I Want To Upgrade The Bushings In The Level Wind On Tatula?

[SenkoGuru]

 I've been reading from a bunch of people that swapping the level wind bushings for bearings is a very good upgrade to make on the Daiwa Tatula reels. I own two Regular Tatula and two Type-R Tatulas and would like to do this. Now my question for people who know how to do this is, " Should a person who has never took a baitcaster apart try something like this?" Or should I send my reels to someone who knows what they are doing? I figured with the internet and a few video's it may be something I can do but I do not want to tear my reel apart and not be able to put it back together the right way. Thank you for any/and all help.

[Raul]

How many reels have you dissasembled ? Send them to DVT for that plus a polishing and professional service. Reel teeny tiny itsy bitsy parts have the bad habit of getting lost.

[aavery2]

It requires a lot of disassembly and reassembly, if you do not have much experience in this area, I would suggest  having someone do it for you.   You can upgrade the bushings in the knobs on the handle as well, it is very straight forward, and does not require much if any experience.

[SenkoGuru]

I have disassembled a grand total of ZERO reels in my life. I know nothing more than cleaning them, my idea of cleaning them is taking the spool out and wiping things down with a drop of oil, Q-tip's and a cloth. I am a professional on computers though. My job is building and repairing computers. I have the tools and I am use to working with very small parts but a computer is a long ways from a baitcaster and  I know nothing about baitcasters. Thanks for the info and help guys. I think I will be sending them off to someone who knows more than I do about this.

[F14A-B]

I agree, you're Tat, is not a reel to begin to learn on, handle is easy.. But have a True pro, DVT, help you out, you will be glad you did!

[OkobojiEagle]

I disassemble and reassemble my reels each winter... I wouldn't even think of opening my computer!!!  Give one a try.

 

 

oe

[rippin-lips]

I believe that you have to start somewhere BUT there are some small parts that have to be removed and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I will also tell you that I've done this to my Tatula's and there is honestly no noticeable difference. If you can do it on your own then it's worth the $5 in parts but not if you have to send them away. I like to tinker so that's why I did it.

[BobP]

The level wind is the hardest part to reassemble on many reels.  Not that complicated but you have to maneuver several pieces into alignment before you can add the clip to the end of the worm shaft to lock everything in.  Save yourself the aggravation and send it out to be upgraded if you aren't experienced in reel assembly.  Taking a reel apart is child's play.  Getting it back together correctly is not. 

[.ghoti.]

I've added a levelwind bearing to one each of my Alphas, Fuegos and Zillions. I can easily tell the difference. Every time I tear down one of those reels, I have an extra bearing to clean.

Add the handle bearings. That is a nice little , easy improvement. There is no benefit to be gained adding levelwind bearings.

[Josh Smith]

I have built computers and rebuilt reels. The two are nothing remotely alike.

If you have worked on windup clocks, on locks, or on the lockwork of a gun, then give it a try.

Have a schematic and a white work mat at minimum. Match everything on a piece of paper as you take it out.

If you decide to go for it, you might as well clean out the factory grease, lube with oil, and upgrade the drag clutches while you're in there.

Josh

[doyle8218]

I've added a levelwind bearing to one each of my Alphas, Fuegos and Zillions. I can easily tell the difference. Every time I tear down one of those reels, I have an extra bearing to clean.

Add the handle bearings. That is a nice little , easy improvement. There is no benefit to be gained adding levelwind bearings.

How do the handle knob caps come off. Do they just pop out and snap back in?

[Raul]

How do the handle knob caps come off. Do they just pop out and snap back in?

Yup, they have a hole where you insert a paper clip to pull it off.

[doyle8218]

Yup, they have a hole where you insert a paper clip to pull it off.

Thanks Raul.

[Raul]

Just fyi, you can´t change or add anything to the Fuego knobs, they are riveted to the handle so it´s impossible to remove them, if you want to improve the handle you have to go aftermarket or the direct swap is a TDZ handle ( comes with 4 bearings and the knobs are attached by screws ).

[hatrix]

I've added a levelwind bearing to one each of my Alphas, Fuegos and Zillions. I can easily tell the difference. Every time I tear down one of those reels, I have an extra bearing to clean.

