When a good reel goes bad.

[Darth-Baiter]

I dont get it.  I have a ABU Revo a friend gave me because it gave him fits.  I put it on a rod and put it to work.  I was shocked how smooth that thing casted.  far and effortless.  I keep the line fresh, and every time I get a chance I will lube it in the usual spots.  it was the best free reel I have ever gotten.

 

then something flipped a switch.  same baits, same weights, same rod, same line.  it will 100% backlash (mildly, cuz I save it with emergency thumb) every single time.  I lubed it a few days ago.  stretched all the line out down my neighborhood and reeled it in smooth and taut.  I put on a practice plug and sent it across the street.  it was fine.  perfect almost with those few cast.  I know a practice plug is deceivingly aerodynamic.  

 

I tied on a spinner bait.  out yesterday.  first cast.  engage emergency thumb.  I am flummoxed.    I mess with adjustments.  put it way on the conservative side.  it still messes up.  it lashes on the launch..not the lure landing.

 

thoughts?

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Spinner baits are notoriously non aerodynamic. There may have been mild environmental conditions you didn’t notice, breeze etc? Also, spinners are often much heavier than their listed weight with blades, skirts and trailers added. I doubt you’re looking at anything mechanical 

[Darth-Baiter]

3 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Spinner baits are notoriously non aerodynamic. There may have been mild environmental conditions you didn’t notice, breeze etc? Also, spinners are often much heavier than their listed weight with blades, skirts and trailers added. I doubt you’re looking at anything mechanical 

I was concerned initially because I was throwing a walking bait.  very frustrating.  I probably shouldn't have used a spinner bait as the new test.  hmmm

[A-Jay]

Have the reel serviced by a skilled professional. Continuously adding any lubricant adds up over time and can become a problem by itself. Especially with bearings.

Never got one back from @Delaware Valley Tackle that wasn't like new.

A-Jay

 

[Darth-Baiter]

@A-Jay  yea. I’ll give him a crack at it.  Thx. 

[webertime]

Just a wild guess...  Revo SX

[Steve1357]

another experience I have had, little oil/grease migrates, gets on the brakes......

need to be dry, the pins and the drum imho

[CrashVector]

3 hours ago, webertime said:

Just a wild guess...  Revo SX

I have three of em.  They're my workhorse reels.  Two 3rd gen and one 4th gen.  

 

Never had a single problem with any of them, and I fish 3-4 days a week.

[Mojo Bass]

15 hours ago, webertime said:

Just a wild guess...  Revo SX

I have 2 Revo SX’s 4th gen 

I fish them hard every week during fishing season and I am not perfect with my reel maintenance….. and yet these reels still perform just as smooth and reliably as ever….. I don’t understand the dislike towards them I find them to be very good reels just my 2cents 

[msgf91]

Nevermind my post, I forgot he said it works fine then starts backlashing. Like the others mentioned it could be oil and grime making it's way to the brakes. This happened with my MGX. Working fine, turn suddenly it sounded gritty on the cast and would overrun. I used a paper towel to clean the brake side of the side plate. To help till I could do a full clean. 

[webertime]

2 hours ago, CanadianPowerFishin said:

I have 2 Revo SX’s 4th gen 

I fish them hard every week during fishing season and I am not perfect with my reel maintenance….. and yet these reels still perform just as smooth and reliably as ever….. I don’t understand the dislike towards them I find them to be very good reels just my 2cents 

Older ones were very inconsistent casters

[newapti5]

There's a limit what regular oiling and basic cleaning can do. Like others said, sometimes you just need to have it professionally serviced.