Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Quote from: Swami805 on September 29, 2025, 05:19:48 PMBeautiful reel, I think my hair would catch on fire if I tried installing those roller bearings.  That's next level patience

Ha! Ha!
The grease really helps, but if those bearings aren't all perfectly in line before sleeving bushing over them, you get to do em again!
 Lol

well done !
Beautiful reel, but my goodness that's a lot of parts..

Quote from: DougK on September 29, 2025, 08:06:20 PMwell done !
Beautiful reel, but my goodness that's a lot of parts..

Thank you!
That's the way I love em, overengineered!

Wow, what an interesting reel!
Thanks for the detailed post

You really have to hand it to the French back in the day - when it came to designing something technically odd and overly complicated, they didn't just pull it off, they outdid everyone else - including themselves.
Just look at the Mepps Super Mecca... or the Citroën DS, for that matter! 

Quote from: Bilch on September 30, 2025, 06:57:59 AMWow, what an interesting reel!
Thanks for the detailed post

You really have to hand it to the French back in the day - when it came to designing something technically odd and overly complicated, they didn't just pull it off, they outdid everyone else - including themselves.
Just look at the Mepps Super Mecca... or the Citroën DS, for that matter! 

That's for sure. I mean 94 loose bearings! WTF?
I also have a Super Mecca, but have not stripped it yet.
 A chain drive bail arm on that one!! Lol

All spooled with 6 lb test and ready for some crappie catching action.

I got all the flier kinks worked out. No rub on spool anymore and drag working correctly, too.

A/R functions as it should.

She's ready to relive her former glory this weekend!!

A reel looks its best mounted on a fishing rod ready for battle.  Nice looking outfit. 

Quote from: jtwill98 on October 09, 2025, 03:41:28 PMA reel looks its best mounted on a fishing rod ready for battle.  Nice looking outfit. 

Thank you! Can't wait to try this one!

Casts so far and reels so smooth.

Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing!

Quote from: Bobcat on October 09, 2025, 06:44:41 PMVery nice indeed! Thanks for sharing!

Yes, sir! Hopefully, I'll be posting up a reply with some big ol' crappies!

I got to take the 1945 French Helion out today and I think I'm in love!
Oh, my!

This vintage French beauty performed flawlessly and is so well balanced, for being a larger reel, was quite effortless to use.

The 94 bearings inside this jewel, give it such a vintage mechanical feel. A smooth, precise, "metal" feeling.
Can't explain it, none of my other reels have the same feel.
Love it!

Great drag set up and sound, and so quiet and fluid on the bail arm actuation.

Fished 6 hours for 82 caught with 12 nice keepers!

Handled the feisty crappies like she was brand new 80 years young!

Proud of this strip and restore, as it was the most tedious to date and this rare reel was completely non working previously, and is now an amazing functioning machine!

Good for you! 👍 It's nice to restore a tough to find reel and then find out afterwards how much you really like the way it functions. 👏

Quote from: Midway Tommy on October 12, 2025, 02:04:45 AMGood for you! 👍 It's nice to restore a tough to find reel and then find out afterwards how much you really like the way it functions. 👏

I usually don't fall hard for a reel, but my French ones are some of my favorites.
Croizix, RuMer, Lasso, Doperr, and now, Helion!

Very nice! I love to see vintage equipment in use. Thank you for sharing your prize with us!

Quote from: Bobcat on October 12, 2025, 12:59:56 PMVery nice! I love to see vintage equipment in use. Thank you for sharing your prize with us!

Yes, sir! I love using the antique reels. All so different in their feel and style.