ORGIN Baitcaster tension knob issue

[brea87]

So I just bought a used Origin 3 baitcaster 8.1 and I am having trouble loosing the tension knob. The knob turns fine but it is not making any adjustments. With a lighter bait on the end of the line I can not get the bait to release down without actually lightly pulling on the line. It throws fine with a heavier bait. I looked up the diagram to see if I'm missing any parts and im.l clueless. Any help would be appreciated. Here are some pics. Am I missing a part or a spring or something? 

[Bankc]

Often times there's a spring on the spool tension knob.  You could make one to fit in there.  I've done that before.  Just buy a compression spring at Ace that's the right diameter and thickness and cut it down.  Then you bend the cut end so it lays flush.  But it's purpose is to just keep tension on the cap so that it doesn't wiggle itself loose or tighten over time.  It doesn't effect the operation of the spool tension itself, just how long it stays in place once you've set it.

 

I agree with BaitFinesse.  Clean out that reel and relube it with a good lube.  Be sure not to apply too much.  It probably has too much oil in it, or too thick of oil, and that isn't allowing the spool to break inertia.  It's not uncommon with new reels.  Sometimes if you just use them a bit, it'll fix the problem.  Sometimes you need to flush it out and relube.  I think many manufacturers over lube their reels to make sure they don't get worn out before the warranty period is up, assuming that a lot of people don't take care of their reels.  If you apply the proper amount of lubricant, you'll need to keep up with the maintenance a lot more often, but you'll get better performance from the reel.

[DomQ]

Check the parts diagram online to make sure there was a spring there first. Also is the line digging into the spool? Reel also looks like it could use a cleaning, add a tiny drop of oil at the end of both sides of the spool shaft.

[garroyo130]

14 hours ago, brea87 said:

The knob turns fine but it is not making any adjustments.

With a heavier bait, can you get it to tighten? So that it stops from falling completely?

 

It could just be excess grease getting on the spool shaft. If you pull the cap off completely does the issue persist? 

[brea87]

Thank you everyone. I will clean the reel tonight and relube. What is the best way to flush out the reel?

 

 

Thanks again

[Bankc]

28 minutes ago, brea87 said:

Thank you everyone. I will clean the reel tonight and relube. What is the best way to flush out the reel?

 

 

Thanks again

The best way is probably a complete disassembly and submerging every part into an ultrasonic cleaner.  But I doubt many people got that far.

 

What I do is open up the reel, take a million pictures of the insides, and every time I remove a part, I take pictures of the reel again, and lay the part out, top side up, on a compartment tray I have.  That way when I go to put it all back together, not only do I know where everything goes, but I know in what order it goes together, and the orientation of each piece.  

 

Then, once it's completely disassembled, I wash all of the plastic parts out with an old toothbrush in some soapy water.  The bearings, if I can't open them up to clean the insides out by hand, I'll usually soak in naphtha or acetone for about ten minutes if they don't have any plastic parts.  After soaking for a while, I'll swirl them around in the liquid, pull them out, blast them with some compressed air, re-soak and swirl for a bit longer in clean solution (so you don't reintroduce the old dirt), then blast with air again, then dry and get ready for reassembly.  I take my time and clean one part at a time, being sure to keep the orientation and it's place in the tray on my mind, so I don't loose either of those bits of information.  When it comes to reassembly, I don't usually need the pictures or a schematic because I'm so well organized, but I do have them available if I need them (you can usually find the schematics free online).  

 

It's not hard.  It's just tedious and time consuming.  That's why I usually only do this during the winter or dead heat of summer.  Now, you probably don't have to go that far, if you don't want to.  You could just break it down just enough to access the three spool bearings and clean the spool shaft, as well as the tensioner cap.  That's where the problem likely lies.  You're going to have to decide your own level of involvement in this project.  I personally like tinkering with things, so I enjoy the work.  You may not feel as comfortable with so many small parts, so you might just try to tackle the bearings, one at a time.  No matter how you do it, unless you're really familiar with the inner workings of this particular reel, I'd take a million pictures on your phone at every step of the way while you're disassembling it.  I also like to work on a white towel in a clean room.  It makes finding small parts that try to go missing easier.

[brea87]

So this is what I have come to find out.. I cleaned it as good as possible.. Relubed and gave it a try.. It did help alot.. 

 

With a heavy bait on the end (Weight/Hook/Senko) everything with the tension knob worked fine adjusted great. Throws good - no backlash (super happy)

I take the weight off and just use a Hook/Senko and even if the brakes and 0 / tension knob all the way loosened / and the drag set SUPER low. When hitting the release button I cant get the bait to drop at all unless and really wiggle the pole and then it will drop a couple inches and I have to repeat. Could it be to heavy of a fishing line for a none weighted or light bait? Im not sure what is on there the guy said it was 12lbs? Thats the only other idea I could think of.

 

Even if I take the tension cap completely off I can't get it to drop the lighter lures.

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

I think a 5” Senko is 3/8 oz. My baitcasters will toss them well, and I can adjust the spool tension so that when I press the thumb bar, they drop at a decent weight and stop with no backlash. 

 

What is the exact model of that reel?