Abnormal Level Wind Wear?

[ThatFishin'Guy]

Took my reel apart last night to clean it and noticed this. I'm not sure when or how this even happened but it seems as if it was cause by my line (I use braid). Is this a common problem? If so is it possible for me to get a metal level wind so this doesn't happen again?

Thanks

sorry for bad cell phone pic, all I could get at the moment.

[ThatFishin'Guy]

Having trouble uploading photo from my cell. Will post pic when I get home

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The only place a level wind comes in contact with the line is the guide and most have an insert of some kind. If the worm gear is worn that's something else entirely. What model is the reel and can you explain the problem more clearly?

[ThatFishin'Guy]

sorry for the delay, but here is what i am talking about. The little line you can see under the eyelet is my problem. It seems as if my line has etched itself into the level wind.

[Jolly Green]

If what I'm looking at is the groove in the lower section (where the worm gear goes through) then that makes no sense to me.  Only two things I can think of:

 

1. You get a fair number of violent backlashes where your line gets caught and dragged down underneath the spool, rubbing and then sharply stopping against that part. 

 

2. Not trying to be insulting, but the only other thing I can think of is that the reel is actually spooled upside down, that is, line feeding from the underside of the spool instead of the top, in which case you'd have to be reeling backwards too... that can't be, can it?  

[ThatFishin'Guy]

I do get a fair bit of backlashes, this is actually my first baitcasting setup but i didnt think they were bad enough to wear away at the plastic! This must've happened a while ago then becasue I am getting very few backlashes now as I am becoming more experienced with baitcasting reels. Is there any way I can fix this? Or am I just going to have to deal with it?

[Jolly Green]

Well, it's definitely just an amateur's guess but I think braid is capable of that, particularly if the waters you fish are dirty enough that the line is bringing dirt/grit in with it to add to the abrasion factor. I'll defer to DVT or others more experienced in repair as to what you can do to fix it, but it may be that you don't need to fix it, just keep an eye on it. Hard to tell how deep that groove is from the picture. I'd probably leave it alone unless it seems to be worn down enough that it's almost worn through or is otherwise giving you trouble.  You could probably get a replacement part from ereplacementparts.com or elsewhere, but the shipping may be more than the actual part. Maybe not worth it if it isn't actually broken.

[ThatFishin'Guy]

The groove isn't very deep from what I can tell but I'll definitely keep an eye on that. If anyone knows of a place I can get a metal level wind (if this even exists) please let me know, I see many more backlashes in my future.

[Jeff H]

I would let go of any hope you have of finding that part in metal.  Not gonna happen.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

No way line should be contacting that spot. Something is not assembled correctly. There should be a support shaft that holds the assembly straight. What model reel is this? The problem isn't that the part is a bad material. Something else is wrong.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Another thought. Is the spool full?

[Tim Kelly]

Do you reel in with your thumb over the line or something? Unless the levelwind is out of position the line should never be that low that it contacts that part of the reel as DVT said.

[ThatFishin'Guy]

The reel is from a Quantum Advantage Baitcast combo. I initially got it because I wanted to try a baitcaster. I re assembled everything back the same way it was when I took it apart so I don't believe I am missing any pieces . I can upload more pictures of the reel if this would be better for you guys to diagnose. And my spool is about 75-80% full as I have lost some line due to break offs. I guess I should also mention that I am planning on getting a quality rod and reel in the near future. I would just like to use this as a backup/beater rod.

[Tim Kelly]

Take a picture of the reel on the rod with the line strung up. A close up of the front of the reel with the line coming out of the levelwind. Hard to imagine how the line contacts that part of the reel unless something is wrong.