Beginner reel problem - handle will not screw into body

[Scottdavies86]

Hi and thanks in advance for the help. 
 

I’m a complete beginner to fishing and bought a second hand rod and reel. I noted that the reel handle was on the wrong side for me so I unscrewed the handle to switch sides (watching a few YouTube videos first!) however when I try to screw the handle back into the main body of the reel, the screw will not screw in. It is just spinning, as if it isn’t quite long enough. 
 

if I remove the handle and just screw the two parts together away from the reel, the parts are also remaining loose. 
 

can anyone suggest how to repair this stupid mistake I’ve made? ??

 

thanks again 

[mrpao]

What reel do you have?

And what side are you switching the handle too

[Bazoo]

Is it possible that you stripped the threads? If so, if it's a good quality reel, you may be able to get replacement parts. If it's cheap, assemble it with some epoxy on the threads and don't worry about it.

[Dan Strain]

Seems obvious - but try spinning it onto the reel in the OPPOSITE direction than you are  re: counter clockwise vs clockwise 

 

many handles feel like you screw them in  “backwards” 

[WRB]

Left hand thread.

Tom

[bulldog1935]

Spinning reel handles are 2 types - those using internal hex shafts always tighten CW.  They join on both sides, and the hex shaft fits through the reel main shaft.  

 

Those that thread directly into the reel main shaft always tighten in the direction of winding the reel pick-up.  They have two different thread diameters.  Left-side wind has LH threads, right-side wind has RH threads.  

 

[Scottdavies86]

Thank you for the replies thus far. Mine is an unbranded (I think - I can’t see any markings indicating brand) hexagonal style reel indicated in the photos from bulldog above. It does appear to screw only in the CW direction but as I say even if I remove the handle and screw the two pieces together away from the reel body, they don’t stay together if you give a very gentle pull. They simply fall back apart. The exception to this is if I remove the small rubber washer. In that instance, it does seem to get purchase. That said, if I do then reinsert the arm without the washer into the reel body and screw, the same original result occurs; the two pieces do not remain joined. 
 

I had considered perhaps some plumbers tape around the screw to see if that helped the two pieces link, but haven’t tried that yet as I didn’t want to cause any damage. 

[bulldog1935]

You have stripped threads on that joint.  Highest odds, the stripped threads are in the hex-shaft female, which is probably a softer metal than the stainless steel male threads on the handle cap.  

 

you can buy new hex-shaft handles (w/ screw cap) on both ebay and amazon, relatively inexpensive.  (the one I linked on amazon is actually pretty nice, folds forward like a Daiwa whisker)

 

The example I threw up in the top is the expensive kind, e.g., using an IOS hex shaft adapter to attach an SLP Works handle to a hex-shaft reel.  Here's how that new Tica came out.  

[Will Ketchum]

If you have a junk box with screws, nuts and bolts etc., dig in there for a screw and maybe you get lucky. Otherwise, since it's a cheap reel, you could jam a self threading screw in there and call it a day, and there's epoxy too if necessary.

[Kirtley Howe]

I don't think I would even bother with it. You can pick up a brand new, completely serviceable spinning reel at any Walmart store for under $20.00. And a better quality one for under $30.00, so why mess with broken cheap reel?  If you are on a super tight budget, look on Temu, or Amazon or Walmart.com for really cheap spinning reels.