Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

I had occasion to do a little reel/rod swapping today due to a sudden influx of new reels. I picked up this old, old reel and I thought as long as I was tinkering around anyway, I'd clean it up. We used to call these "trigger reels". You pull the trigger and it opens the bail. It is a Shimano IX 4000 and I'm sure it is 20 years old, possibly 30. One of my kids must have bought it for me because I would never have bought it for myself. I didn't use it often, but for me that might be 10 years of use from the average weekend fisherman. I liked the fact it had a rear drag setting knob, but the thing weighs about a ton and doesn't balance well on any rod I've had it on. BUT, I popped the side cover on the old thing and I was totally amazed. There was no foreign debris in it, the metal gears are bright and sharp and when I extracted the nearly solidified grease the thing was as smooth as a Swiss watch. I wish the picture showed how nice it really is. It has a couple boat dings in it, but I'm afraid it will outlast me by decades. Maybe stuff was just better back then, you recon? Nice to see it has aged so well.

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

I use there reels all the time. Admittedly mine are mostly the 2000 series, but I really like the trigger.

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

I was shocked to learn they still make them. Must not be a big seller, I see some for $12.95. They still all metal gears? Ball bearings must be part of the main shaft components but I didn't tear it down that far.

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

I still have and use an old Diawa 7700A reel I bought for $20 back in 1978. It has killed plenty of fish. Add a Garcia mitchel 406 from 1970 to the list. Had to buy a new bail spring for the 406. That's all, except for grease and oil on both.

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

I went through one of my junk drawers a couple days ago and found the first reel I ever owned. I won it along with the rod it was on selling newspaper subscriptions. I was 12 or 13 then, I’ll be 73 in October. I no longer have the rod. It’s a pfluger spinning reel and still looks in good shape. I’ll have to go through it and clean it up and see how it works. I’ll let you guys know later.

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

Yeah, I'd like to see it,.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

This is my 2000 at least 30 yrs old. 👍👍

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

And looking good.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Thanks BT. I've been digging some of my old stuff out latley. Seems to be a trend. Forgot how old some of it is. Sometimes we need to retrace our roots. 🎣🎣

Brownsville Tony Loc: Brownsville - Laguna Madre

Yep!

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

I bought that stuff at that time for many reasons, whether it was top of the line, or the best at the time within the budget. Later on, I found a few extra bucks to upgrade, but could not let go of the original as there was nothing wrong with it. The original equipment became hand me downs or loaners to friends and some became donations to underprivileged youth organizations.
I Still have my Shimano Magnumlite GTX1100 Quickfire with the Fighting Drag from the mid 80s that I use as an UL trout /panfish setup.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Seems like everyone took care of these reels. Getting to the river has been a challenge lately. Since i have a few electric only small bodies of water I've been getting my Ul's n light action gear cleaned up n ready. They fit in my 9' pond boat better. Back to basics 🎣🎣🎣🎣

Bcmech1 Loc: Clinton Wisconsin

I can't say if the newer ones have metal gears or not but my older ones do

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

This reel hasn’t been used for at leased 45-50 years and is needing cleaned and lubed. I had forgot I had this reel. I must’ve been hard on it cause it looks well used.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Rut that girl looks like she's been rode hard n put away wet 😬. Bet a little cleaning n fresh oil n grease she'd work just fine 🎣🎣