Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I managed to get this reel @ n/c, on an old rod, has a lot of corrosion on the rotor & spool, but to my surprise, it turns very smooth, but I need some info of it, it has a manual pick up arm, also on the other side of the rotor, it has a switch of some kind, with a rubber cover, I would like more info before, I tear it apart, also some schematics would be handy, thanks in advance, cheers Don.

this 3390 also has France on the bottom of the foot, Fred do you know any thing about this model, cheers Don.

Quote from: Donnyboat on May 09, 2026, 08:14:47 PMthis 3390 also has France on the bottom of the foot, Fred do you know any thing about this model, cheers Don.

Hi Don —-

I do not know too much about the square-bodied 3300 & 4400 series reels.

The 3390 is a large reel from the early 80's.

This was a tough time for Mitchell, as a major investor/partner and North American distributor (Browning) decided to pull support from Mitchell, Garcia had pulled out, and Mitchell was going through bankruptcy —- primarily due to fierce competition from Asian manufacturers.

Folks I know have used these reels, and like them very much.

I might have some spools, maybe, maybe not.  And I'll try to find a schematic in the outer shops over the next few days.  Might have a reel or two.  Never used these myself.

Best, Fred

Thanks Fred, it has a free roller bearing set up, ( for a better word) it has 11 balls in it, there about 2 mm or 5/64th, in diamiter, woops I found a few more balls on the floor, total now is twenty, its a good thing I was`nt working on a carpet floor, down near the pinion, there is 2, 1/2 dome washers, that the balls should sit in, then there is a nylon bushing.
      now after another inspection, there is 2 more 1/2 dome washers on top of the nylon bushing, so maybe there should be more balls in this area as well, but not so.
      so yes Fred the schematics would be handy. cheers Don.

Quote from: Donnyboat on May 10, 2026, 08:31:56 AMyes Fred the schematics would be handy. cheers Don.

This is as close I can come Don —-

Might help a bit.

3360.

This is a French manufactured graphite reel by Mitchell/Browning.

Best Regards, Fred

Thanks Fred, its not quite the same, but I will print the schematics all the same, and a special thanks for surching for it on a Sunday, cheers Don.

I note the 3360 reel has a bail arm, the 3390 that I have, has the manual pick up, with the line roller, also it has a rubber dome on the side of the rotor, when you press the dome, there is a set up inside, that should release some thing, but I am not to sure, what, I will try & place some photos here later in the week, I know Wayne & Mike would do it for me, but I need to manage it myself, @ the moment I am having trouble placing the pictures in the right area on my computer, I am not very teck savy, cheers Don.

Mitchell 3390 Reel illustrating manual pickup also rubber dome on rotor

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Spool with line diameter and yds also nylon bearing bush and bearing balls in container
The balls are 2mm or 5/64.

url=https://alantani.com/index.php?ac[tion=gallery;sa=view;id=40017][/url]

Mechanism in rotor operated with rubber dome

Okay the last 3 pictures, show the mechanism inside the rotor, if you look @ the last picture, you will notice that it has the rubber dome pressed in, I still have`nt worked out what it actually does though.
      I have managed to get some 2mm balls for the bearing set up, I really think the balls should be 5/64th. it could be worth a bit of money after I paint it, cheers Don.

It will take a lot to get that back in service, Don —-

Lots of salt damage on an aluminum spinner with some plastic parts.

But it is always possible.

Look forward to the finished product.

The manual pick-up with no bail wire was an option that could be installed in place of the bail wire on all of the 3300 series Mitchell's.

Best Regards, Fred

Congratulations Donny, on your stick-to-it-iveness and perseverance in managing your photo file! Now you don't have to depend on anyone else to get your photos posted. I knew you could accomplish it if you stuck with it and concentrated on it long enough. 👍

Fred thanks, it was turning okay, before I dismantled it, so hopefully, I will get it back together okay, I have removed the line pick up and the arm that holds it onto the rotor, I have covered all the thread were the screws fit, ready for under coat.

      Tommy thanks for your encuragement, we tried to place the pictures on a differant way, so now I have to practice on my own, I will try to post some pics on the post I started about the electric motor, if i SUSSEED, THEN i WILL EXPLAIN HOW WE DO IT. CHEERS Don.