The Zebco Rhino RBCXL

mo65 · October 21, 2016, 03:41:49 AM

Zebco??? Yep...you heard me alright...Zebco did make a few models other than the 33. This is one most folks never heard about. This is a well built reel, holds 400yds. of 20lb. mono, has a 4.2:1 gear ratio, and ball bearings on the spool shaft. I've fished this reel for years, but never did anything to it other than lube it a few times. I finally decided to take a closer look inside.

Wow...nice components. A stout aluminum handle, huge gear, steel washers in the drag stack, the pressure plate on top of the stack is very nice too. The only thing I needed to change were the felt friction discs.

Look at the main gear beside a Jigmaster gear. That's a beefy gear! The drag washer is just about the same size as Penn's #6-309, so new HT-100s are going in.

Here's the bearing that supports the gear sleeve, it rides between the side plate and the sleeve, holding radial flex to a minimum. The outer collar(on the brass) appears to be delrin.

The AR dog and ratchet are stainless steel also...as are the pinion, yoke, and jack.

New carbon fiber drags all slathered with Cal's...gears and ratchet wearing Penn blue...its grease euphoria!

Spool shaft, bearings, and bushings all got a squirt of oil. Almost forgot the levelwind gears, but did lightly grease them right before assembly.

Here she is all buttoned up and ready to fish.

Bryan Young · October 21, 2016, 04:25:30 AM

That's one nice looking reel.

Alto Mare · October 21, 2016, 11:00:10 AM

Lots of good features on that reel. Thanks for showing it to us Mo.

Sal

mo65 · October 25, 2016, 02:43:46 PM

When I reassembled this reel, the spool was a bit off center, and I had never noticed that before. Hmm...oh well...I just made a small shim to place in the tail plate bushing and re-center my spool. Then a few days later while walking across the room I caught a glint of light from the carpet. There it was...the original shim! It must have been "stuck" to the spool shaft and then later fell off, or maybe got wiped off. At any rate, now I have a spare shim.

akfish · October 25, 2016, 02:59:36 PM

I've seen a few of these in my shop. Without exception, they have had corrosion problems so be very careful and keep your reel impeccably clean. The handle is especially suspect. Be sure to keep the handle lock nut and gear sleeve well greased.

Gfish · October 25, 2016, 03:06:42 PM

I bought a couple of their rods and a spincaster years ago and've been impressed with the quality, given the price point. They do incorporate a little toughness into that line a products. Didn't know they made a baitcaster.
Gfish

mo65 · January 28, 2017, 05:55:57 PM

Quote from: akfish on October 25, 2016, 02:59:36 PM
I've seen a few of these in my shop. Without exception, they have had corrosion problems so be very careful and keep your reel impeccably clean. The handle is especially suspect. Be sure to keep the handle lock nut and gear sleeve well greased.

Good tip akfish. I can see where using that aluminum handle in saltwater could invite trouble. Here in the Ohio River valley the only problem I've seen was one that had a busted eccentric lever.

mo65 · November 18, 2019, 04:08:11 PM

I couldn't remember if I had put carbon fiber drags in this reel...these old threads are great for keeping track of when my reels were serviced!