Pflueger President Reel Problem

[jb_adams]

I have been a fan of Pflueger until recently.  The bale on my spinning reel (President series) keeps closing on me during the cast.  When I open the bale, hold the line with my finger and then cast, the bale closes like I never had it open. The bait comes flying back at me and the drag zipps at me because the bait didn't go anywhere.  At first, my partner asked if I was going to get the bait in the water.  Then the second time, then the third time, the fourth, etc.  I gave up and laid down that rod and never used it the rest of the trip.

It appears the internal spring/mechanism that holds the bale open is weak or wore out.  Anyone ever experience this?  I like my reel but if this is the result, off to Shimano I go.  Everyone told me to get the Shimano, I hope they don't make a believer out of me.

[Muddy]

It has never happened to me. One of my buddies had it happen, on a 5 year old reel, that was kept in his car trunk on a 2 piecer. He broke the spring where it is attached to the rotor, by crushing it with his spare tire.  This is why I got into the habit of closing the bail by hand as a suggestion from Road Warrior I believe.

Go to the Pflueger site get the service addy and the 800 # they will fix it for you. Is it still in warranty?

[Raul]

The spring on the bail mechanism is KAPUT !

Not a rare event I may say specially if the reel makes use of an "A" spring for that purpose as part of the bail mechanism.

[.RM.]

Just adding my piddly 2¢.

If the bail spring/mechanism was actually bad, broken, or even KAPUT,

the bail wouldn't stay open at all, and would just flop around.

[Paul Roberts]

Yeah, something else is going on. Take it apart and see what's amiss. I assume you have the schematic? I've had to re-adjust, or replace things, in spinning reels before -especially bail (sp?) mechanisms.

[dodgeguy]

i've had that problem on a lot of different brands including shimano.this is why the pros open and close by hand.no bail issues that way.

[Sam]

JB,

Your experience is why I carry extra reels with me when I fish.

It is easier to change out a reel than to lose and entire rig if a reel fails.

I do not own any Flooger spinning reels but Flooger is a good company so give them a call and maybe they will make the repairs for free.

If not, then send it to the Reel Mechanic for a fast and lasting fix.

P.S.  I guess this is why I have only Shimano reels other than one Flooger President baitcaster and an Ambassador for salt water fishing.

[thefishingone]

try loosening the two screws by the bail circled in the picture. loosen till you can flip the bail open and start reeling and the bail flips itself down.

<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e108/chanrocks93/?action=view&current=images.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e108/chanrocks93/images.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[loomis spookwalker]

I think for the price the Pflueger President is the best for the money. A good alt. would be the Shimano Sonora or Sahara.  Pflueger is the high end line of Shakespere.

[jb_adams]

try loosening the two screws by the bail circled in the picture. loosen till you can flip the bail open and start reeling and the bail flips itself down.

<a href="http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e108/chanrocks93/?action=view&current=images.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e108/chanrocks93/images.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I tried "Loosening" and that was a bad thing.  I heard a click and then the bale wouldn't operate correctly.

So, I ended up taking the bale apart, the spring shot across the room and almost lost it, then I found the problem.  THere are two screws with one each on each side of one end of the bale wire.  One screw that held the cover was stripped so the part that holds the bale wire in place was loose and causing the problem.

LOng story short, I got it fixed and it's working like new again.  I think closing the bale by cranking wore the screw loose and bored the hole.  I had to shim some scotch tape into the hole so the screw would bite something.  I plan on getting some locktite or something and making a more permanent fix.

[dodgeguy]

good idea and learn to operate the bail by hand.

[jb_adams]

good idea and learn to operate the bail by hand.

Yep, lesson learned. :-?

[Paul Roberts]

You should be able to get it to work. All reels need tweaking/servicing -at least those most of us can afford, and I wouldn't be surprised this is true with the latest "extravagants".

Take it apart and see what's amiss, before you send it to the parts bin, or write off the manufacturer.

[The Rooster]

I'd probably put something a little stronger into the screw hole.  I usually use a tooth pick tip broken off in the hole to help with stripped screws on things.  You might even think about filling the entire hole with something that will dry decently hard but remain soft enough to twist the screw back down into it again.  That would be almost like a factory new fix there.  

[Paul Roberts]

Ooops! I see you got it working again. Scratch my last post.

It's always a good idea to check screws on all reels, every now and then, as they can loosen. Some reels have minor flaws too; Once you understand them, you can work with them.

[jb_adams]

I'd probably put something a little stronger into the screw hole. I usually use a tooth pick tip broken off in the hole to help with stripped screws on things. You might even think about filling the entire hole with something that will dry decently hard but remain soft enough to twist the screw back down into it again. That would be almost like a factory new fix there.

I do the toothpick trick too on many things but this hole was too small for even a toothpick.  Scotch tape was the only material I had lying around at the time and it has tention on it so using threadlocker probably won't work unless I can use a small grip vise and keep the tension on it until it sets.  SO, scotch tape was my quick fix.  I think it's going to hold for a long time too.