Why wont my baitcaster spool reel in?

[Caiden24]

On my bait caster the line spool won't rotate to reel in the line and it also can move in both directions if I move it manually with my hand. The anti reverse works on my handle though so its really weird. Thanks in advance for the help!

[thediscochef]

Is there resistance to turning the handle to reel in line? Or does the handle just spin and accomplish nothing?

Either way that's probably a job for Delaware Valley Tackle

[Jig Man]

Is your drag too loose?

[Lead Head]

Sounds like the drag is way loose. If you're using braid, it could be spinning on the spool. 

[MickD]

Could be one of the above, but another possibility is if you took the reel apart the mechanism which controls the spool (thumb/clutch) lever may have become disengaged.  On some reels they have to be in a particular position when reassembled.  If it's disengaged it will not click back up when the reel handle is turned and the reel may be stuck in free spool.  If it's positioned correctly it will click down when pressed, then click back up when the reel handle is turned.  

[Jar11591]

I’m gonna assumed you’re using braid, and if that is the case then your line is just slipping on the spool. Just put some cheap nylon backing on the reel first and you’re good to go. Easy fix. 95% of the time when this problem happens it’s because your braid isn’t grabbing the spool. 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

If it's positioned correctly it will click down when pressed, then click back up when the reel handle is turned.  

I had this issue with one of my reels when I was cleaning them and took another look - silly me, I'd installed the A/R Ratchet backwards...flipped it and all was well again.

[Caiden24]

10 hours ago, thediscochef said:

Is there resistance to turning the handle to reel in line? Or does the handle just spin and accomplish nothing?

Either way that's probably a job for Delaware Valley Tackle

my handle just turns and accomplishes nothing.

7 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Is your drag too loose?

No the drag is tight

7 hours ago, Lead Head said:

Sounds like the drag is way loose. If you're using braid, it could be spinning on the spool. 

my drag is tight and there is no line on it

6 hours ago, MickD said:

Could be one of the above, but another possibility is if you took the reel apart the mechanism which controls the spool (thumb/clutch) lever may have become disengaged.  On some reels they have to be in a particular position when reassembled.  If it's disengaged it will not click back up when the reel handle is turned and the reel may be stuck in free spool.  If it's positioned correctly it will click down when pressed, then click back up when the reel handle is turned.  

Yeah it clicks down and back up so its not that. I have taken apart my reels before and I have no clue why its doing it.

6 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

I’m gonna assumed you’re using braid, and if that is the case then your line is just slipping on the spool. Just put some cheap nylon backing on the reel first and you’re good to go. Easy fix. 95% of the time when this problem happens it’s because your braid isn’t grabbing the spool. 

Yeah I have heard of that before but I don't have line on this reel. Also have you tried using electrical tape as backing? I usually use that and I have no problems.

5 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I had this issue with one of my reels when I was cleaning them and took another look - silly me, I'd installed the A/R Ratchet backwards...flipped it and all was well again.

oh ok, let me try that. Thanks!

[Fishingmickey]

11 hours ago, Caiden24 said:

On my bait caster the line spool won't rotate to reel in the line and it also can move in both directions if I move it manually with my hand. The anti reverse works on my handle though so its really weird. Thanks in advance for the help!

Can you see if the spool is turning? Look at the outer edges of the spool and see if you can see or feel it moving when you turn the handle. Does your level wind go back and forth? If the spool is turning and your using braid, like the others said it is the line slipping on the spool.

FM

[thediscochef]

7 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I had this issue with one of my reels when I was cleaning them and took another look - silly me, I'd installed the A/R Ratchet backwards...flipped it and all was well again.

If you took the reel apart, this is likely the culprit 

[Bigbox99]

3 hours ago, Caiden24 said:

my handle just turns and accomplishes nothing.

No the drag is tight

my drag is tight and there is no line on it

Yeah it clicks down and back up so its not that. I have taken apart my reels before and I have no clue why its doing it.

Yeah I have heard of that before but I don't have line on this reel. Also have you tried using electrical tape as backing? I usually use that and I have no problems.

oh ok, let me try that. Thanks!

