Reel issue...slow free spool..how to fix? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

BrokeLoser · 03-02-2011, 06:33 AM

I got a like brand new Sealine 'slosh' 20..this thing looks almost un-used and everything seems to function perfectly but the free spool seems a little slow. I'd like to avoid sending it in for a full overall. Is their a 'quick fix' for this?

bus kid · 03-02-2011, 07:00 AM

alan tani

http://alantani.com/index.php?PHPSES...9lo5&board=7.0

congrats on the reel.

fishsouthcounty · 03-02-2011, 07:51 AM

i donno anything about daiwa as i have never owned one...and honestly i am not even sure exactly what its referred to on my shimanos but i think its a casting something or other....but its on the crank side of the reel almost underneath the drag adjustment crank. Round adjustable knob that you can turn. When turned counterclock wise or back toward you from a completely close position it loosens the tension on the spool and allows it to throw more freely. Allows you to adjust for how you cast, less or more thumb pressure as well as quicker or slower drops to the bottom based on your weights.

taggermike · 03-02-2011, 08:15 AM

I have the same reel and it had amazing free spool right out of the box and after years of use still does. Check gold spool tention knob, gold cap under the star drag. If that is tight loosening it will improve free spool. If that doesn't do it then might be a bearing issue. Like in Allen Tani"s tutorial, if you pack the bearings in heavy grease you loose some free spool. The preveus ouner might have used some axle grease or some thing. If that's not it you might have some corroded bearings. Bad bearings often make the reel feel rough or jerky. That's about all I can think of. You can follow the tutorial or send it in to Daiwa. Mike

BrokeLoser · 03-02-2011, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishsouthcounty

i donno anything about daiwa as i have never owned one...and honestly i am not even sure exactly what its referred to on my shimanos but i think its a casting something or other....but its on the crank side of the reel almost underneath the drag adjustment crank. Round adjustable knob that you can turn. When turned counterclock wise or back toward you from a completely close position it loosens the tension on the spool and allows it to throw more freely. Allows you to adjust for how you cast, less or more thumb pressure as well as quicker or slower drops to the bottom based on your weights.

Yeah, even when I back the spool tension knob all the way out it still seems a bit slow compared to my 30 and 40. The thing is seriously like brand new, it's hard to believe the bearings could be shot. Could it be from just sitting for so long without being used? If I use it a bit maybe it will free up?

kayakhunter · 03-02-2011, 08:53 AM

Some reels from the factory have greased bearings instead of oiled. If you remove the bearings clean them up you will most likely get improved freespool.

If the bearings are sealed remove the retaining ring and shield.

Soak them in some sort of solvent, rubbing alcohol, or lemon juice.

Dry them.

Apply some sort of reel oil, i use Corrosion X lube for saltwater.

Replace shield and retaining rings.

Just google Cleaning Bearings and a bunch of stuff will come up, most of it Skateboard bearings, but it is the same idea, maybe different oils.

onetriphudson · 03-02-2011, 09:01 AM

In the 90's, while I was in school I worked at some of the old Bobs Bait and Tackles (CV, Point Loma and La Mesa). Eventually I ended up doing a lot of their reel repair and the Daiwa stuff was the easiest to work on. If your reel is mint on the outside, I doubt then that natural elements are to blame for an interior problem. Just sitting around would not cause a bearing to gum up. What's possible is that someone swapped an axle or bearing for another reel - but why do that? After screwing up many reels myself and then learning to fix reels when others attempted their own rebuilds - I learned it only takes one misplaced washer to goof up the performance. I think it is highly likely that you've got an internal part backwards or out of place. You could send it to Daiwa or have it serviced by a shop. You could also get the schematic out, make a clean wide area for yourself to work and pull the reel apart. Start with the sideplates and go slow, paying attention to how stuff comes out. Lay it all down in sequence from left to right. I bet you will find a simple problem around the shaft or be able to identify the bunk bearing. Lightly oil bearings, lightly grease gears, and the drag washers have their own weird grease. Best to replace drags with new materials.

-scallywag- · 03-02-2011, 10:53 AM

It sounds like one or both of the spool bearings is dragging. Even on new reels if they get accidentally dunked, the exposed spool bearings can quickly corrode.

Alan's site is a great resource! Take the time to learn how to service your reels, it's really very simple and the star drag reels are all very similar.

I've been servicing my reels along with a few of my friends using Alan's site for a long time now. One thing I would recommend is to open up all the bearings (like Alan's site says) and pack them all with grease and leave them open. Alan suggests using oil in the spool bearing, but on the yak the reels just get too wet. Also on a yak you don;t need 30sec of free spool on any of your bait/yoyo/sabiki rods....and with the jig sticks if the free spool is suffering just replace the spool bearings.

