Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Found a guy selling a bunch of reel stuff today.

Picked up 2 large metal file boxes full of parts.

All of the steel drawers are jammed full of stuff.

Plus around 22 reels.

Mitchell 406 high speed, never used, Dark Blue
Mitchell 309 left-hand reel, never used, Black
Mitchell 408 high speed, EX, Dark Blue
DAM Quick 3000
DAM Quick 3000
DAM Quick 5001
DAM Quick 110N Microlite
DAM Quick 110N Microlite
DAM Quick 265  Microlite
DAM Quick 265  Microlite
DAM Quick SW68 Standard
Cardinal 4
Cardinal 4
Cardinal 4
Cardinal C4
Cardinal C4
Penn 716 Greenie
Penn 712 Greenie
Penn 720 Light Blue Metallic
Penn 722Z Black & Gold
Penn 722Z Black & Gold
Penn 720Z Bronze & Gold

I will restore and service each of the reels to near new.

If anyone wants one, let me know.

Bought it all fairly cheap.

Lots of spools, reel parts, some new, some used, but good stuff.

Some of the stuff is just going into the utility trailer for a run over to the Northfork dump.

Best, Fred

   Nice haul .    I am afraid to ask or see what you haul to the dump !!

Penn 712 fer sale? Fred most of us find a jewel once in a blue moon but you hit paydirt!

All of the reels are for sale. 

But I don't sell them as-is.

When they leave the benches, each has to be as good as possible both in function and appearance.

Each will get a complete disassemble, US cleaning, inspection of all parts, replacement of any needed parts with new parts, modern synthetic lubes, new drags, bail springs, other springs, screws, fine tuning, and whatever else would make them perform as new.

I have all of the parts necessary —- so it is a fun labor.

The only exceptions would be the never used or rod mounted Mitchell high speed dark blue 406, and the same with the unused little Mitchell 309, which is a reel for left-handed anglers.  However, each of these will still get a disassemble, evacuation of all old lubes, and an application of modern synthetic lubes.  I will do those two first, then post them up for sale.

The functions and operation of each of these reels is complete and solid — so it is just remove the storage grime, clean, replace parts, etc.  none have any issues, except one of the microlite 265's is missing some parts — of which I have all of those as NOS.

If anyone wants to put their name on any of these in advance —- just let me know —- then I'll do those first.

I enjoy doing these, and they must be right when they leave the shop.

Best, Fred

Here are the Mitchells —-

High Speed dark blue 406

Ultralight 309 black for left-handers

Dark blue High Speed 408 Microlight 

Best, Fred

Hi Fred, thats a nice find, you obviously have to touch up some of them with paint, for the mitchells what brand of paint, also I am trying to buy some naivey blue some mitchells are produced in that colour, cheers Don.

I have never painted Mitchells, Donny —-

Probably someday I will, but I have enough new parts to just switch out for new.

Best, Fred

Fred,
Please put me down for a Quick micro lite. 

Thanks,
Tom

Will do, Tom —-

Best, Fred

thanks Fred shucks about the dark blue paint, have you ever used delrin for drag washer in mitchell reels, I am referring to the 486 up to the 499 reels, cheers Don.

I have a 402,406,408,410,& 486.The 486 being the largest in my collection has a regular bearing unlike the rest.I am curious why the Mitchell Engineers used so many different bearing configurations? The 486 is just as smooth as the 408,but IMO the 410 roller bearings are smooth,sound like a didgeridoo though

Finally got a chance to look through some of the big file cabinet drawers that I picked up Friday.

Been weedeating all day Saturday, then Church events all day yesterday.

Set the box of reels down beside my main shop bench this morning —- and intend to restore and complete each one with mostly new parts, as needed —- in between the times other reels are soaking or when I just need a break.

Surprisingly, in two of the large file drawers were two bags with some reels I didn't know were there.

A nearly new Penn 710 greenie, another Penn tiny 716 greenie, a Penn 714 greenie, plus a Penn Black 712Z with a manual pickup.  I pulled out the needed parts if someone wants to convert it back to the traditional wire bail factory setup.

Also found new spools & crank handles for the (2) ABU Garcia Cardinal C4's.

Tossed any rugged looking parts, worm-burned, or junk stuff I'll never use in the dump trailer.

If anyone wants any of these reels, just let me know.  They won't be sold as-is.  Each will be completely restored and serviced to the point I would be proud and confident to fish them myself.

The Mitchell 408, 309, and 406 are nearly new (309 & 406 are new, tiny high speed 408 shows very slight wear —- but I have new frames, rotors, spools and sideplates to complete it as new).

Best, Fred