Brand New Mettle Is Really Loud

[pbizzle]

Well, I just got a mettle at 8:30, got home and took it out of the box and it sounds pretty geary and it's real loud. I haven't done anything to it yet. Is this normal or should I take it back?

[pbizzle]

It also feels geary. Not what I'd expect from a ten bearing reel even if a lot are in the handles.

[pbizzle]

I'm just going to take it back. I just looked around it more and some of the paint is chipped. I'm really surprised that this would get through any form of quality control. I'll just exchange it for another one.

[Cgrinder]

You could give it a little oil. No harm if you're planning to exchange it anyway.

[Fishwhittler]

It also feels geary. Not what I'd expect from a ten bearing reel even if a lot are in the handles.

 

When all is said and done, the Mettle is still an entry-level reel.  I'd rate it the best one out there thanks to the metal frame, but the gears aren't the smoothest or the quietest.  Casting is excellent, stock drag is sticky, smoothness is adequate.  The drag can be smoothed out with a carbontex upgrade; the gears can't be made smoother.

 

Now, if you want a smooth reel, spring for the $90 Menace.  Mine is one of the smoothest reels I've used.

[pbizzle]

When all is said and done, the Mettle is still an entry-level reel.  I'd rate it the best one out there thanks to the metal frame, but the gears aren't the smoothest or the quietest.  Casting is excellent, stock drag is sticky, smoothness is adequate.  The drag can be smoothed out with a carbontex upgrade; the gears can't be made smoother.

 

Now, if you want a smooth reel, spring for the $90 Menace.  Mine is one of the smoothest reels I've used.

I know that I wouldn't be that smooth but compared to the floor model it's really rough like rubbing gravel together and it sounds like it has sand in it. I heard someone that said they put new bearings in it and made it smoother.

 

You could give it a little oil. No harm if you're planning to exchange it anyway.

I know that once I take it a part that there's no way that I could put it back together. I think it's just a used reel that some one returned.

[skeletor6]

Actually the mettles I have owned are very nice reels for the money. None of them exhibited the symptoms that you are describing and were surprisingly smooth and simple. I would get yourself a new one.

[Jrob78]

Occasionally used, returned reels get put back on the shelf.  I had it happen to me with a Citica at Academy once.  I made them get me a new one but had I not inspected the reel in the store, I would have bought the used one without knowing.  They will make it right if you take it back.

[pbizzle]

Actually the mettles I have owned are very nice reels for the money. None of them exhibited the symptoms that you are describing and were surprisingly smooth and simple. I would get yourself a new one.

I knew that they're good reels but this got me worried.

 

 

Occasionally used, returned reels get put back on the shelf.  I had it happen to me with a Citica at Academy once.  I made them get me a new one but had I not inspected the reel in the store, I would have bought the used one without knowing.  They will make it right if you take it back.

This is what I thought. No big deal, I'll just stop by after church tomorrow.

[JD96]

Academy customer service is pretty good, I had a lews speed spool crap out on me and exchanging it for a Shimano Caenan was very easy.

[s freud]

Agree with the above. Take it back. I would not oil it, or even mess with it. I have a new one and did not have that issue. Hopefully by now you are out fishing with the new one.

[pbizzle]

Took her back and exchanged it for a new one and love it. Oiled the bearings and it's great. I fished it on Saturday in a tournament and used it to come in second. My boater caught a 3 pounder and I caught a 2.5 and a 1.5 in 3 fish limit. No one caught anything over 3 being that it was a river. I caught even more spots that measured and it held up great. My new favorite reel.