I even take apart brand new reels and pull all the bearing shields and pack them with grease to make the bearing last as long as possible. If you have higher end reels with the anti-reverse roller bearings also make sure that is packed with grease also.

BrokeLoser · 03-02-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bus kid

alan tani

http://alantani.com/index.php?PHPSES...9lo5&board=7.0

congrats on the reel.

Wow..looks like more daiwa info than I will ever need. Thanks for the resource.

03-02-2011, 06:33 AM	#1
BrokeLoser Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Corona, CA Posts: 472	Reel issue...slow free spool..how to fix? I got a like brand new Sealine 'slosh' 20..this thing looks almost un-used and everything seems to function perfectly but the free spool seems a little slow. I'd like to avoid sending it in for a full overall. Is their a 'quick fix' for this?

03-02-2011, 07:00 AM	#2
bus kid Team Keine Zugehörigkeit Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Way out there Posts: 2,854	alan tani http://alantani.com/index.php?PHPSES...9lo5&board=7.0 congrats on the reel. __________________ Não alimente os trolls------------Don't feed the trolls---------------インタネット荒らしを無視しろ

03-02-2011, 07:51 AM	#3
fishsouthcounty Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Juan Capistrano, Ca Posts: 518	i donno anything about daiwa as i have never owned one...and honestly i am not even sure exactly what its referred to on my shimanos but i think its a casting something or other....but its on the crank side of the reel almost underneath the drag adjustment crank. Round adjustable knob that you can turn. When turned counterclock wise or back toward you from a completely close position it loosens the tension on the spool and allows it to throw more freely. Allows you to adjust for how you cast, less or more thumb pressure as well as quicker or slower drops to the bottom based on your weights.

03-02-2011, 08:15 AM	#4
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	I have the same reel and it had amazing free spool right out of the box and after years of use still does. Check gold spool tention knob, gold cap under the star drag. If that is tight loosening it will improve free spool. If that doesn't do it then might be a bearing issue. Like in Allen Tani"s tutorial, if you pack the bearings in heavy grease you loose some free spool. The preveus ouner might have used some axle grease or some thing. If that's not it you might have some corroded bearings. Bad bearings often make the reel feel rough or jerky. That's about all I can think of. You can follow the tutorial or send it in to Daiwa. Mike

03-02-2011, 08:53 AM	#6
kayakhunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Orange Posts: 207	Some reels from the factory have greased bearings instead of oiled. If you remove the bearings clean them up you will most likely get improved freespool. If the bearings are sealed remove the retaining ring and shield. Soak them in some sort of solvent, rubbing alcohol, or lemon juice. Dry them. Apply some sort of reel oil, i use Corrosion X lube for saltwater. Replace shield and retaining rings. Just google Cleaning Bearings and a bunch of stuff will come up, most of it Skateboard bearings, but it is the same idea, maybe different oils.

03-02-2011, 09:01 AM	#7
onetriphudson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Carlsbad Posts: 143	In the 90's, while I was in school I worked at some of the old Bobs Bait and Tackles (CV, Point Loma and La Mesa). Eventually I ended up doing a lot of their reel repair and the Daiwa stuff was the easiest to work on. If your reel is mint on the outside, I doubt then that natural elements are to blame for an interior problem. Just sitting around would not cause a bearing to gum up. What's possible is that someone swapped an axle or bearing for another reel - but why do that? After screwing up many reels myself and then learning to fix reels when others attempted their own rebuilds - I learned it only takes one misplaced washer to goof up the performance. I think it is highly likely that you've got an internal part backwards or out of place. You could send it to Daiwa or have it serviced by a shop. You could also get the schematic out, make a clean wide area for yourself to work and pull the reel apart. Start with the sideplates and go slow, paying attention to how stuff comes out. Lay it all down in sequence from left to right. I bet you will find a simple problem around the shaft or be able to identify the bunk bearing. Lightly oil bearings, lightly grease gears, and the drag washers have their own weird grease. Best to replace drags with new materials.

03-02-2011, 10:53 AM	#8
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	It sounds like one or both of the spool bearings is dragging. Even on new reels if they get accidentally dunked, the exposed spool bearings can quickly corrode. Alan's site is a great resource! Take the time to learn how to service your reels, it's really very simple and the star drag reels are all very similar. I've been servicing my reels along with a few of my friends using Alan's site for a long time now. One thing I would recommend is to open up all the bearings (like Alan's site says) and pack them all with grease and leave them open. Alan suggests using oil in the spool bearing, but on the yak the reels just get too wet. Also on a yak you don;t need 30sec of free spool on any of your bait/yoyo/sabiki rods....and with the jig sticks if the free spool is suffering just replace the spool bearings. I even take apart brand new reels and pull all the bearing shields and pack them with grease to make the bearing last as long as possible. If you have higher end reels with the anti-reverse roller bearings also make sure that is packed with grease also.