Play in handle knob.

[NorthernBasser]

I have a few new reels that has one knob that has some back and forth (in and out) play in it. Not the actually handle, but the knob. It isn't terrible or anything, but being OCD it still bothers me a bit. Is there an easy fix for this? On one reel I just popped the end cap off and tried tightening the screw, but that wasn't it. I'm guessing it's an issue with the fitting of a bearing? 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I agree, handle slop can make a great feel good and good reel feel meh.  Ive got an Exceler and by dumb luck it nearly 0 slop, which makes it feel great.  Kind of wish Daiwa or Shimano would make a better attempt to eliminate it on their mid to lower priced reels.   

If you have spare bushings, bearings and spacers laying around you can guess and test.

[newapti5]

Instead of tighten that screw, loosen and take it out; then put in  one or two shim washers. For Shimano and Daiwa reel, you'll need 4x7x0.1mm washer; for Abu, Lew's, and other doyo reels, it's 5x8x0.1mm. If you don't want buy a whole bunch of washers for just one reel, the quickest way is to put in a lot of grease. 

[Revival]

Is it stock knobs?  Have you ever removed the knobs before?

 

I’ve learned that when switching/replacing knobs it might take a few tries to get it to set correctly.  

I push down the knobs when tightening and sometimes it feels snug when it actually isn’t.

[NorthernBasser]

3 minutes ago, Revival said:

Is it stock knobs?  Have you ever removed the knobs before?

 

I’ve learned that when switching/replacing knobs it might take a few tries to get it to set correctly.  

I push down the knobs when tightening and sometimes it feels snug when it actually isn’t.

Yeah, came out of the box like this.

[Revival]

29 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

Yeah, came out of the box like this.

Gotcha.  I would loosen it and remove the knob. Then reset everything again then tighten.  Sometimes the bearing/bushing is not seated correctly.

[NorthernBasser]

1 hour ago, Revival said:

Gotcha.  I would loosen it and remove the knob. Then reset everything again then tighten.  Sometimes the bearing/bushing is not seated correctly.

I tried that but nothing. I may have to try what newapti5 recommended. I wish I weren't so dang OCD. ?

[PressuredFishing]

Many people upgrade cheaper reels from bushings to bearings in knobs and this supposivley helps, I have never tried. also shims which personally makes more mechanical sense to remove play. personally it bugs me alot, some of my Chinese reels have 0 and my diawas have quite a bit. 

[FrnkNsteen]

I use shims for RC cars. You can get a set from Amain Hobbies that has 4mmx7mm shims in three thicknesses (.13mm( about .005") .25mm (about .010") and .5mm (about .020")).

 

The sets come with 20 of each thickness and I just checked and they are $5.29/pkg.

 

Do a search for Amain Hobbies 4mm spacer shim and it should pop up. They also have 5mmx8mm in the same thicknesses if you have Lews/Doyo reels

[bulldog1935]

Still hasn't been a mention of the reel or reels, their manufacturer, model. 

Some handles have 2 bearings, some have an inner nylon bushing that's the same size as a bearing, and an outer bearing; others have two nylon bushings. 

Have a photo of a new Daiwa handle and the package that came with it, including 2 bearings, shim washers, bearing puller, and end screw with blue loctite. 

 

The stack is shim washer, bearing, knob, bearing and screw. 

If it has end play, take it apart and add another shim washer between the bearing and the knob. 

I've had many knobs that weren't happy until they had 3 shim washers between the bearing and the knob.  It's not always symmetric on baitcast knobs - had one side with 1 shim while the other side wanted 3 shims. 

If you get too many shims in the stack, the knob doesn't turn freely, so pull the handle and take one out. 

It's easy enough to fix that you don't have to put up with it. 

If you swap many knobs, buy aftermarket handles and knobs, you'll have all the parts around. 

[NorthernBasser]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the info/help! 

[a1712]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Still hasn't been a mention of the reel or reels, their manufacturer, model. 

Some handles have 2 bearings, some have an inner nylon bushing that's the same size as a bearing, and an outer bearing; others have two nylon bushings. 

Have a photo of a new Daiwa handle and the package that came with it, including 2 bearings, shim washers, bearing puller, and end screw with blue loctite. 

 

The stack is shim washer, bearing, knob, bearing and screw. 

If it has end play, take it apart and add another shim washer between the bearing and the knob. 

I've had many knobs that weren't happy until they had 3 shim washers between the bearing and the knob.  It's not always symmetric on baitcast knobs - had one side with 1 shim while the other side wanted 3 shims. 

If you get too many shims in the stack, the knob doesn't turn freely, so pull the handle and take one out. 

It's easy enough to fix that you don't have to put up with it. 

If you swap many knobs, buy aftermarket handles and knobs, you'll have all the parts around. 

I switch all my handle knob bearings/bushings to ABEC 5 stainless bearings and shim them to get the perfect fit. I can't stand that click clack feeling of a knob shifting back and forth on a retrieve. I too am extremely OCD. Brian.

[thunderblack]

Yes, stop buying Daiwa

[bulldog1935]

you mean wait until Daiwa's casting brake patent expires and Shimano copies it? 

[newapti5]

Shims are not that expensive if you know where to find them. Also, if you're interested in self-maintenance/deep-clean of your own reels, this would be a good place to start. IMO it's one of the easiest upgrade projects; you'll just need to have a little patience to find the perfect fit like others suggested. 

 

 

[NorthernBasser]

18 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

Shims are not that expensive if you know where to find them. Also, if you're interested in self-maintenance/deep-clean of your own reels, this would be a good place to start. IMO it's one of the easiest upgrade projects; you'll just need to have a little patience to find the perfect fit like others suggested. 

 

 

 

I do the more basic maintenance on my reels. And have swapped out knobs, handles etc. But I've yet to fully break one down. I really wanna tho, but I'm worried I'll mess something up. I do have some old reels I've been meaning to practice on. 

[newapti5]

48 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I do the more basic maintenance on my reels. And have swapped out knobs, handles etc. But I've yet to fully break one down. I really wanna tho, but I'm worried I'll mess something up. I do have some old reels I've been meaning to practice on. 

 

At the beginning, I did mess up one of my cheap reels: it's a left-handed BC reel, and to loosen the main shaft nut, I should turn clockwise instead of counter clockwise. I didn't know and there weren't any mentions in the manual. Fortunately, replacing that main shaft was not that expensive. 

 

I guess this is the price of learning that we all have to pay during.  But once you've broken down and re-assembled a couple of  BC reels, you'll find them not that complicated - the basic designs are all the same, no matter $500 reels or $50 reels. Entry level spinning reels are fairly straight forward as well, but the expensive ones are more complex and fragile.