FS Digest

I fixed the anti reverse on a really old bass pro shops spinning reel and that's working good but now when I spin the reel slowly I can feel a little thunk and the reel gets slightly harder to turn about 7 times per full rotation. I'm not sure if I did something or if it was always there and I never paid attention to it but does anyone know what could be wrong with it or is it fine? Also I can't get the gear off the shaft (the gear that spins the spool) so I won't be able to fully take it apart. Thanks :)

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by catanddoglover22

TBRhino Loc: NC and FL

I have had that problem but could usually get reel apart. When that has happened to me usually have Grands have been using my stuff it is line got into gear box. That could be why get harder to crank old line tightens up. If can get far enough apart to get a toothpick or small needle nose in the gear box and carefully see if can get ahold of some foreign stuff including line it will fix problem unless something I have not encountered. good luck

Barnacles Loc: Northern California

If you're feeling about 7 'thunks' per turn of the handle (I'm guessing at about a 7:1 ratio between the crank and the rotor), the problem is either in the bearings that support the spinning rotor and bail, or the gear on its shaft (not the gear on the crank), ...or possibly the anti-reverse could be catching on something that turns with the rotor. Do you feel the 'thunk' when the rotor and bail are in the same part of their rotation every time?) Pull the side plate with the crank and its gear, then gently turn the rotor and bail - without any line going through the bail. If it's a bearing, you might feel the 'thunk' as a slight pause in rotating. If you can't feel anything there, clean the grease out of the small gear and closely inspect it with a magnifying glass. I'd use a loupe. Look for something jammed down between two adjacent gear teeth, or a bent or damaged tooth on the gear. If it's a tooth (you said that you can't remove the gear), the only way I can suggest to fix it would be with a swiss file. Those are about 6" long, very fine teeth, and slim enough to get between the teeth. Good luck!