Add the handle bearings. That is a nice little , easy improvement. There is no benefit to be gained adding levelwind bearings.

I actually just did a all out clean of everything on a Tatula of mine yesterday. You can not take the front plate covering the level wind off without taking off the e-clip and sliding the level wind out a little. The gear to it is covering the screw for the plate. Its kind of a PITA to do. I will say though now it went from a great reel to a amazing one.

 

As for handle bearings I also just did a bunch of other reels completely torn down. Well I did handle bearing and that was something I have never done before. Its not so bad on reels with a single bearing. But reels like my Lews that have 2 bearings just keep spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning when I have my hand off. I don't really like that and it is somewhat bothersome to me. I am just not used to that and can feel it spinning.

[Tcheeks38]

I didn't have much experience dissassembling baitcasters and It was real fun when i removed the magnetic brake dial and had to try to insert it again with the proper gear alignment with the magnet gear. Took me almost 1.5 hours to realize the proper way to do it is this http://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/1458scroll down for instructions.

[Jaheff]

I actually just did a all out clean of everything on a Tatula of mine yesterday. You can not take the front plate covering the level wind off without taking off the e-clip and sliding the level wind out a little. The gear to it is covering the screw for the plate. Its kind of a PITA to do. I will say though now it went from a great reel to a amazing one.

 

As for handle bearings I also just did a bunch of other reels completely torn down. Well I did handle bearing and that was something I have never done before. Its not so bad on reels with a single bearing. But reels like my Lews that have 2 bearings just keep spinning and spinning and spinning and spinning when I have my hand off. I don't really like that and it is somewhat bothersome to me. I am just not used to that and can feel it spinning.

Use grease or a thicker oil, if you don't like them spinning so fast.

[J Francho]

 

" Should a person who has never took a baitcaster apart try something like this?"

 

Simple answer, no.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Simple answer, no.

X100

[21farms]

the level wind bearings are 4x7x2.5, same as the handle knobs. i take apart computers too and computers are a lot easier but, work slowly and carefully and you should be fine.

[Tywithay]

If you have a phone handy, snap pictures of things like the how the pinion sits, the washers in the drag stack, handle assembly, etc. Schematics are easy to read, if you're knowledgeable; pictures are fool proof. Work in a big enough space to lay out each part in the order you break it down. That way you can work backwards when putting it back together. Proper tools are a premium too. A stripped screw can mess up everything.

[hatrix]

Use grease or a thicker oil, if you don't like them spinning so fast.

I just don't do the bearing in the knobs any more. I just did it that one day cause I realized I never have before so I wanted to just to see. As long as my knobs spin and don't feel rough or gritty or something I could care less. It doesn't make the reel any smoother to me. After I flushed and oiled those knobs I could hardly touch them and they would spin for like a minute. I could feel in in my other hand starting to make torque from it spinning so fast and it was just weird. Stupid physics will get ya.

[J Francho]

I'm with you there. For jig and worm reels, I pack the bearings with grease. What drives me nuts is the wobbling feeling from the other knob you aren't holding. I've heard several complaints from thieves as well. I do like a bearing or two so porting the knobs though, simply for the durability. If you go without, I prefer the setup that uses a plastic bush in place of a bearing. That's a smoother setup than the old brass post riveted in that is hard to clean.

[Tywithay]

I'm with you there. For jig and worm reels, I pack the bearings with grease. What drives me nuts is the wobbling feeling from the other knob you aren't holding. I've heard several complaints from thieves as well. I do like a bearing or two so porting the knobs though, simply for the durability. If you go without, I prefer the setup that uses a plastic bush in place of a bearing. That's a smoother setup than the old brass post riveted in that is hard to clean.

If you don't like the knob knocking around, add a shim or two. The knob shouldn't have side-to-side movement, whether you use bearings or not.

[J Francho]

If you don't like the knob knocking around, add a shim or two. The knob shouldn't have side-to-side movement, whether you use bearings or not.

 

The issue has nothing to do with the knob "knocking around" or side to side movement.  The movement felt is from the other knob spinning.  A shim will not stop a knob from spinning, grease will.