Conference wahoo::fishing

    5 or 6 years ago I thought I would hire some one to come into
    the ( Horseshoe Fish and Game Club ) in Merrimack and give us a
    few lessons in reel repair. I couldn't find such a person so I spent
    about three month taking apart every reel I could get my hands on.
    
    What I learned is that most of them are simple and that the
    most difficult thing is to fine a source of parts.
    
    Your problem I suspect to very simple. However I have never seen
    the reel it would be dificult to tell you how to fix it.
    
    It sounds like the bail spring but may just need a good cleaning.
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    If you by chance bought it at Zylas don't hesitate to take back
    and ask for a replacement. I have spent several K $ at Zylas and
    the best thing about Zylas is not there price ( even though thats hard
    to beat) is their return policy. 
    
    I encourage you to take it Back to Zylas if thats were you baught
    it>
    
    If worse and you decide to throw it away send it to me. I'll Fix
    it
    
    Bear

    
         It is the bail spring!  It could also be a simple as bending
    the bail bar it self into position.  I had a simular problem with
    one of my Penn Reels and all it took was an adjustment to the bail
    bar.  You may have set it down to hard one time and knocked the
    balance of the bar off.  Try bending the bar down on one side or
    right in the center.  Then try it....play with it a little bit.
    If that doesn't work try unscrewing the bail and re-setting the
    bail spring...its a breeze.  I live in Hudson N.H.  If you live
    up this way bring it to me ...I can fix it.
    
    							John
                                                            

    I also agree that it sounds like a bail spring problem as I've
    experienced the same problem several times.  You might also want
    to check to be sure 1) there's no dirt caught between the bail pivot
    and the body of the reel, and 2) the tension on the bail screw is
    not too tight.  Either of these will also cause similar problems.
    
    Since I experienced a broken bail spring on my Shakespear 040, I've
    ordered a half dozen of them as well as a couple of other small
    springs that might go on me.  I keep them in my tackle box so I'm
    prepared for a quick on-site fix if it ever goes again.  Although
    I now take 3-4 rods with me, nothing can so frustrating as having
    your reel screw up when it's the only one you have with
    you...especially when the fish are biting!
    
    -Hj-  

     
    How do I get information on the Horseshoe Fish and Game club???
    Do them accept new membership, and what do them offer???

    re: .4
    
    This is a real problem, not a reel problem.
    

    Is it a GRAPHITE reel? 
    
    I recall from my Mech.Eng. schooling that graphite is one of the
    hardest substances known to man. It cannot be molded, cut or shaped.
    So what they do is grind it into a fiberous dust, mix it into some
    type of plastic. Then they make rods, reels and tennis rackets.
    The rod & racket was a good idea. But do we want to put precission
    bushings, bearings and shafts (all moving against each other) into
    the near diamond hard dust?? I dont think so. Their is a great many
    quallity reels on the market made of cast metal (what a concept).
    I own one graphite reel, that I paid some big dollars for, I used
    it for one year of BASSIN. Due to expansion and contraction of both
    the plastic and the metal parts it is totaly worthless now. I will
    stick to my heavy iron equipment now. 
    
    If this is not your problem: please disregard.
    
    
    				BUCKETMOUTH
    
    
     ethe 
    

    I had a Shimano baitcaster break down on me this year, it was one of
    there higher line (freshwater) models about 4 years ago, may have been
    the 150MPX or something like that.  I think I paid around $40 for it.  
    
    It had been casting rougher and rougher over the last year or so.  
    During this summer it gave up the ghost.  (Note: I take my reels apart
    and clean and lube them every winter, plus lube them often during the 
    season.)
    
    I had heard good things about Bucko's, so I tried calling them.  I
    called a bunch of times over a week or so and never got thru to them.
    That was enough to make me look elsewhere. 
    
    I went with Metropolitan Rod & Reel, the company that is advertised in
    all of the BPS catalogs.  I sent them my reel two months ago.  Within a
    week I got a postcard informing me that they were behind and they would
    get to it asap.  A couple of days ago I got a notice saying that it was
    repaired and that I owed them $22.  
    
    There's an automatic $7.50 for labor and $4 for return shipping.  The
    other $10 and change was for parts (3-4 gears if I recall). 
    
    I'm hoping it'll cast like new and that I'll get a few more years out
    of it.
    
    I guess for what your getting that's not that expensive, but as far as
    I'm concerned this has made me even more convinced that lifetime 
    guarantees are the way to go.  
    
    When I stripped a gear in my $80 Quantum baitcaster after a year or so
    of use I was handed a brand new one right over the counter, without 
    even having to show my sales slip.
    
    Don Mac  - sticking with ABU and Quantum and their lifetime guarantees

Interesting. I just (a couple of weeks ago) dropped into Bucko's with a
friend's Browning spinning reel. Anti-reverse was busted. They offered to
fix it immediately (for some small amount, I forget) or send it to the
factory to be fixed free. I opted for the latter. About a week and a half
later we were notified that it was back. It was fixed at no charge. 

We were pleased.

Art

I am seriously considering a baitcaster for next season(anyone have one I might
try out?)  I was in Zyla's and the Quantums seem to pretty nice reels.  I looked
in BPS catalog and only some of the equipment from Quantum had the little
"Lifetime Warantee" icon on them.  All the Abu stuff did too.  Anyone who has
a good model for a beginner (w/ baitcasting) (prefer left-hand retrieve) to
recommend, I'm open for ideas.  I'll also check the "Reels" note.

Tim

    Yeap, all Quantum reels have the lifetime warranty.
    
    I like my "at the time top of the line" Quantum baitcaster, but I think 
    it was overpriced.  I seldom use the flipping switch which was one of
    the reasons it was expensive at the time. 
    
    For ABU baitcasters I have a Lite and the late model silver 5000 
    series with the fast cast button (don't recall the exact
    number/letter).
    
    I also have a low-end Diawa and the Shimano mentioned in the earlier 
    replies.
    
    I think all of these reels work well.
    
    Most major manufacturers offer pretty good low-end baitcasters
    these days.  For your first baitcaster I'd recommend a low-end model
    because you may decide baitcasters are not for you.  Magnetic control 
    makes them much more forgiving when your learning to cast them.
    And of course I'd recommend the lifetime warranty. 
    
    donmac

       I have an old Mitchel 300 reel that has a worn bail return spring.
    The reel is an oldie but a goodie and I want to fix it. Anyone know
    where I can get a spring or the address of Mitchel/Garcia?
    
    
    
    Bob

RE.12

	I'm not positive but I'll bet that Surfland Bait and Tackle shop on
	Plum Island (Newbury MA.) would have the spring in stock or would know
	where to get one if it's still available.  Kay is pretty good about
	fixing equipment.  I know they started making the Mitchel 300 again,
	but it's no where close to the original in my opinion and I doubt that
	it's parts would fit the original version.

	Good Luck,
	Dave

    I've had very good luck ordering parts from:
    
    BUCKO'S Parts and Service Center
    191 Stafford Road
    Fall River, Ma.  02721
    (508) 674-7900
    
    You can most likely order the bail springs over the phone.