285 Finessa

[foakes]

I have never seen that before, Greg —

Maybe something is bent or not tight, or too tight.

Can you show us a few photos?

Best,

Fred

[basto]

Or maybe I have not put enough grease on the inside of those plates.
I will take those pics Fred.

[foakes]

Grease is only useful for stemming water intrusion — there should not be any daylight shining through the reels you mentioned unless something is not right, Greg.

Best,

Fred

[basto]

The 331 is in very good condition. The other two, not as good, but fine working reels.





none of the sideplate screws are under tightened or over tightened.

Greg

[Midway Tommy]

Without seeing the whole reel, or body area, I'm thinking the side plates have gotten warped some how. If it were me, I would put a thin piece of wood, like a popsicle stick or a little thicker, under each end of the sideplate with the sideplate face down, and with a small block of wood just the size of the sideplate at the screw hole on the inside of the sideplate, being careful not to hit it too hard, lightly hit the block of wood with a hammer to try to cup the sideplate so that the front and rear both seat on tight onto the body. If there's a little gap in the center the screw will easily make that tight. If you warm the sideplate up with a hairdryer first it should bend a little easier.   

[foakes]

Tommy has the right answer, Greg...

Best,

Fred

[basto]

Thanks Tommy and Fred. I was expecting to get a "me too" reply or two, but now I am a little concerned, as Fred said he has never seen this before. I only own 5 DAM reels and the other two are my 270 and 285 and we know this can't happen to them. I will keep you posted.
cheers
Greg

[foakes]

Right, Greg —

Not trying to impress anyone — quite the opposite — just stating observations based on quite a bit of DQ experience over 40+ years.  However, I may have worked on a few thousand of these over the years, and still have around 400 DQ’s of most models in the storage bins — and even on the roughest examples — have never seen this. Currently have 11 on the bench that were completely restored for clients last week, along with another 18 that are still in line that have not hit the bench yet.

The way the sideplates mate with the frame — does not normally allow this bending.  It is tight and exact.

Possibly, the only thing that occurs to me is someone tried to pry these off when they were either stuck with dried grease, or salt encrusted.

In those cases, I use an old dull pocketknife set into the mating break — with a dense rubber platform pad — and a hammer to tap the top of the blade to break the seal.

Your examples are kind of weird — but try to straighten them out as Tom suggested, a little at a time until they are back to square.

If by some chance, you ruin the plates — I may have some extras to send to you — at least for the 330 & 331 — N/C.

Best,

Fred

[basto]

Thanks for your help Fred. I'm sure I can get them right with the hair dryer and a little softly softly with the rubber hammer.
I know the 3001 and the 330 did not have an easy life.
best regards
Greg