Bps Pro Qualifier Bc Reel – 5-Year Challenge – Time To Pay The Piper!

[Goose52]

The test reel for the PQ 5-Year Challenge became inoperative on January 7 due to the line guide pawl jamming on a worn worm shaft, requiring parts replacement and thus prompting this special report. This event was directly related to the original damage to the worm shaft that occured on July 3, 2012, and was reported in an earlier thread. See the "Time to Pay the Piper" section below. I ordered the parts and installed them today. While the reel was apart, I also performed a quick cleaning and finally upgraded the drag stack with Carbontex washers.

 

Background:

This previous thread detailed the background of the PQ 5-Year Challenge: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/94972-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-%E2%80%93-5-year-challenge-%E2%80%93-interim-report/

Briefly, the challenge resulted from some board members expressing the opinion that the PQ reel was a “one-season” reel, and certainly wouldn’t stay in an angler’s arsenal for as long as 5 years. The subject reel is being used to test those opinions.

Current Statistics (based on documented catch data and assumptions as discussed in the earlier thread):

Reel placed into service: 26 Oct. 2009
Months of service as of this report: 39
Number of “catch days” (days when fish were caught with this reel): 300
Number of fish caught: 636
Biggest fish caught: 48.6 lb grass carp
Biggest bass caught: 9.5 lb LMB
Number of cycles (casts & retrieves): 32,000+ (see note)

Note: Number of cycles is based on catch data, not on total days/hours of use. The reel was used many days where no fish were caught, especially during the winter months. Actual number of use days probably easily exceeds 500. Actual number of cycles could easily be in excess of 45,000-50,000.

Significant Events Since the Last Report:

Since the last report on October 26 (see this thread: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/109086-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-–-5-year-challenge-–-three-years-in/ ), the reel has been fished every single day (minus 3 days I was out of town). The good news is that I have had soft water so far this winter; the bad news is that there has been no lipless crank bite and that's what this reel is used for. So, in over 70 times on the water since the last report, the reel only brought in a whopping 6 fish... However, each time on the water is a minumum of 50 casts, and probably averaging about 75 casts. Since usage on the reel is calculated on metrics related to fish caught, this winter has produced, so far, at least 5,000 casts that are "undocumented" cycles.

 

Previous Maintenance/Repairs:

December 2010 – Annual cleaning.

December 2011 – Annual cleaning. Replacement of line guide pawl at about 26 months of use. Interesting factoid – the pawl had probably made at least 320,000 passes across the worm shaft at the time of replacement.

July 2012 – Repairs:  (documented in this thread:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/104414-bps-pro-qualifier-bc-reel-%e2%80%93-5-year-challenge-%e2%80%93-a-speed-bump-on-the-road-to-paradise/ )

Repair 1 – debris jammed the line guide pawl causing the pawl to create a burr on the worm shaft. Filed off the burr and thoroughly cleaned the reel.
Repair 2 – centrifugal brake wear – replaced the palm-side sideplate assembly as reported in the July 5th thread linked above.

January 2013 - Repair / cleaning / upgrade

 

Repair –  replaced the worn shaft, line guide pawl, and two idler gears

Upgrade – replaced the stock drag washers with Carbontex washers

 

Current Condition:

The condition of the internal parts of the reel are about the same as previously reported. Externally, the reel has some minor rash on the top of the reel, very little on the sides. Spool bearings are still a bit noisy but spin well when cleaned. I had earlier reported that the reel felt a bit “loose” as compared to a new PQ but that has been dimished somewhat with the new Carbontex drag stack.

As I mention with every report, this reel has not been babied, and has often been rode hard and put away wet. This winter, as in previous winters, the reel is frequently rode hard and put away frozen, with ice still in the line guide when taking the rod out of the trunk of the car.  I still believe that much of the centrifugal brake wear that I reported back in July 2012 may have been a result of cold-weather service (air temps down to below freezing) - causing some of the grit and congealed oil film on the brake drum to become particularly abrasive - accelerating wear on the brass drum.

 

On the last report, I mentioned that the anti-reverse bearing was slipping a bit from time-to-time. I removed excess lube from the AR bearing today and the AR system is working much better. I still need to properly flush/clean the bearing at some point in the future.

 

Time to Pay the Piper:

 

Back in July 2012, when debris jammed the line guide pawl causing the pawl to create a burr on the worm shaft - I performed a repair by using a jewelers file to remove the burr. Removal of the burr also removed the plating from that area of the worm shaft, creating a soft spot. I should have immediately ordered a new worm shaft then, but frugal as I am, I delayed ordering the part. The worm shaft wear quickly accelerated and a jam again occured on January 7, 2013. At this time, the worm shaft was officially toast, and the jam also chipped the line guide pawl. This pawl had only been in service for 13 months and probably had at least another year of service life left so that part was toast prematurely.

