Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I noticed this section near the handle knob is loose anyway I can fix it?

If you mean that the knob shaft is loose from the SS crank handle, insert the knob screw all the way in and repeen the stud tight to the SS crank handle. Be careful not to mess up the slot on the knob screw or the threads in the knob shaft.

If I were doing it, which I have a few times on well used & worn Cardinal handles, I would insert a stubby screwdriver or a hollow ground bit that fits perfectly in the screw slot to protect the slot, put that down on a hard surface like an anvil and strike the stud, peening it until it is tight to the crank handle.

which reel? you might be able to hammer it straight, but i wouldn't count on it.   

Like  Midway Tommy says.   I have alo removed it, tapped a thread down the centre and screwed it on.    Both work but not for to long, then it goes loose again.

A second, and maybe better option would be to find a sleeve that fits tightly over the knob shaft, slip it on and peen against that rather than against the knob screw.

You could also drill a hole the exact shaft size in a heavy piece of metal, block it up on something solid so that the flange is against the metal and peen against that.

You will need an appropriate size star or center punch when peeing the underside of the stud. I've also just used a quality piece of hard metal as a peening punch.

Another little trick I have used with about 75% success on these Cardinal spinners is —-

Dremel off the peened rivet head inside the handle channel, then remove the knob post, using a secure drill press vise & a drill press —- slowly and carefully drill a small hole, then tap some threads in the drilled hole to match a screw with a head on it, then apply a little Loc-Tite to the screw, or even a tiny SS lock washer between the screw head and the inside of the crank handle channel —- and screw it in place.

This keeps it fairly close to factory original.

Other options are a new crank handle, or an after-market knob with a screw-on mount.

All doable.

I do know that the re-peened crank knob will loosen up again eventually, if the reel is fished on a regular basis —- and that is not something I am willing to put up with, or have a client waiting for a failure.  If the reel isn't going to be fished —- then any fix is OK.  For me, even a reel that is a display piece has to be fishable and solid, with no excuses or even a chance of loosening again.

Sometimes, a slight modification is an improvement over the original factory design.

Just my opinion.

Best, Fred

[I do know that the re-peened crank knob will loosen up again eventually, if the reel is fished on a regular basis —- and that is not something I am willing to put up with, or have a client waiting for a failure.  If the reel isn't going to be fished —- then any fix is OK.  For me, even a reel that is a display piece has to be
fishable and solid, with no excuses or even a chance of loosening again.

Just my opinion.

Best, Fred]

I think that depends on whether a person  knows how to peen or re-peen correctly and proficiently. I have a couple of those Cardinal handles, a 4 & a 6, that became a little sloppy after 30 years of extensive use. I tightened them by re-peening like I described earlier and after 15 or so years of regular use they are still pretty darn tight. Still as tight as new, no, but tight and secure enough that I'm not at all worried about failure.

One can purchase a replacement handle for $15 or $20 but there's never any guarantee that it's NOS and not already starting to show wear.