Reel Tools

[CH]

I own (at this date) 5 DAM Quick reels.
2 - 110N
3 - 110

I've just finished repairing one ( bail screw snapped off in rotating head) by replacing rotating head.
The decision to finally repair this long broken reel actually led me to this forum.

After repairing the above mentioned reel I decided to disassemble and clean and look over the other reels. Which I just accomplished with the Quicks,  just need to upgrade the drags now. ( +still have Mitchell's, Diawa's and Shimano's to do now.)

Some of the parts were tricky to disassemble and reassemble because of not having correct tools to remove things like tiny pins, flat nuts holding rotating heads on and such. I managed carefully using tools I had but realize I need to obtain a few special tools to make the job easier and with less chance of damaging these parts.

I'm wondering if there are tools made just for working on reels or if it's just something I have to figure out and modify on my own?

Suggestions for the newbie?

[Reel 224]

There is a section on tools here that you could look at that experienced reel mechanics have posted. For tools personally I would go to www.Brownells.com for a good set of hollow ground screwdrivers. Alan T makes a great reel wrench and Kita makes a good one too. Fred (Folks) will have good suggestions as to tools of the trade also.   

Joe

[CH]

Thanks,
Was checking out the tools section. Loads there.
Will be interested to see if Fred uses any special tools to service the Quick line.

Thanks again for the reply.

[Midway Tommy]

The best advise I can give you is to keep your mind open and don't get in a rush, think things through before just diving in. A lot of the tools I use are basic mechanic type tools but nearly all of my most used are micro needle nose, diagonals, etc., i.e. small fineness sized tools. I have a mini pair, and I mean mini, of Craftsman adjustable (channel lock type) pliers that I use all the time and a full set of Craftsman ignition wrenches (SAE & Metric) that I use almost daily on tiny nuts. You need to be creative, too. I don't know how many tools I have made for specialty uses such as slotted nut heads where the bolt protrudes, or for bail & side plate screws where the slot is concave. Rather than use a coin or rounded end of a wrench in the slot I've taken good screwdrivers and filed the blade to fit perfectly. I filed the edges and a slot in the center on a couple of screwdrivers that fit precisely into the ABU bail arm recess to remove the bail nut rather than use the slotted/pronged ABU wrench that originally came with the reels. A set of pin punches are relatively inexpensive and a necessity. I even took one 1/16" punch & filed it down to about 3/64" so it would work better on 1/16" pins. If you are mechanically inclined it won't take you long to figure out the major basics.   

[CH]

The best advise I can give you is to keep your mind open and don't get in a rush, think things through before just diving in. A lot of the tools I use are basic mechanic type tools but nearly all of my most used are micro needle nose, diagonals, etc., i.e. small fineness sized tools. I have a mini pair, and I mean mini, of Craftsman adjustable (channel lock type) pliers that I use all the time and a full set of Craftsman ignition wrenches (SAE & Metric) that I use almost daily on tiny nuts. You need to be creative, too. I don't know how many tools I have made for specialty uses such as slotted nut heads where the bolt protrudes, or for bail & side plate screws where the slot is concave. Rather than use a coin or rounded end of a wrench in the slot I've taken good screwdrivers and filed the blade to fit perfectly. I filed the edges and a slot in the center on a couple of screwdrivers that fit precisely into the ABU bail arm recess to remove the bail nut rather than use the slotted/pronged ABU wrench that originally came with the reels. A set of pin punches are relatively inexpensive and a necessity. I even took one 1/16" punch & filed it down to about 3/64" so it would work better on 1/16" pins. If you are mechanically inclined it won't take you long to figure out the major basics.   

Thanks a bunch Tommy.........
sounds like good common sense advice.
I am pretty good with my hands and also good at inventing ways to do things and fabbing tools.
That's the stuff that makes it fun.
I like to actually fish the vintage stuff so I'm into fixing and improving where possible, more than restoring to factory specs.

[SilverRidge]

Retired friend of mind has an unusual interesting hobby that's applicable to tools used to repair vintage reels, he repairs vintage time pieces, old watches, and clocks and the small jewelers tools he uses are very useful when working on fishing reels. Recently was watching me working on a DAM QUICK 110n he left for a short time and returned and gave me a set of small tiny jewelers screw drivers and said they could be very helpful when working on reels, he also gave be a tiny pliers, wrenches, all very very useful and I'm appreciative of the thoughtful gift ..

