New Toys

[FrnkNsteen]

Picked up a couple new toys that I saw on the big auction site. I have never seen these older style Daiwa reels with the clutch levers at the side. Received the first one (TD S 103 HVLA) and the second (TD-Z) will be here later this week. Haven't been able to find much information on them, but,.....

 

Very carefully pulled this first one apart to clean and lube the inner workings. Kind of wierd to see all stainless components inside. The only thing that was plastic I saw was the levelwind drive gear that sits under the main gear. Everything cleaned up nicely and works great. Handle was a small 80mm handle with one of the knobs a little sticky. Swapped it out for a newer spare I had laying around from a BPS Pro Qualifier.

 

Loaded it up with some 12lb Big Game and tied on a casting plug. Even though the reel is older, bigger, and a little heavy, it fits the hand great, is incredibly well balanced when palming it, and clutch is perfect position to activate when palming. Only took a few casts to get used to it and I really like it!! May decide to use it once in a while for the fun of it and not just put it on display like I originally thought. I'll attach a picture of the second one when it gets here later this wéek.

 

Here's another angle

[Eric 26]

1 hour ago, FrnkNsteen said:

Picked up a couple new toys that I saw on the big auction site. I have never seen these older style Daiwa reels with the clutch levers at the side. Received the first one (TD S 103 HVLA) and the second (TD-Z) will be here later this week. Haven't been able to find much information on them, but,.....

 

Very carefully pulled this first one apart to clean and lube the inner workings. Kind of wierd to see all stainless components inside. The only thing that was plastic I saw was the levelwind drive gear that sits under the main gear. Everything cleaned up nicely and works great. Handle was a small 80mm handle with one of the knobs a little sticky. Swapped it out for a newer spare I had laying around from a BPS Pro Qualifier.

 

Loaded it up with some 12lb Big Game and tied on a casting plug. Even though the reel is older, bigger, and a little heavy, it fits the hand great, is incredibly well balanced when palming it, and clutch is perfect position to activate when palming. Only took a few casts to get used to it and I really like it!! May decide to use it once in a while for the fun of it and not just put it on display like I originally thought. I'll attach a picture of the second one when it gets here later this wéek.

 

Here's another angle

That’s an awesome looking reel?. @WRB might be able to fill in the gaps on information.

[FrnkNsteen]

I thought it looked cool, but was surprised at how intuitive the design feels in your hand. I can see it being handy for pitching and tossing in and around cover.

[Tennessee Boy]

I have made thousands of pitches with that reel.  I still love it and used one this afternoon.  It’s made for people that don’t switch hands after casting.

[Tatulatard]

Get a tdz drag star and metal cast knob.  That will look great. Do these take daiwa 34 mil spool?  Could you put a zillion spool in one?

[FrnkNsteen]

8 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Get a tdz drag star and metal cast knob.  That will look great. Do these take daiwa 34 mil spool?  Could you put a zillion spool in one?

You know,... I don't know. I haven't been able to find much information on them. I have the new Zillion SV though so I could try it and see.

 

The spool that's in it looks exactly liked the v-bottom ones that were in some old Procaster HSD103 reels I had in the early 2000s. Makes sense because from what I have found, they stopped making these around that same time period.

8 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Get a tdz drag star and metal cast knob.  That will look great. Do these take daiwa 34 mil spool?  Could you put a zillion spool in one?

That's a good idea! Any idea where I can get Daiwa parts in the US now that Tackle Trap closed up? They were my source for reel parts.

[DaveT63]

I've got a TD-Z like that.  Tried it out for a bit and couldn't get used to is, so I went back to my regular TD-Z reels.  This one sits on a shelf right now.

[FrnkNsteen]

1 hour ago, DaveT63 said:

I've got a TD-Z like that.  Tried it out for a bit and couldn't get used to is, so I went back to my regular TD-Z reels.  This one sits on a shelf right now.

I found that it is awkward if you aren't palming the reel, but I tend to palm my reels most of the time unless bombcasting something way out there. For me, it is very comfortable when casting from a palmed position.

 

I'm thinking it will be fun for flicking things like a Fat Ika, a craw, or maybe even a spinnerbait in and around docks, trees and laydowns. I wouldn't normally use a 6.3 speed for that, but these used to be considered "high speed" and it will work fine.

 

Can't wait to get the other one on Friday and hoping it is un as good of shape as this one.

[J Francho]

I have two of them.  They are by far the best pitching reels I've ever used.  Being able to manually engage the spool without turning the handle will become second nature.  You're right about the internals - these reels are bullet proof.  Good luck with them.

[Tackleholic]

I have one of those as pictured;  retired it back to it's box years ago when I began believing the new models would make me a better fisherman.  Jury is still out.

