stx spinning

[stk44]

I've noticed on the last two outings that my Revo STX20 spinning reel has been back reeling (while anti-reverse is ON) when I hook a fish, or try pull a snag free. Today, I decided to pull my reel apart. I noticed a decent bit of grease from the MFG. (the reel is only about 8 months old.) I wiped down the grease on the one-way clutch and put it all back together. It worked a little better but after about 3 revolutions, it would reverse if I would crank in the opposite direction.

I took it apart again and cleaned the clutch with rubbing alcohol and let it dry. This fixed the issue, but I'm wondering if the little pins inside of the clutch, or even the clutch casing should be lubed with anything? Also, it seems like I could only oil the very bottom bearing and lightly grease the gears without this issue reoccurring .

Has anyone else had this issue with the STX? I would take pictures but I've had enough with maintenance on this reel 'til winter.

[timsford]

I'd send a pm or email to dvt or the guys at the tackle trap

[stk44]

And it's doing it again... I feel like since it works then stops functioning normal it has something To do with the grease working its way up from the gears and getting slopped up around the clutch, which would make it slip. I think after my next trip I'll just send it back to Abu Garcia. 

[stk44]

@Delaware Valley Tackle I took the reel apart AGAIN, and it seems to be fine. But after a certain period of time, the clutch starts to slip when I try to back-reel. It seems to be 3 fast rotations of the handle, and then it is able to back-reel with anti-reverse still engaged. Do any common issue come to mind? 

It's still under warranty, so If the fix doesn't stick after my trip this weekend, I'll send it back to Abu Garcia.

[J Francho]

25 minutes ago, stk44 said:

It's still under warranty, so If the fix doesn't stick after my trip this weekend, I'll send it back to Abu Garcia.

I might try calling them before sending off blindly.

[stk44]

20 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I might try calling them before sending off blindly.

I already did. They said to send it back with proof of purchase or receipt and a note of the issue with the reel.

I still love the reel I just hope this isn't a common issue. That clutch assembly seems overly complex compared to a stradic.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

3 hours ago, stk44 said:

@Delaware Valley Tackle I took the reel apart AGAIN, and it seems to be fine. But after a certain period of time, the clutch starts to slip when I try to back-reel. It seems to be 3 fast rotations of the handle, and then it is able to back-reel with anti-reverse still engaged. Do any common issue come to mind? 

It's still under warranty, so If the fix doesn't stick after my trip this weekend, I'll send it back to Abu Garcia.

They're pretty straight forward. Looking more like repair/exchange time. 

[stk44]

So they just sent me a new one. I'm trying to find out what was wrong with the old one. It's like pulling teeth trying to get details, but they are very friendly and prompt. 

[J Francho]

Repair by replacement...they probably don't know and won't bother to find out.

[stk44]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Repair by replacement...they probably don't know and won't bother to find out.

You sir, are 100% correct. 

[stk44]

This is the second time I've used the newly replaced Stx, it is backreeling worse than the other one.... what is going on?!? Anyone had this issue before? 

[Dwight Hottle]

Time to try another brand. Try shimano or daiwa. 

[Bluebasser86]

I owned 1 Revo spinning reel, never again. It's all Pfluegar, Shimano, or Okuma spinning reels for me now. 

[stk44]

14 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I owned 1 Revo spinning reel, never again. It's all Pfluegar, Shimano, or Okuma spinning reels for me now. 

I'm asking for my money back. I doubt they will comply, but if they do, I'm buying a stradic. I still love the LP Revo's, I just have no faith in the spinning line. 

[Bluebasser86]

3 minutes ago, stk44 said:

I'm asking for my money back. I doubt they will comply, but if they do, I'm buying a stradic. I still love the LP Revo's, I just have no faith in the spinning line. 

That's about where I'd start if I was going to buy another Shimano. I only own 1 Shimano spinning reel anymore because of the binding issues that they just can't seem to solve in their mid range spinning reels. I've gone to mostly Pfluegar and really feel like I'm getting more for my money from them. 

