Reel Repair by Alan Tani

As stated earlier some pictures were promised showing some mooching reels and particulars.  I hope this site is ok with the boss?
   These are pictures but might get moved to another place as there could be more and all aimed at the moocher topic.
 
This the reel some of you saw in my second video.  It is a North Coast marked by Rapala.  Thats when I got it it looked like the next lower picture.

These reels have other names and retailers I,ve noticed, But seem to be nearly identical.  Pretty good machining, fit, finish,  the prices vary some.  Below is a sister to mine,


Below is the internal parts, they are simple.  Utilizing one ar dog, this prevents backward rotation ov the spool.  The outside lever raises the dog and gives the reel free spool.  A simple click alarm is on when the dog is engaged. There are 2 ball bearings in the spool hub.

This aluminum reel was the base for my Hottroded first project reel.  I tig welded the reel foot to the frame and made new spool side rings that were an inch larger in diameter,  giving me a 5.5inch spool dia.  Making a faster line retrieve was the goal.
   Using conservative numbers the reel stock inches of line per turn of spool went from 13 1/2 to 16 1/2 inches,   This all helps,
  as these darn salmon can t
urn directions and come your way shaking heads and giving you the fisherman a lot of loose line.
   Later I can show pictures of the cork drag washer that was replaced with a carbon fiber
  Attached are a few more graphite reels that are popular,  and now there are newer looking models but are about the same as there models.



and lastly another great inexpensive salmon reel the Echo reel,  and a great eating fish picture!

I think the mooching reel needs a free spool lever, as you let out line you dont have to back off the drag and then readjust time avter time.
   So its some info for some, and pictures for others.   for me its reliving some of the past.   Its all Good.    Happy New Year!

Ive been curious about mooching reels for a while now, thanks for the pics and explanation.

The "drive" is obviously 1:1 as the knobs are part of the spool.  But I take it the drag only comes into effect when the spool is turned backwards against the a/r dog.  Reeling in line only has the resistance of whatever weight(or fish) you have on, but the fish has to work against the drag to take line.  Is this correct?

Gary thanks for posting the information and photos.  Those reels look like fun.  Dominick

What the hec happened to the pictures?  they were there then poof,  darn.  I can repost to see if they stay..........
   
Yes that is right the popular mooching reels have an a/r dog and the drag is engaged when the dog in down and engaged.  Then the spool turns against the drag disks friction being applied resistance.  Likely these reels need only about 10# drag for most fishing.
   There is one exception and that is when the trolling fisher person is pulling a diving planer, like pink lady, or deep 6 planers with a large flasher, and he more conventional reels.trolling 2-5+knots and the strain on the rod is very heavy,  many times the typical reel will creep line out as the fish hard and you dont really want to have a lot of extra drag applied.    But thats where the downrigger starts to shine with its virtues.    But then planers catch fish too in the upper water column like crazy,  Some times I use both simultaneously.
  The reel I use has a large drag washer approx 2"dia and its friction is directly against the inside of the alum spool. 
The Diawa and Shimano moochers use a sandwich of approx 5-6 steel eared and cf or fibre washers between keyed metal washers approx 3/4"dia. similar to the conventional reel drags.....
   
This the backside of my favorite reel, showing the freespool lever, and the reconfigured reel foot.

This is the reel in its working position.  note the rodholder will defy the hard hitters and snags.

The author lifts on up with a smile.  A Diawa M1 reel is pictured. These are good reels for less than 65$ and have good drags.

above is an early Shimano 2000 or 4000 moocher.  Now the new ones have textured rubber flatlike handles.
   I spoke of some reel that dont have an anti reverse nor freespool,  they are marketed as moochers,  but I put them in the fly reel category.......these are what I started with, back when there were tons of fish,  they are usually lower priced,  Steelex, and Windex come to mind.....but they will catch fish too!
   Lastly there are some aluminul machines beautys marketed as Islander in types MR2 & 3 these are finished very nicely, and are heirloom quality, comparatively expensive and built to last, but only have 4.5 " spools same as most others.
  I have found that the larger spool diameter is my favorite.  You pick up more line with every crank, and the knucklebuster complaint is diminished as the spool spins somewhat slower in rpm when the fish runs hard as they will occasionally do.  Its totally fun!