LEXA-CC300HL/300PWRL-P

[retiredandfishing]

Working on a lot of these LEXA-CC300HL/300PWRL-P, so far fairly easy to fix problems.  However, I have two that exhibit the same problem.  When I put some good drag on, then pull the line out fast it seems to slip and I hear a ripping/racheting sound.  Swapped out the idler gear from one that works all right but it still did it.  Then swapped out the pinion gear, again from a good reel and it still did it.  Anyone have any suggestions?  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Steve

[ReelClean]

Had a Daiwa heavy baitcaster a few years ago that had a similar weird drag problem.  It was fished heavy and locked up a lot on big Barra.
Have a look at the keyed top drag washer and the mainshaft where it sits with the drag stack assembled.  I noticed that the mainshaft had some helical marks on it and the keyed washer had the double "D" hole rounded out a bit.  I suspect that the reel was smashed from freespool to in gear while under load (or on a big run) and the washer had ridden up off the stack and marred the mainshaft, as well as opening up the keyed hole in the washer.  Whenever you pulled hard on the drag the washer rode up the mainshaft, backed off the pressure and the stack started to slip.
It will be obvious on the two parts if this is the case.  I think I tidied up the shaft, but the washer was t#ts.
cheers
Steve

[nelz]

Maybe oil has leaked into the roller bearing? That can cause it to slip like that.

[retiredandfishing]

Did some testing, here is what I found so far.  I have two right hand reels and one left hand reel.  These are for a guide. 

One right hand reel works fine.  So took various parts out of it and swapped them out on the non working right hand.  Took some time but seems to have paid off.  When I swapped out the main gear, pinion gear and all drag washers, yoke and springs into the non working reel, the reel worked fine.  Tomorrow I'll just put in the main gear, pinion gear and drag washers and see what happens. Reelclean you may have something there, I'll inspect the main shaft and keyed washer for damage.  Thanks for input.  I think the problem has at least been narrowed it down some. 

Steve

[Pieter Arie]

When I put some good drag on, then pull the line out fast it seems to slip and I hear a ripping/racheting sound.

Steve, i had exactly the same problem with a CC 400.
This is what I did about it:
There was a small burr in the slot of the pinion gear.
This caused the pinion gear to hang slightly on the spindle of the spool.
I removed the burr with a small piece of sandpaper.
In addition, I stretched the 2 yoke springs about 2 millimeters to create a little more pressure on the yoke.
In the end I lubricated and reassembled everything and the problem was solved!

Grt Piet

[Rancanfish]

Thanks for posting that.  I have several of these so it's good to know this info will pop up if I ever have an issue with one.

[Brewcrafter]

I have only one (400HD) and I have not had to tear it down other than a cursory "get ready" prep.  And its a cool reel.  No complaints for what it is.  However I will say this in the hopes it will give others area to look or comment.
Late last year, deals on Lexa's were pretty commonplace.  Usually normal when an new model or upgrade is coming out.  I grabbed mine as well as a buddy got his second one.  All happy.  No complaints as I said.
At Fred Hall this year they were touting the "new" Lexa.  Buddy picked one up (he now has 3.  Yes he's single  ) but while we were at the Diawa booth I asked "What's different?"
"Upgraded clutch is the main feature"
"Oh, so can the parts be retrofitted to an older Lexa?"
"I don't know, you would have to talk to someone in service about that"

So, while I maintenance a lot of my buddy's stuff he wasn't keen on having me gut his new Lexa "just to compare to our old ones" especially since he was getting ready to go on a trip. Now he is getting back from an 8 day this weekend so maybe I will still get the chance - I know they have been killing the fish.  Now again, I have never had an issue with mine nor has any of my other friends (that's 4 of the older reels that all are fished hard that I can think of) but my curiosity is exactly what did they change, and I wonder if it's relevant to the issue you are dealing with?  Just throwing this out there. - john

[retiredandfishing]

Narrowed the problem down to the Main and Pinion gear.  Kept swapping out parts with the good reel and finally got the bad reel to work very well with the pinion and main from the good reel.  I used only the pinion and main, loaded the main with the drags from the bad reel so I know it's between the pinion and main gear. I'll inspect them closely per the suggestion o Pieter Arief and see if that is what it is.  I hope so, as parts from Diawa are getting hard to find and if I order from Diawa they are quoting 8 to 10 week lead time due to Covid 19.  One thing of note.  There must have been a few iteterations of parts.  Main and pinion of the good reel are different sizes than main and pinion from bad reel.  Tried using just the pinion from the good reel and main from the bad reel, would not fit together, so had to use both the main and pinion together from the good reel. 

These reels are for a very popular guide who uses them heavily so they get lots of wear.

Thanks to everyone. I'll post my results.

Steve

[Brewcrafter]

The Lexa is available in a handful of different gear ratios within the same frame sizes, no doubt the two reels you have were different speeds. - john