You could also be missing a thin washer that sits over the bearing in the handle side plate and over the handle shaft.  Without it you may be tightening the drag star into the handle side plate but not actually compressing the drag washers.  I have made this mistake.

[Caiden24]

48 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

If you took the reel apart, this is likely the culprit 

On my reel it actually doesn’t matter which direction the piece is. But I found the problem, the problem was this piece there that I have highlighted it was backwards I think so it made it so the gear that sits on it that won’t go down all the way. I flipped it and pushed the gear down all the way and now it works. 

10 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

You could also be missing a thin washer that sits over the bearing in the handle side plate and over the handle shaft.  Without it you may be tightening the drag star into the handle side plate but not actually compressing the drag washers.  I have made this mistake.

Like a washer that goes after the drag washers on the outside of the side plate?

[MickD]

6 minutes ago, Caiden24 said:

I flipped it and pushed the gear down all the way and now it works. 

So you had taken the reel apart, right?  Another argument for going only one layer in, letting experts go further?  

[Bigbox99]

5 minutes ago, MickD said:

So you had taken the reel apart, right?  Another argument for going only one layer in, letting experts go further?  

He learned the correct way by messing up and learning from the mistake.  Now he can expand his mistakes to learn even more.  If you're not making mistakes you're not trying.

[Caiden24]

17 minutes ago, MickD said:

So you had taken the reel apart, right?  Another argument for going only one layer in, letting experts go further?  

Well I mean I like to try and figure stuff out and do it by myself if I can. The only problem is that I lose all the parts lol

14 minutes ago, Bigbox99 said:

He learned the correct way by messing up and learning from the mistake.  Now he can expand his mistakes to learn even more.  If you're not making mistakes you're not trying.

Exactly, I like to learn stuff instead of having someone do it all for me. I like to learn for myself

[thediscochef]

32 minutes ago, Caiden24 said:

On my reel it actually doesn’t matter which direction the piece is. But I found the problem, the problem was this piece there that I have highlighted it was backwards I think so it made it so the gear that sits on it that won’t go down all the way. I flipped it and pushed the gear down all the way and now it works. 

Like a washer that goes after the drag washers on the outside of the side plate?

Ah the pinion yoke was backwards. I've done that one before too. Oopsie daisies are part of learning

[MickD]

41 minutes ago, Caiden24 said:

Well I mean I like to try and figure stuff out and do it by myself if I can. The only problem is that I lose all the parts lol

Your choice.   My choice is to go no further than one layer in and I have found I don't need to go further unless it's been on the bottom of the lake for a few days.  Then I send it to DVT. 

[Lead Head]

In regards to losing parts...

Something I'm pretty sure I learned on this forum that is a tremendous help, the muffin pan. Grab a muffin pan and put parts in it as you remove them. This not only helps prevent you from losing parts, but gives you a guide as to what order they need to go back in.

[FrnkNsteen]

6 hours ago, Lead Head said:

In regards to losing parts...

Something I'm pretty sure I learned on this forum that is a tremendous help, the muffin pan. Grab a muffin pan and put parts in it as you remove them. This not only helps prevent you from losing parts, but gives you a guide as to what order they need to go back in.

I lay them out on a white dish towel in the order I remove them. That way I can just reverse the order when going back together. The basic parts to get down to the drag stack are muscle memory now. The camera comes out if I start digging deeper into the mechanism components mounted to the frame because they can be slightly different.

 

Where I have run into problems is bearing retainer spring clips, e-clips, or springs getting away from me and struggling to find them again! There have been a few times I knew something could get away so I grabbed a large ziplock bag and removed springs with my hands in the bag so if it gets away from my fingers it is likely captured inside the bag!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Sorry I was too late to help but the community came thru as usual. Busy time of year. Glad you figured it out. 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Busy time of year.

We got your back, Mike.

[cyclops2]

I looked at the exploded diagram.  Good grief Charlie Brown .  I will be dead if I bumped the table and those parts became a pile.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

16 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

I looked at the exploded diagram.  Good grief Charlie Brown .  I will be dead if I bumped the table and those parts became a pile.  

I receive my share of bag-o-parts orders. You wouldn’t be alone! Lol