Casting Reel Screaming/Slipping Gears

[Muse]

Hello everybody. I've been having problems with my Daiwa Megaforce 100THS. I've had some issues with the reel screaming while casting. I first chalked it up to inexperience as I've battled many rookie mistakes learning how to use a caster. I had no clue about proper lubrication, which I had learned all about when the gears began slipping so badly I could no longer bring the line back in after a cast. This had happened after over a year of heavy-duty use and great performance. Luckily, even surpassing the warranty length, Daiwa had kindly informed me to send it their center in CA. They had returned it to me, after a lengthy wait, free of charge and freshly lubricated. This was at the very end of last fall.

The "reel" problem (ha-ha) began occurring recently after only a handful of uses since taking the rod out of winter retirement. Since the last couple times I've been out, the reel is again screaming and a gear is slipping- just like it was a less than year ago before it was serviced. From what I've gathered weeding past the thousands of "how to not birds' nest your baitcaster!" results when Googling caster problems, is that this is very unusual for how recently it's been serviced by Daiwa themselves compared to the amount of action it's seen. Any ideas, anybody?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Impossible  for the gears to slip if its reeling smoothly .you using braid without backing?? 

[Muse]

When I try to reel in a cast, I'm turning the reel handle which is not gripping and turning the spool right away. That, along with a grinding noise while I spin the handle (why I thought it might be a gear). This happens even sometimes I cast without the screech. I'll rig up some mono backing, I can see how that'd help the initial reel screaming issue if the line slips a little bit, I'm just not familiar enough with the inner workings of a casting reel to connect the dots how it'd fix 'em both. Thank you for the quick reply.    

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Hopefully you get it goin goodluck

[fishnkamp]

Go to a local independent tackle shop ( not the BPS or Cabelas types) near you and ask if they have a reel repair place that can help you. To ship the reel out will get costly.  Have them disassemble and inspect the internals.  it sounds like a bearing may need to be replaced.

[Muse]

Good idea. I'll let my fingers do the walking and track down the closest shop that knows what they're doing. With all of the information on the web this has still been quite a head-scratcher. As long as I'm visiting a bait shop, I'll have a good reason to dust off the ol' catfish rig while I wait   

[fishnkamp]

This is not the way Diawa reels act normally. So you may just have that "one" with a problem.  In fact some of the bearings only cost a few dollars each, so I would be tempted to let them replace them all then you know that the trouble is behind you.  The upgrade of the bearings may make the reel feel even smother than when it was new.  I fish a bunch of Diawa reels which include one Exceller and a bunch of Tatulas and Tatula R's.  Your reel retails just a bit lower than my Exceller does, but not much.  I have a friend that fishes HARD. He can wear out anything as he fishes literally 3 or 4 times a week. On the Potomac he regularly chases bass, but catches lots of big snakeheads and stripers.  He fishes a lot of Excellers.  I figure if he send them out to be serviced only once every year or two then they are pretty tough reels.  Good luck and man if you have any blue cats or flatheads they are a bunch of fun. Here on the Chesapeake Bay we are running into more of these monsters. I had an 18 pound blue eat a rattletrap and nearly spool me before it came in the boat.

[iabass8]

The grinding could be a a couple things. The spool may not be fully seated in the pinion. If it is out of line, it will do exactly what you are describing. IF it were seated correctly you would still be able to reel in line but it would just feel rough. Being as you are unable to even reel in the line and getting a grinding feeling, that leads me to believe the spool may not be seated. When it becomes unseated, the spool and pinion are not working together and reeling will be intermittent. The bearing side of the spool has a "t" that sits in the pinion under the handle. It's a gold gear that has 4 slits in it. pop the side plate off and remove the spool. Put it back in and make sure it's seated correctly. Make sure it's in there by feeling for it dropping in. Also make sure your cast control knob is functioning. The gears may not be seated correctly or the pinion housing could be upside down under the handle. Doubtful since his happened before you sent it to Daiwa but still. 

The screeching could be the pinion bearing, bad spool bearings, dirty spool bearings. too much oil on the spool shaft, etc. You could sent it to DVT (site sponsor) and he could fix it for you. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You have two different problems. They may or may not be related. Bad spool bearings screeching is actually pretty rare. The failure to immediately engage upon turning the handle is not unheard of in Daiwas. It's a fairly easy fix for a reel tech. It's not the gears slipping it's the ratchet against the kick lever. I don't have enough info to diagnose the casting noise. Our reel repair service is very reasonably priced at $22 and members here get 10% off that. Parts and shipping are extra . It's your call whether or not the reel is worth sending in. 

[Ratherbfishing]

I'd take it out back and shoot it.

[Muse]

All excellent input, I'll be very relieved if the issue would be as simple as re-seating the spool. Over the weekend I'll un-string, make sure the spool's re-seated properly and re-string with a mono backing on the line after inspection. If the issues continue after some testing on the water, I may have to take DVT up on their offer if I also have no luck finding a decent local shop. Very reasonable deal by the way, DVT. I'll inbox you if that's the case. If the same issue occurs again after ALL of that, yes, Ratherb, I'll be tempted to blow it apart with my 12 gauge... but then I'd wimp out because of sentimental reasons haha.

Once again, thank you everyone, the timely advice is much appreciated and I'll keep you all updated when I find out more. I look forward to sharing some war stories with the members on this board, I'm always very happy to find a community such as this.