[fishnkamp]

Forget the Shimanos, they have too many problems. Look very seriously at an Okuma RTX or a Pflueger. They will hold up fine.  Okuna makes a nice spinning reel and the RTX has a higher gear ratio plus a really light weight on the FTX 30. If not gop Pflueger President 6930.

[stk44]

So....no refund, but they said keep the stx and they will send me a revo rocket for free. Kinda cool, it has the same anti-reverse clutch as the previous, but I guess it's better than nothing. 

I asked if this was a common issue and they said the only thing they could think was maybe it was too cold for the anti-reverse to work (it was 29 degrees that day.)Is there any validity to this?

It definitely didn't make sense to me. It's not like these parts would shrink when cold and cause slippage or anything...

[.ghoti.]

The anti reverse bearing should never have had grease in it. Grease will cause that thing to rotate in reverse. Cold weather just makes it happen more often as the grease thickens, and does not allow the rollers to back up into the retainer slots in the race.

since you got to keep the reel, do a deep clean. Get all of the grease out of the IAR bearing, and oil it, very lightly. I oil all of mine with the bearing fully assembled dry. Use a q-tip with a drop of light oil on it, and swipe it around in a forward rotatation, so the rollers spin while swiping. That will get enough oil where it needs to be without over-lubing. I'll bet this cures the problem.

[stk44]

4 minutes ago, .ghoti. said:

The anti reverse bearing should never have had grease in it. Grease will cause that thing to rotate in reverse. Cold weather just makes it happen more often as the grease thickens, and does not allow the rollers to back up into the retainer slots in the race.

since you got to keep the reel, do a deep clean. Get all of the grease out of the IAR bearing, and oil it, very lightly. I oil all of mine with the bearing fully assembled dry. Use a q-tip with a drop of light oil on it, and swipe it around in a forward rotatation, so the rollers spin while swiping. That will get enough oil where it needs to be without over-lubing. I'll bet this cures the problem.

Thanks. I wonder why the factory added grease to the bearings? They may have applied grease liberally elsewhere and it just happened to get on the clutch too.  If I remove all the grease with a lint free towel then soak it in rubbing alcohol, would that be sufficient?

Thank you very much for the help.

[.ghoti.]

I use simple green, teethbreesh, and hot water for all reel cleaning. Alcohol is not a real effective solvent for grease. If you insist on using something toxic and flammable, lighter fluid naphtha is much batter than any alcohol.

[stk44]

Thanks. I'll pick up a bottle of simple green and give that a shot.

[stk44]

@.ghoti. I stripped down the whole reel again. I simple greened the plastic, rinsed with hot water. Soaked the bearings in acetone for 5 minutes. Added one drop of oil per bearing did not add any oil or grease to the roller bearing I'm not if that's what it's called-there is a metal sleeve that contains a plastic cage that has 8 little compartments that stores the 8 little metal posts. It's hard to find pictures online, but here is what looks most similar to the part I'm talking about. 

Its backreeling worse than ever do you have any ideas?

 

[stk44]

I took it apart again... I put one drop of oil on a cue tip and swabbed the inside of the roller bearing cage. I re-assembled and tried to get it to backreeL for 15 minutes and it wouldn't. 

I honestly think that it's because my garage is un-heated. I don't understand because there is absolutely no grease that could affect the the reel adversely in the cold. Could these reels really suck that bad in the cold?

[.ghoti.]

Stk44, you hit on the correct way to lube that bearing. One drop of light oil on a qtip. You have just discovered how a tiny bit of excess lube can screwup the works. The rollers have to be able to move, in and out, in the retainer, for the bearing to function as designed. Just a little too much oil, or any grease, will prevent that movement.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The AR in spinning reels in general are touchy. Shimano has the best system hands down IMO. But the AR alone doesn't make the reel.