Help-Tension Knob Won’t Stay Tight

[MontclairDave]

So, today I’m fishing with my new Quantum Vapor reel for the 2nd or 3rd outing and all of a sudden I’m backlashing a ton, after almost never backlashing on my first outings with the reel. Duh, I finally remember to check my settings and realize the tension knob is MUCH looser than I had it set before. So I tighten it just enough to eliminate side-to-side play on the spool and voila, no more backlashes. That is, until about an hour later and I see that the knob has come loose again.

 

Anyone else have this problem with the Vapor? Is there a fix for it? Love the reel but this new glitch is definitely knocking the reel down a few pegs for me.

 

Thanks!

[MN Fisher]

Sounds like a warranty issue - I'd contact Quantum first...

[dodgeguy]

Are you sure you didn't touch it adjusting your drag ?

[FishTank]

I have the Vapor and haven't had this issue exactly. I did have issues with the side plates on both sides not fitting correctly which would cause the issue that you are having. Quantum sent me new plates twice and a new reel. Between all of it, I have a reel that works great. I would start with checking to see if the brake side cover is closed, then back out the spool tension, take brake side plate off and put it back on, making sure that the open/close latch closes properly, tighten up the spool tension and re-check everything. 

[PhishLI]

14 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

I finally remember to check my settings and realize the tension knob is MUCH looser than I had it set before.

The tension knob has a clicker. Does yours click?

14 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Anyone else have this problem with the Vapor?

No. I have one and my friend has five of them.

[diehardbassfishing]

Along with a tension knob clicker (if built with one) - the knob has (should have) an O-Ring to protect against water intrusion, and provide a degree of force to prevent the tension knob from turning easily.

This O-Ring is likely greased from the factory. I wouldn't be too surprised if it's over lubed.

I've wiped of access grease to increase knob "force" on reels where it turned way to easily.

If you see excess grease, I'd clean off all the grease on the O-ring, surrounding area, and the inside of the knob. I'd use a simple spray cleaner and paper towel. Q-tip good also to finish. Could use naphtha lighter fluid for a stronger de-greasing. Then re-lube lightly. Put small amount of grease on your finger - a smear, not a blob. Put a VERY light grease coating on the O-ring.

After this I always find the knob to have a tighter feel. This will also get better after a few outings of use.

 

Let us know if this helps,

Karl

 

Oh - be sure spool axle end has grease - the very end - where it rides against the tension cap. If this grease gets cleaned off in the process of degreasing the O-ring areas, it's critical to put a dab of grease back on the end of the shaft (or inside the cap where the shaft rides).

[MontclairDave]

6 hours ago, diehardbassfishing said:

Along with a tension knob clicker (if built with one) - the knob has (should have) an O-Ring to protect against water intrusion, and provide a degree of force to prevent the tension knob from turning easily.

This O-Ring is likely greased from the factory. I wouldn't be too surprised if it's over lubed.

I've wiped of access grease to increase knob "force" on reels where it turned way to easily.

If you see excess grease, I'd clean off all the grease on the O-ring, surrounding area, and the inside of the knob. I'd use a simple spray cleaner and paper towel. Q-tip good also to finish. Could use naphtha lighter fluid for a stronger de-greasing. Then re-lube lightly. Put small amount of grease on your finger - a smear, not a blob. Put a VERY light grease coating on the O-ring.

After this I always find the knob to have a tighter feel. This will also get better after a few outings of use.

 

Let us know if this helps,

Karl

 

Oh - be sure spool axle end has grease - the very end - where it rides against the tension cap. If this grease gets cleaned off in the process of degreasing the O-ring areas, it's critical to put a dab of grease back on the end of the shaft (or inside the cap where the shaft rides).

Not sure if this is too much grease? And is there even an o-ring in here? My eyes aren’t great and I have zero knowledge of reel maintenance. 
 

 

[MontclairDave]

20 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have the Vapor and haven't had this issue exactly. I did have issues with the side plates on both sides not fitting correctly which would cause the issue that you are having. Quantum sent me new plates twice and a new reel. Between all of it, I have a reel that works great. I would start with checking to see if the brake side cover is closed, then back out the spool tension, take brake side plate off and put it back on, making sure that the open/close latch closes properly, tighten up the spool tension and re-check everything. 

Did that. Side plate seems to be closed correctly but when I place pressure on it, it has a bit of side-to-side play. Not sure if that is a defect or not, or has any effect on tension knob. (Doesn’t strike me as great engineering tolerance, though. Checked my Shimano Curado and Quantum Tour S3 and the side plates when closed don’t budge.)

[Woody B]

I know nothing about your particular reel.  It looks like a lot of grease to me.  It also looks like it's got a clicker.  I suspect something is wrong with the clicker.  

