Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Quote from: CincyDavid on December 22, 2025, 02:03:20 PM

Quote from: Midway Tommy on December 20, 2025, 06:13:08 PMYeah, they're a pretty desired and pricey item, kind of like the Orvis 50As, but not near as sought after as the ABU & Zebco Cardinal 3s.

I am befuddled by the pricing on Cardinal 3s, MUCH higher than the bigger ones. One of these days I'll buy a Cardinal of some sort just to get a feel for them and see if I like them.

If you ever fished with one, especially a 3 or 4 with an aluminum spool, you would understand why they're so sought after. Even the 6 & 7 are great reels, they're just for a little bigger fresh water fish. The 6 & 7 would be fine for most of the smaller saltwater fish, but probably a little small for some of the big pigs.

See, here we go. Every time I think I'm narrowing my focus somebody comes along, like Midway Tommy, to dig around in my wallet and pull all the money out. 

Quote from: Vintage Offshore Tackle on December 21, 2025, 01:17:41 AMI just saw a nice-looking one today in a thrift store in Santa Maria, California for $25.  It looked nice, maybe an 8.5 on a 10 scale, but the bail was hitting the spool when it flipped, and sometimes hit the handle when reeling.  I am mechanically challenged, so I didn't buy it.  If anyone local wants the store information, please let me know.  I asked them and they do not ship.

Sounds like the bail might be bent. A nice thick sturdy bail is best, but too rare, especially on older reels.

Quote from: Midway Tommy on December 19, 2025, 04:59:27 PM

Quote from: CincyDavid on December 19, 2025, 02:47:30 PMI need to find one without spending a fortune on it.

Good luck! They bring a healthy buck or three, usually at least $60 + shipping, even in rough condition.

well, I found one semi-ugly one for $50 plus shipping, should be here early next week.

The CarGem took forever to ship but finally arrived. This thing is TINY. The chrome on the handle looks pretty good, the bail wire is not great but at least it's smooth.

Cute lil' thing. Fine steel wool for the bail wire. You know how much it weighs?

I will try the steel wool. I don't have a postal scale. I was amused by the cleaning instructions in the document, "use gasoline or carbon tetrachloride"...oof.

I mean, gasoline will do it. I'm fond of charcoal lighter fluid (probably naptha) as a grease solvent. Gasoline probably works better.

At least it's not ether.

I remember several times there were carbon tet spills in the OH River, and the City of Cincinnati had to shut down the water works intakes till the spills went downstream. That must be nasty stuff. On a lighter note, my mother was never a real stellar cook, and she would make chicken tetrazzini for dinner. My dad was not a fan and he'd call it chicken tetrachloride.

Found another scroungy-looking Mignon on ebay today, under $50 shipped so I feel like I can't go too far wrong with it. We'll see how it looks whenever my friends at USPS decide to deliver it.