on 'em.

Frank
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Gfish on November 24, 2020, 06:53:03 PM
Thanks. Wompus Cat gimme that reference a couple a days ago in a PM, darn!, I forgot to PM him back. Thanks to you also, W C.
So, I checked it out, same issues for me. I left the site a comment, something about maybe havin a chart with all the identifiable features/changes for each year, and after thinkin bout what I read, shoulda said somethin bout changes within each year.
Title: Re: ZEBCO
Post by: Midway Tommy on November 30, 2020, 03:31:52 AM
Quote from: Gfish on November 22, 2020, 05:40:46 PM
Ah ha, a 22. Was thinkin, Marlinmate has big fingers. Tommy, or anyone else; what's a good reference for the Zebco's? There's some stuff out there but it's not complete or sequentially logical to me.

I don't do Facebook, but there's a Zebco Facebook page. You have to request to be let in. Dick Braun is probably the most knowledgeable person in the world on all things Zebco from inception to present, especially Zebco made products and spincast reels.