[Tatulatard]

3 hours ago, FrnkNsteen said:

You know,... I don't know. I haven't been able to find much information on them. I have the new Zillion SV though so I could try it and see.

 

The spool that's in it looks exactly liked the v-bottom ones that were in some old Procaster HSD103 reels I had in the early 2000s. Makes sense because from what I have found, they stopped making these around that same time period.

That's a good idea! Any idea where I can get Daiwa parts in the US now that Tackle Trap closed up? They were my source for reel parts.

I would try the used market in the tackle community.  Post a looking for thread in the section here or the tt forum.  Remember that lefty stars are reverse threaded.  A spool tension knob should be pretty easy to find too.  Those threads were used for many years.  You can use other non tdz drag stars but a tdz will have a high end vintage look. I like the bass pro handle and knobs btw.  It doesn't look out of place on that reel.  You can also use a clicker for the tdz star if this reel did not come with one. 

 

It would be cool too if you could upgrade the spool if you like and fish the reel.  I'm not sure what spools fit these old daiwas but a lighter weight one would make pitching a breeze. 

 

Also if you want another one then consider the td-x or td-z versions.  Those are further refinements on the concept.  Basically their final form.  These do share spools with modern reels so it opens up many options for what you want to do with the reel. This thread on tt is a good one to read about these reels.  Some of these are really cool.

http://www.tackletour.net/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=81782

[FrnkNsteen]

Got the second one I had bought in the mail yesterday. This one is a TD-Z 103 HL and is in a little rougher condition, but it was also significantly cheaper. Don't care about the boat rash, but it feels a little rough and sounds like someone poured some pea gravel inside it. 

 

I opened it up and narrowed the noise down to what seems to be pinion bearings or meshing betwen the main gear and pinion. Plus it was loaded with oil like someone was trying to quiet it down.

 

I called Mike at DVT and am packing it up this morning to send it to him to see what he can do to save it. Never sent anything to him, but hear nothing but good things about him so I trust he will do what can be done to try and save this thing.

 

I like the smaller frame on this one vs the other one. Just need to see if we can get it to quiet down and behave! ?

Here's another angle

By the way,.... Tried the spool from my 21 Zillion SV TW in these reels. It didn't fit in the first one (TD-S), but it did fit in the smaller TD-Z and seemed to work fine, so have options if we can get this to quiet down..

[Tatulatard]

Parts for these are impossible to find.  You are offf getting a cheaper reel of the same or similar type in better mechanical condition to rob parts.  Honestly if you like the reel then use this one as a junker parts reel and get better one.  There is one on ebay for $120 in pretty good shape but has a t3 ballistic spool in it.  You have the correct spool in yours and it even has the little tape thing on it everyone removed.  Putting that spool in this reel would make it display very nice and fish very nice.

 

If you really want yours to be smooth then I think procaster left hand reels from the same time have gears that will work and those can be really cheap to pick up.  

[FrnkNsteen]

5 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

Parts for these are impossible to find.  You are offf getting a cheaper reel of the same or similar type in better mechanical condition to rob parts.  Honestly if you like the reel then use this one as a junker parts reel and get better one.  There is one on ebay for $120 in pretty good shape but has a t3 ballistic spool in it.  You have the correct spool in yours and it even has the little tape thing on it everyone removed.  Putting that spool in this reel would make it display very nice and fish very nice.

 

If you really want yours to be smooth then I think procaster left hand reels from the same time have gears that will work and those can be really cheap to pick up.  

Good advice, and that one did look pretty nice. I hadn't seen it because I usually limit my searches to U.S. items and that one was from Canada.

 

I say "WAS" because it's now on its way to my house!! ?? LOL!

[new2BC4bass]

I have a TD-S 103HL, but it is black.  Didn't come with a box.  I think it has the Magforce braking system, but am not sure.  Not at home to see if the braking system is mentioned on the reel.  Cast well, but I've seldom used it as I prefer a thumb bar.

[ETnbasser]

Wow! Been a minute since I’ve seen those. Used to have several. They were the first lefties I bought when I made the switch. Wished I’d have kept a couple, along with the Calcutta CT-51s I had. Still kicking myself over those. 

[TimTheGearNerd]

Man I love those old Daiwa reels. Those heavy metal parts translates to a nice analogue feel. 
My old Daiwa reels are still some off my favorite.
Those huge heavy main gears have great momentum, almost feels like the handles turn themselves. Great finds . 

[Tennessee Boy]

What I love about these reels is you can turn the brakes off or very low and cast a mile by thumbing the spool.  I doesn’t seem like you can really turn the brakes completely off with modern reels.