Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Some of my Mitchell reel have clockwise rotation ,mostly big reel and some counter clockwise rotation (smaller reel ) When did Mitchell change design . Is The original 300 have clockwise rotation ?

Backasswards rotation is one of reasons why I always disliked, and refused to fish with, a Mitchell 300. 😖 🤯

I  don't use Mitchell reel for very long time . Last year I bought a Mitchell 408 and a old Fenwick rod ,try to get my brother get back in fishing ,this combo is his favorite . Just putting line for this reel and notice the rotation just like other reel . check out the other Mitchell so only big reel have backward rotation

My 302 for a right-handed person goes clockwise to reel in the line. Edit: that is if you were facing the clock. The 300 I have goes counterclockwise, when facing the clock. If you open-up either one you can see why; simple planetary gears on the 302 and a bunch of gears in the 300 to make that unique oscillation system work in conjunction with the rotor/pinion gears. People who have had line put on a 300 by a machine in the shop have been known to have their line put on backwards by inexperienced persons.

i think the old French-made 300s always had a rotation different from just about everyone else.  Not sure if clockwise or counter--I guess it depends on which way you are looking at the reel.  Just the opposite from almost everybody else, though.  It has never bothered me.

Frank

Counter clockwise rotation will bring the line to the pad of your righthand index finger so it is easy to grab the line for the next cast.  Clockwise rotation will bring the line to the nail side of your index finger making it more difficult to grab the line.

The 300 is the only Mitchell I am aware of that spins backards?

I do remember 300 go backward but the two 300 I have right now have same rotation as any other reel on market today .The 408 ,300A ,300 Pro ,900 ( smaller reel ) all have right direction . Only 302 ,398,306 have backward direction . That why I ask when Mitchell change direction on reel

Pictures; 1) 302, 2)300 and 3) 300 including oscillation unit.

The 302 was my attempt to imitate what a member here did awhile back to strengthen the crank system by stabilizing it with 2 main gears. It does seem stronger like that. Is that member still here? I remember he received the usual excess of criticism for his project, so maybe he bailed.

I messed up , 300 ,300a and 900 go backward . Other have same rotation as other reel

I believe the 330 does also

I don't have 330 so I don't know , Actually reverse rotation have some good point , when casting just extent index finger to stop rotor right at place to pick up the line

Quote from: Gfish on November 10, 2025, 04:13:33 PMIf you open-up either one you can see why; simple planetary gears on the 302 and a bunch of gears in the 300 to make that unique oscillation system work in conjunction with the rotor/pinion gears. /quote]

Are the pinion and drive gears cut differently or at different angles on these models vs. the 308/408 or models that rotate clockwise? 

I liked my 300's bc having both a cup rotor and clockwise backward rotation made the 300's the most comfortable to back-reel. Now, if the skirted reels back-reeled clockwise, I'd probably have converted to fishing drag long ago. A sad day that would have been. I'd probably be a different man altogether.

Quote from: Paul Roberts on November 14, 2025, 08:57:13 PMI liked my 300's bc having both a cup rotor and clockwise backward rotation made the 300's the most comfortable to back-reel. Now, if the skirted reels back-reeled clockwise, I'd probably have converted to fishing drag long ago. A sad day that would have been. I'd probably be a different man altogether.

I remember in Mitchell instruction booklet  they recommend only use anti-reverse when fighting fish and most fisherman back-reel because their drag not reliable also cause twisted line