[Big Hands]

IMHO the tip of the c-clip spring has to find it's way into those detents (teeth) that hold the adjustment of the cap. If you're not feeling them when you adjust the tension of the cap, then the tip of the c-spring isn't engaged in them. 

 

Not sure I see an easy way to make that happen. I think I would try tightening the cap enough to gently force it into those detents. If the part just above the detents is angled/chamfered, then it may get a little tight, and then ride the chamfer into place. Key word: "gently".

 

Disclaimer: I do not work for Quantum, nor did I sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so follow my suggestion at your own risk.

[WRB]

Try cleaning the tension nut inside surface with acetone to remove all the oil/grease. Your spool shaft ends ends should already have enough lub on them.

Take out the spool reassemble the reel and hand tighten the tension knob until you feel the detents engage. Now you know how the knob feels when engaging the detents.

Put the spool back in the reel, back off the tension knob 1 full turn and assemble the side plates correctly.

You should be able to turn the tension knob enough to feel the detents engage.

If the spool isn’t spinning freely, call and exchange the reel.

Tom

[MontclairDave]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Try cleaning the tension nut inside surface with acetone to remove all the oil/grease. Your spool shaft ends ends should already have enough lub on them.

Take out the spool reassemble the reel and hand tighten the tension knob until you feel the detents engage. Now you know how the knob feels when engaging the detents.

Put the spool back in the reel, back off the tension knob 1 full turn and assemble the side plates correctly.

You should be able to turn the tension knob enough to feel the detents engage.

If the spool isn’t spinning freely, call and exchange the reel.

Tom

Did what you suggested and I definitely felt the detents engage and spool is spinning freely. Will take it out this week first chance I get and let you know if that worked. Thanks! 

[MickD]

Go Daiwa in the future.

[Deleted account]

Side plate should not have play in it (doesn't need to seal like a vault at Ft Knox either) so figure out what's going on there, may or may not be related to the tension knob coming loose (probably doesn't) If it's a new reel, send it back, if not clean out both threads and apply some blue loctite to the knob. Not what the book says, but a little "controlled damaging" of the threads will solve the problem as well.

[QED]

20 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

[stuff deleted]  If it's a new reel, send it back, if not clean out both threads and apply some blue loctite to the knob. Not what the book says, but a little "controlled damaging" of the threads will solve the problem as well.

After building quite a number RC models with blue loctite, it seems blue loctite is pretty harmless to threads.  Loctite characterizes it as "removable medium strength" and "removable with standard hand tools." In any event, used sparingly, it won't damage your threads.  Just don't use red loctite!

[Deleted account]

5 minutes ago, QED said:

Just don't use red loctite!

LOL. Yes, red Loctite gets stored with the 5200.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Can you add some teflon "plumbers" tape around the threads. I did this for my curado 70 with loose tension knob issue.

[Joshua B]

That's not good. Do you still have the 1 year Shimano warranty?

[Deleted account]

46 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

Can you add some teflon "plumbers" tape around the threads. I did this for my curado 70 with loose tension knob issue.

That will work, specially if you don't play around too much with it.

40 minutes ago, Joshua B said:

That's not good. Do you still have the 1 year Shimano warranty?

I read that Shimano is no longer honoring Quantum warranties, so I'm no longer buying any Shimano stuff, I just tweeeted that out...  

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

I read that Shimano is no longer honoring Quantum warranties

Since Quantum is owned by Rather Outdoors (Lews, Strike King) - why would Shimano even consider 'honoring' the warranty?

[Deleted account]

4 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Since Quantum is owned by Rather Outdoors (Lews, Strike King) - why would Shimano even consider 'honoring' the warranty?

 

Really?!  

[MontclairDave]

2 hours ago, MickD said:

Go Daiwa in the future.

Ha! I hear you. Figured at $50 from eBay it was worth a shot. Particularly since I LOVE my Quantum Tour S3 and have had zero issues with that one. We shall see how the tinkering goes…

[PhishLI]

4 minutes ago, MontclairDave said:

Figured at $50 from eBay it was worth a shot. Particularly since I LOVE my Quantum Tour S3 and have had zero issues with that one. We shall see how the tinkering goes…

It's a very good reel. You should be fine. Check your PM.

[MickD]

If the knob shaft has an O ring on it you might be able to find one of the same diameter but thicker section.  

[MontclairDave]

Update: after degreasing the tension knob and tightening to re-engage the detents, I fished all day Friday and the knob definitely kept loosening about as much as it did before.

Next step will be to add some blue Locktite as suggested. Or, I can wait till Quantum ships me a new tension knob, which their warranty dept did last week and should arrive soon.

 

Ironically, this whole episode has made me a better baitcaster because I’ve learned how to use thumb pressure with a very loose spool to control the cast. I still backlashed a bit on Friday doing that, but not nearly as much the prior week. There was almost no wind, so I’m not taking full credit!