Plueger Purist Baitcast problem

[Ultralight Maniac]

I have had mine apart and found no obvious reason for it to do what it does.

After reading the reviews from others who had bought the same reel and experienced the same problems. I'm saying at this point it is some kind of design flaw.

Whether it was improperly lubricated at the factory or some material the pawl or gear are made of causing it to not work smoothly when moisture gets in the gear I don't know.

The problem is intermittent and from my experience with it, on the water, appears to be triggered by moisture on the worm gear as the problem will go away, at least it has for me, if you switch reels and the worm gear has time to dry out.

What I do know is that giving it a squirt of water repellent fixed, or masked, the problem and I was able to enjoy my time on the water.

Even if it is just a temporary fix it will get me through the fall months until I take my reels in to be cleaned over the winter months or I send it back to Pfleuger before my warranty expires.

I do however appreciate your help.

[dulouz]

This problem is just bugging the **** out of me.  I spent the last half hour outside with a practice plug trying to recreate the problem by spraying the worm gear with water.  It worked just fine.  What if it isn't the water itself, but particles suspended in the water?  I usually fish in a murky farm pond or back waters of a very muddy/sandy river. 

On a side note... I have Cabela's reel I have cleaned once in the year I have owned it.  It has fished the nastiest pond scum, and been covered in it.  Never once, have I had this problem with that reel. 

[Ol� Dirty Basstard]

Thank you everyone for all of your help, but I am still having problems. When the reel is dry it works fine, and the more moisture that gets on the worm gear the more it binds. Someone suggested using grease instead of oil on the worm gear. That helped, but the problem is still there. Does that still sound like the pawl/worm gear are bad?

This could be making your problem worse. The general rule of thumb is grease gears & oil bearings (and things that spin). At this point, dulouz, I think your best bet is to take apart that reel, clean it and re-lube with grease and oil in the right spots. If the problem persists, contact Pflueger for a recommendation and/or parts. It's not such a risk because the reel already isn't working right.

[dulouz]

I have tried cleaning it several times.  I used a little oil, a lot of oil, a little grease, a lot of grease, and spraying reel butter all over it.  It is so inconsistent.  Sometimes it works perfect, others it barely turns.  I have done all I can do and have found a reputable reel service a short drive away.  It will go visit the dr. when the season is over. 

[dulouz]

For anyone still interested... I had a friend look at my reels and he found a simple thing I had overlooked.  The worm gear is housed in a tube (more or less), and the line guide assembly goes all the way around the tube.  The problem was that I had not been lubricating the OUTSIDE of the worm gear housing.  zOnce that got some oil on it my reels performed much better. 

[dodgeguy]

that's part of what i meant in my post.grime can get on that tube and bind up the levelwind.