Levelwind reel worm gear problem/question

[trollin4trout]

I just had a worm gear for the level winder go out on my Shimano Bantam 50. The guy at Ollie's said that if the line gets off track with the level wind guide- a lot of sideways pressure is put on the worm gear and pawl(the little pin that runs back and forth in the worm gear track).

I notice this to be the case quite often- the level wind guide is at one end of the spool and the line is coming off the other end. How does this get out of line? Is there a way to prevent this? Do others have this problem? Is it just the Bantam that has this problem or do all level winds work this way?

This reel did not have that much use since new before this happened- so I would like to either use it more "properly" or consider another brand if this is a common problem.

Thanks for any ideas/ thoughts, Jim

[Tillamook Born]

It is probably the way that the reel is made. With a lot of reels, the line guide won't track where the line is coming off of the spool. I'm not sure about that particular model, but I always check to make sure that the line guide follows where the line is coming off of the spool before I buy the reel. Just my thoughts.

TB

[GSD]

Jim, my first ? is, did they charge you for the repairs?

I just can't imagine any level wind reel wearing out the level wind worm gear unless you are using your reel to tow trucks! And even then, there would be other gears that would blow out long before that worm gear. I'm not familiar with the Shimano but looked up a schematic online and their worm gear assembly appears to be very similar to the Abu Garcia's that I have always used.
Sure seems to me that your Shimano must have had a defective part or possible damage not incured during fishing.
Just my opinion but if you had to pay Ollie's for repairs, you were taken.....

William

[Silver Hilton]

Ollie's isn't responsible for Shimano's design flaws, if it is in fact a design flaw. The Bantams are a lightweight reel, and lightweight means that parts are small. Wear happens.

[trollin4trout]

I just bought the parts for $5.80 and fixed it my self.

I was pulling pretty hard on a snag just before it malfunctioned. Maybe what SH said is true- it's just a lightweight reel.

[steelheadslayer]

I have the same reel and if you pull line out with the drag really loose the line guide won't track with your line. I just anchor up in the deep water and bounce back a lighter weight a long ways back and then when youn reel it in it is lined up again. By the way, you have one GREAT reel to use on URB's.

[GSD]

A horse of a different color!! :blush:
You should have told us about the snag pulling contest before. Now it makes more sense!
I wasn't implying Ollie's was responsible for Shimano flaws, but they are a Shimano authorized repair shop and would replace the broken parts if it was indeed a warranty issue. In this case it sounds like operator error

Back to :lurk: and just keeping my mouth shut

William