Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Had a young fella drop off some reels for service and repair and in the bag was a Rapala Hydra HDR45LC. This is a heavy reel but very sturdy, solid aluminum frame, and very robust components. What he was missing was the clutch lever. Trouble is, nobody repairs Rapala reels anymore because you cannot get any parts. I was told by their HQ here: "Unfortunately we do not carry parts for reels, if your reel is still under 1yr warranty we can replace it.  Return the defective reel to the address below for a warranty/replacement". Go to their web site and they say the same thing. Pretty strange that you make a disposable reel over $100 with a one year warranty.
So, I hate to pass on a reel and decided to make the part. What I used was an old ABU 6500 reel handle, cut and filed it into shape and screwed a round "nut" on to finish the handle. Touched it up with a bit of black Tremclad it it turned out great.

Are you in Canada?  Rapala never sold reels in the US but did in Canada.  Also a few higher end rods.  Tackletour has some reviews of them in their archives section.  Italo Labignan was sponsored by them and used them on his t.v. show just last year.  Maybe rapala's canadian site would have info on parts availability or on who the original manufacture was that produced it for them. Just like St. Croix reels are really Daiwa's.

I'm in Ottawa, Canada. Didn't know they only sold in Canada (owned by Normark).
I hear you on compatible reels but have not found anything to tie in with these.

Larry

Larry, to my untrained eye, I thought it was an original part....good job and very resourceful....Bill

Thanks Bill. Appreciate it.

Hey Bill! Used to live in Montreal for 55 years. I've seen that reel before, looks like a Hydros, a throlling reel, they are a heavy reel
Good job on the clutch lever 
https://rapala.ca/products/hydros-trolling

Marc..