712z bail not closing

Started by elcarlstono, September 06, 2022, 03:08:19 PM

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Midway Tommy

On really pitted SS or plated parts I start with a wire brush, steel or brass. If more help is needed I then polish with a well used 320 grit yellow sanding sponge. Some use a polishing wheel on a bench grinder or polish with a Dremel but I've never seen the need to do that. It does work well, though. I have plenty of worn 220 & 320 sanding sponges and they work just fine for me. What ever you choose, don't put grease in the bail spring cavities when you put it back together! Grease just slows everything down and collects dirt.
Love those open face spinning reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco Cardinals)

Tommy D (ORCA), NE



Favorite Activity? ............... In our boat fishing
RELAXING w/ MY BEST FRIEND (My wife Bonnie)

foakes

Obviously, you want to do this on your own —- and learn in the process —- and I respect and appreciate that.

Since this is a somewhat rough reel, it is a user reel —- not a Concour's de Elegance example.

So, just 2 steps will do it (after cleaning out the crud from the rotor bail attachments).

1) Install the bail arm with the spring & bail screw —- just one drop of oil under the arm & one drop of oil between the screw and the top of the arm.

Check to see if the bail arm snaps back into the retrieve position freely.  If so, the problem is a tweaked bail wire.

2) If the bail wire is bent really badly (yours isn't) —- just try to get it as close to even by lightly bending in the palms of your hand.  Then install it properly and with the screws properly torqued and tight. 

Then, using a smooth-jawed pair of pliers —- just adjust (slightly bend) the bail arm one way or the other.

After a 1 to 3 tries —- the bail should operate crisp and strong —- and the line lay is not affected in any way.

What you are doing is reducing the side-lateral binding and pressure that comes from a bail being tweaked over the years of boats, pickup beds, dropping, tackle boxes sliding into it, and such.

I used to take these apart a dozen or more times 40 years ago —- until a mentor who owned a tackle repair shop just showed me this quick and reliable method.

If the bail arm does not work without the bail wire attached — then there are other corrosion issues involved.

But 90% of the time —- this will be your culprit —- and it is only a 2-step process of elimination —- and the reel is good to go out on the water.

Don't overthink the issues —- Occam's Razor sez to look for the simplest and most commonly encountered issues first.

Good luck & let us know how you fare.

Best, Fred
The Official, Un-Authorized Service and Restoration Center for quality vintage spinning reels.

D-A-M Quick, Penn, Mitchell, and ABU/Zebco Cardinals

--------

The first rule of fishing is to fish where the fish are. The second rule of fishing is to never forget the first rule.

"Enjoy the little things in Life — For someday, you may look back — and realize that they were the big things"
                                                     Fred O.

oc1

Cut the bail arm of on the roller side and make a PUM.  You might like it.

reelrepair123

when you tighten the small nut on the end of the bail, it puts alot of pressure on the bail arm, tighten the nut holding the bail arm with a channel lock pliers, it still might be a little stiff flipping, take the channel lock pliers and bend the bail arm a little, careful not to mar the chrome on the bail arm. harryk

elcarlstono

Yes, I typically only buy users and, well, use them. 
I got the cup fully and bail parts fully disassembled and decruded/degreased.  I made a few slight bends, but it largely looks the same but it's snapping back nicely. I'm going ahead with a full de/regrease of the reel and we'll see how it performs after fully reassembled tonight.  But so far so good.

elcarlstono

Quote from: oc1 on September 07, 2022, 08:40:11 PMCut the bail arm of on the roller side and make a PUM.  You might like it.
I've got a 706 for that!

elcarlstono

Service is complete and I've got a snappy bail! I can't say exactly for sure what did it. I made some tweaks to the bail and did a thorough cleaning, but  I suspect it was the latter since I can still see that the flat arm is still a bit cattawompus (no pun intended).
Reel looked very good during service.  Very good condition except the sticky brown grease.  Was unable to remove the pinion and bearing but they looked good and they got a superficial wipe down.  This guy is ready to go fishing again!
Thanks for all the help.  My biggest mistake was assuming my paper towel wipe/scrub of the bail mounts was sufficient for cleaning.   

elcarlstono

Here is my very modest Z collection.  All will be fished except the 722 (broken crosswind block (also not a Z ;) )
Would love to get a gold spool for the 706z, and on the hunt for a 704Z then I might be happy.

Midway Tommy

Love those open face spinning reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco Cardinals)

Tommy D (ORCA), NE



Favorite Activity? ............... In our boat fishing
RELAXING w/ MY BEST FRIEND (My wife Bonnie)

Gfish

The Z reels certainly look cool. Never owned one. What's the advantages over the greenie models?
Fishing tackle is an art form and all fish caught on the right tackle are"Gfish"!

Midway Tommy

Quote from: Gfish on September 19, 2022, 02:41:45 AMThe Z reels certainly look cool. Never owned one. What's the advantages over the greenie models?

Nothing other than color. Most parts are interchangeable.
Love those open face spinning reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco Cardinals)

Tommy D (ORCA), NE



Favorite Activity? ............... In our boat fishing
RELAXING w/ MY BEST FRIEND (My wife Bonnie)

elcarlstono

As Tommy said, nothing. I just prefer the color scheme.

handi2

99% of the time is just misaligned. It has to be perfect or it won't work!!
OCD Reel Service & Repair
Gulf Breeze, FL