 

The worn worm shaft

 

 

The chipped/damaged line guide pawl:

 

 

As long as I was ordering parts, I decided to also replace the nylon idler gears on the worm shaft and crank shaft since those gears slip and get a bit bunged-up when the line guide pawl jams.  The idler gears probably didn't have to be replaced, but they are very inexpensive so I added them to the order. So, the parts used to finally complete the repair were:

 

Worm shaft (a kit that also includes a bushing, washer, and e-clip) - $6.50

Line guide pawl - $2.10

2 idler gears - $1.05 each

 

An inexpensive repair, and parts are readily available and only a phone call away. 

 

The replacement parts - nifty that the worm shaft comes with the bushing, washer, and clip:

 

 

Upgrade:

 

After over 600 fish, including carp in the 40-50 pound class, the stock drag washers were starting to get pretty thin. So, I finally installed the Carbontex drag washers. A smoother drag, and the increased thickness of the drag stack has taken some of the loose feeling out of the drivetrain.

 

Summary:

 

After 39 months of use, where are we at?

 

Parts replacements:

 

Parts replaced due to wear:  1 line guide pawl, original drag washers

Parts replaced due to damage caused by debris: (necessary) worm shaft, line guide pawl, (optional) idler gears

Parts replaced (probably) due to my failure to maintain: palm-side sideplate assembly (to replace the brake drum)

 

Lessons learned:

 

Keep the brake drum CLEAN and appy lube to the drum to prevent premature wear.

Accept that the DBS system, along with its advantages, has some disadvantages - added complexity and potential wear to parts that are not readily replaceable - like the brake shoes.

 

That's it. Hopefully, I won't have another report until the reel hits its fourth service anniversay this coming October.

 

Stay tuned - another 21 months remain in the challenge...

[islandbass]

That was an awesome post.  Well written, I not that I ever discounted a BPS reel over a "Big Name" reel maker, I find this quite impressive.  Your report further affirms that the "it worked great but then crapped out on me" crowd is more likely at fault over the reel likely due to negligence. Even the better or best reels will crap out without proper maintenance. 

[K_Mac]

Excellent report as always Goose. As you know I am a believer! I have long known the PQs are solid, well made reels. Mine have all performed well with minimal maintenance. Thanks again for yuor comprehensive review.

[flippin and pitchin]

I would hate to see you do a review on a power assist toilet seat. That is some serious detail.

[38 Super Fan]

But it's not a Shimano.....how is this possible?

[Darren.]

Good stuff.

[shootermcbob]

Well written, articulate and informative...as always. Thanks for taking the time.

[The Rooster]

I would hate to see you do a review on a power assist toilet seat. That is some serious detail.

On the 512th flush, the power assist toilet seat finally........."crapped out".

[sarcazmo]

My overall favorite BC reel.  Nothing can touch it in terms of value!

[*Hootie]

That is some awesome detail. Great job!!!

 

Hootie

[roadwarrior]

Wow!

 

Your account of this test is fascinating to me. Carry on!

 

 

[Kevinator1]

Yep, for $80.00 on sale these are great reels. An absolute steal......I used to fish with them and upgraded to higher end Abu's and Shimano's just because I could, not because the PQ's weren't performing. 

[LgMouthGambler]

Good stuff. Love reading your updates on this test.

[Al Wolbach]

Wow!

 

Your account of this test is fascinating to me. Carry on!

 

 

 Ditto..............................great stuff.....................Al

[gripnrip]

Yep, for $80.00 on sale these are great reels. An absolute steal......I used to fish with them and upgraded to higher end Abu's and Shimano's just because I could, not because the PQ's weren't performing. 

Exactly why I purchased 5 of them last month!

[Goose52]

Thanks everyone.  I'll be glad when the next 21 months are over so I can give some of my other BC reels some "love"...

[Jell0b0y]

Exactly why I purchased 5 of them last month!

I agree! that's the reason i got 3 of them also

[Broke bass fisherman]

Thanks for the write up. I had forgotten about this. Great detail, thanks.

[Jrob78]

Awesome report! 

[flipin4bass]

Great report! Better than the reviews on TackleTour. I'll never knock a BP reel. I've got a Nitro reel/rod combo that I bought back in 2009 that I use for froggin in the trash and it works just as good today as when it was new. Their reels built in Korea are good quality and affordable reels.

[Mike L]

That man knows how to give a report!!

 

Thanks, Great Job.

 

Mike

[Blue Streak]

Well done Goose very infomative

[Bankbeater]

Very well documented.  Thanks for the info.

[ChiCityBasser]

Again well done Goose and your report was the reason I purchased a used PQ and knowing what to look for as far as usage from your report has been great. Thanks again for the attention to detail and always informative and enjoy reading each update.