Super User S Hovanec Posted April 12, 2019 Super User Posted April 12, 2019 From time to time, I get requests to replace grips and reel seats. Most of the time, it's really not worth it because the repair costs more than the original rod. That wasn't the case this time. The customer absolutely hated the OEM seat on his Legend Elite spinning rod. After seeing it, I understood why. Such excessive threads. They really could have trimmed at least an inch off before assembly, but they didn't. Even if they would have taken some threads off, the seat is uncomfortable for someone with large hands. He liked the IPS seat and hidden threads locking foregrip on the Dobyns Champion rods, so that's the direction we went. I missed taking some pics as I went, like boring, splitting and gluing the arbor on the blank. Original seat and grip. Stripped and cleaned up. Had to extend the IPS grip to maintain the original reel seat location. Locking foregrip. New seat glued in position. New grip and butt cap installed and curing. All finished up. 2 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 Nice work. I've re-done both my medium and med-light. I like the aero seat as it gives me something to fill my hand a bit better. 1 Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 12, 2019 Author Super User Posted April 12, 2019 15 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said: I like the aero seat as it gives me something to fill my hand a bit better. I like using the Aero in an up locking orientation. Have they fixed the problem with the coating getting sticky after a while? I had to strip the rubber off of a few I've used. I only get the uncoated ones now. The 17mm Aero is nice if you have big hands. 2 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 I've not had that issue, been using them for a few years now too. maybe it's a temperature thing, we don't get the temps a lot of places in the states would. I have issues with pretty much any uplocking spinning seat. I fish with two fingers either side of the reel stem and dislike having the heel of my hand resting on threads. If the handle is constructed with a hidden hood, then it's usually too short and the heel of my hand is overhanging the back of it. I really like using the fuji front screw part on the Aero. A little filing and it makes a very nice transition. Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 12, 2019 Author Super User Posted April 12, 2019 20 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said: I've not had that issue, been using them for a few years now too. maybe it's a temperature thing, we don't get the temps a lot of places in the states would. I have issues with pretty much any uplocking spinning seat. I fish with two fingers either side of the reel stem and dislike having the heel of my hand resting on threads. It's not a temperature thing. I have an unfinished rod in my rack that I started 4 or 5 years ago and the seat is all sticky too. Never got around to wrapping it, just got the grip glued up. I fish with 3 fingers in front of the reel stem, so threads behind don't bother me. I do like this hidden threads piece though and plan on using it on some upcoming builds. 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 How you hold the rod is crucial to how you're going to like your reel seat configured. The joys of custom building! I have no idea what St Croix are thinking with any of their spinning rod handles though. The Avid X isn't horrible, but the rest.... Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 12, 2019 Author Super User Posted April 12, 2019 23 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said: How you hold the rod is crucial to how you're going to like your reel seat configured. The joys of custom building! Yep. That's why this is my favorite configuration. 1 Quote
Tim Kelly Posted April 12, 2019 Posted April 12, 2019 It's coming from those sliding collars that started me with two fingers each side of the reel stem, so I could catch the reel when it fell off. ? 1 1 Quote
Super User S Hovanec Posted April 12, 2019 Author Super User Posted April 12, 2019 25 minutes ago, Tim Kelly said: It's coming from those sliding collars that started me with two fingers each side of the reel stem, so I could catch the reel when it fell off. ? If the grip is turned to match the rings properly, the reel doesn't fall off! That was the problem with the OEM Tennessee grips. 1 Quote
Super User jimmyjoe Posted April 13, 2019 Super User Posted April 13, 2019 12 hours ago, Tim Kelly said: The Avid X isn't horrible, but the rest.... Exactly how I feel. 11 hours ago, Tim Kelly said: It's coming from those sliding collars that started me with two fingers each side of the reel stem, so I could catch the reel when it fell off Deja vu. This subject was what I inquired about several months ago. Glad to see it actually can be done. Too bad I didn't know about this back then. I've sold the rods that I had which were up-locking. Oh, well ........ jj Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.