Microwave Question?

[Tim Kelly]

I have a set of microwaves on a light power MHX spinning rod, which I like for the ned rig with 6-8lb mono. Question is, has anyone noticed a slight juddering/resistance with the microwaves when the rod is under load? When I make contact with a fish and start winding there is a definite bit of resistance and slight creaking, for want of a better word, in the line. Been experimenting with the rod today and it seems to come from the guide in the middle of the most bent part of the rod that causes this, wherever the bend is. I tried bending the running guides out a little to see if it was an angle thing, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've never noticed this with any of my other rods with fuji K guides or any of the other American Tackle size 4-5 guides on other rods I've made. 

 

Any ideas?

[S Hovanec]

Sounds like a cracked ring to me. Notice any line damage?

[Tim Kelly]

No. Checked for that and it happens at a different guide if I put a different amount of bend in the rod.

[Dwight Hottle]

Sounds like a classic case of harmonic imbalance. 

[Big Bait Fishing]

hopefully the guide feet were prepped right and set right .

[Big Bait Fishing]

hopefully the guide feet were prepped right and set right . alot of the creaking you hear on rod guides are caused by non prepped guide feet and them straining the epoxy and thread wrap because they are not lying on the blank flat ..

[Tim Kelly]

I doubt that's the cause. I've been building my own rods since I was about 12. 48 now and haven't noticed this problem before.

[.ghoti.]

Tim, do you use the static load testing to place your guides? If not, this could be the problem. Look at your line path as the rod is loaded. If the line path does not follow the natural curvature of the loaded rod, an unnatural bend occurs which puts additional back force on the line guide at the spot where it occurs, producing some additional friction. That would be the only thing I can think of which would produce the extra resistance when cranking under a load.

If you use static load testing to place your guides, please ignore me. I'm a rookie at this game, not someone with your years of experience.

[Tim Kelly]

I don't, but this is my first try with Microwave guides and there are no excessive angles at any of the guides to my eye normally, but wondered whether there was something specific about these guides. That's why I tried bending a guide out a bit to see if reducing the angle of the guide made any difference and it didn't appear to.

 

I've been doing this for a long time, but almost only for my own use. I'd be surprised if I've built more than 50 rods and only two or three of them for others, so while I have been doing it a long time, through many changes of the available technology, a builder who has been doing it for customers for only a couple of year would probably have more experience with things like Microwaves than me. I appreciate everyone's input.

[.ghoti.]

Well, you have a lot more rods under your belt than I do. I have built three rods with Microwave spinning guides, and all three are very good casting sticks, with none of the symptoms you've described. I placed the stripper guide, reduction guide and first running guide by following the directions that came with the guide set. I placed the remainder of the guides, which would be the guides in the area under question, by static load testing.

 

I gather this is your rod, so you can fiddle with it a bit. If it casts well, leave the first three guides up from the seat where they are. Remove the rest of the runners, and relocate them by the static load test method. It may cure the problem.

 

Take all my comments with a handful of salt. I'm a rookie. If Scoot, or Mike from DVT give you a different opinion, I'd listen to them, and ignore me.

[Tim Kelly]

Thanks for the help ghoti. I've been impressed by the microwaves generally. I had to get a set to try to see whether it was a gimmick, and I'm a believer! The creaking line issue is just an anomoly I've never come across before. The creaking/resistance is something that only happens when you start reeling, once you get the line moving through the guides there's no obvious drag.

If nobody else has noticed this problem it must either be something I've done, though the guide spacing looks fine to me, or an issue with using mono with the guides maybe?

[.ghoti.]

I only use mono except for trout fishing. I use 4lb test FCC for that. So, I doubt if it's the line. It is a perplexing problem.

[FD.]

Spray the line and guides down with some KVD line and lure conditioner.  That will eliminate a friction problem.  I built an ultra light on a MHX blank with Microwaves earlier this year for Nicole.  It has 8lb berkely big game on it with no vibration problems.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The AT running guides that come with the Microwave kit are good quality basic guides. I doubt there's any problem. Have you tried other reels?

[Tim Kelly]

Yes, it's definitely not the bail roller on the reel, that was my first thought. I still feel it if I pull the line through the guides under load. I'll give it a good clean with L&L and see if that cures it. Would be annoyed if it were that simple, but also relieved to have got to the bottom of it! Lol

[Tim Kelly]

Well blow me down! The L&L made a big difference. Virtually all the resistance appears to have gone. The guides didn't even look that grubby to me. Great shout there, thank you Fishindaddy!

 

Lesson learnt there definitely. I guess going all Amart on the tackle really does make an appreciable difference. Looks like I've got some rod cleaning in my future.

 

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The most perplexing problems usually having a solution so simple it doesn't even occur to you. I have this often with finicky reels.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Well blow me down! The L&L made a big difference. Virtually all the resistance appears to have gone. The guides didn't even look that grubby to me. Great shout there, thank you Fishindaddy!

 

Lesson learnt there definitely. I guess going all Amart on the tackle really does make an appreciable difference. Looks like I've got some rod cleaning in my future.

 

Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.

     

[Tim Kelly]

Definitely cured. Went out today and caught a shed load of fish today on the ned and no creaking at all from the guides. Really taught me a lesson this experience.

 

 

At least 60 fish to this one brave soldier. Lead's nearly falling off the hook now.  

[FD.]

Definitely cured. Went out today and caught a shed load of fish today on the ned and no creaking at all from the guides. Really taught me a lesson this experience.

 

 

At least 60 fish to this one brave soldier. Lead's nearly falling off the hook now.  

 

Awesome, glad we could help.