Paul

[foakes]

Like Tommy sez --

If you are mechanically inclined -- all of the tools you need will fall into place.

Plus, you likely have a lot of these already.

Like many of us, I have many more tools than I will ever need -- however, most do get used.

For me, working on Penns, DAM Quicks, Mitchells, ABU & Zebco Cardinals, and many other quality vintage reels -- there are a few things I use fairly often.

Good set of nut drivers in standard and metric
Snap ring pliers
Punches
Wiha "Hollow Ground" Micro Screwdrivers
Ignition wrenches in standard and metric
Tweezers
Needlenose & offset needlenose
Mini Vise Grips
Mini Channel Locks
Brass hammer
Face covered nylon and rubber hammer
Crescent wrench
Standard and metric 1/4" socket sets
Files
Dremel
Grinder
Old pocket knife with blade always open
Set of picks
Various pliers
Block of wood with holes and grooves for support and knocking out shafts, pinions, bearings, etc..
Manufacturer wrenches, if specialized -- such as Penn, Mitchell, ABU, Shimano, etc..

I may have 25 times these basic tools -- including power drivers (be careful here) -- tap and die sets, grease guns, etc..

For the most part, Craftsman tools are great because of their quality and lifetime guarantee.  Even if I bust a 1/16" punch -- just take it back for a new one, anytime.  And just wait for a good sale with coupons or points.

I do not worry too much about guarantees though -- the best guarantee is proven and reliable quality -- not price or brand.

Used tools from yard sales are great -- if you can buy quality.

Don't need to get everything at once -- and you do not need to spend a fortune.

Best,

Fred

[ReelClean]

Geez I wish my work area was as organized as your's Fred!

cheers
Steve

[SilverRidge]

Pretty impressive work area Fred, I've seen surgical operating rooms not as systematically set up as yours is ..

Paul

As I was reading this thread something pertinent came to mind regarding tools, IMHO there is nothing and I mean nothing worse than looking at an item, fishing reels, hunting weapons etc etc and seening the screw heads completely distorted,ruptured heads,  that tells me a few things,1- the owner had zero mechanical ability 2- didn't really care or know what he was doing 3- if you use the wrong size screwdrivers you should have been a butcher and to look closely very closely at the item im going to purchase, chances are there are more things seriously wrong with it ..

[SilverRidge]

Simple inexpensive set of everything you'd need....

[foakes]

As I was reading this thread something pertinent came to mind regarding tools, IMHO there is nothing and I mean nothing worse than looking at an item, fishing reels, hunting weapons etc etc and seening the screw heads completely distorted,ruptured heads.

You are right, Paul --

And the solution is dead-simple -- and you do not need to spend a fortune.

Just use hollow ground, hardened screwdrivers, proper size, and solid downward pressure (BEFORE) attempting to move a screw.

You don't see a professional gunsmith working on a Parker Shotgun with beveled screwdrivers.

A knowledgeable reel repair mechanic also knows this.

For the sizes we generally use -- a $20 or $30 set of perhaps a half dozen sizes of gunsmithing screwdrivers will handle 90% of what we encounter.

Best,

Fred

[Tightlines667]

As I was reading this thread something pertinent came to mind regarding tools, IMHO there is nothing and I mean nothing worse than looking at an item, fishing reels, hunting weapons etc etc and seening the screw heads completely distorted,ruptured heads.

You are right, Paul --

And the solution is dead-simple -- and you do not need to spend a fortune.

Just use hollow ground, hardened screwdrivers, proper size, and solid downward pressure (BEFORE) attempting to move a screw.

You don't see a professional gunsmith working on a Parker Shotgun with beveled screwdrivers.

A knowledgeable reel repair mechanic also knows this.

For the sizes we generally use -- a $20 or $30 set of perhaps a half dozen sizes of gunsmithing screwdrivers will handle 90% of what we encounter.

Best,

Fred

Quote

[Reel 224]

You don't see a professional gunsmith working on a Parker Shotgun with beveled screwdrivers. I have seen that to many times.

Joe