Mitchell Reel Forum

Oh my Gosh! Beautiful. When I joined this group I said I was not a collector but rather I was a user. I see the SlipperySlopeSyndrome that develops here. They sure are nice. Thanks for sharing Shannon772.

I was thinking to make up a spacer to lower the reel a bit on the rod.

there is always one funny guy! I'm still laughing, thanks

That sounds cool. I’ll have to research how that works.

I find there is much pleasure in the use of my 304. There is an issue which may keep me from using it while wearing gloves. The bail often hits my fingers and if i were wearing gloves I fear it would be a constant nuisance.
Have you any way of over-coming this issue?

As a new technician I could just see myself polishing that and causing a sloppy fit. My Knickname as a Kid on the farm was Wreck'em'all.

Great infö but why. While it seems trifle to me, a newly, it must be inportant...

Thank you sir!
I'll find a deal on one some day.

It's scary. The more I'm on this site the more I learn.

Good morning Glen and all, The 304 is so mechanical it sounds like music. The speed and sound is addictive during Beetle Spin season. I'm looking for something a bit bigger than the 300/400/410 size. While it is nice that I'm finally learning the model numbers I haven't held many of these reels yet....

I have some newer reels and I have many types of reels. I prefer the older stuff. I have a 304 that has worked its way into my heart and into my preferred rod and reels combo for lite casting work. It is perfect for slower speed offerings like spinners and some plastics. I like it for a couple of re...

Do you only ever change the pinon and main on reels? For instance on the 300, are the bevel gears ever replaced? That is where I think minor vibration develops some times. If I see that someone claims to have replaced the gears on a 300 does it alway pertain to the pinion and main?

Wallace it was uncomfortable feeling to take it apart and not find shims inside. And that seemingly from the factory as it didn't have any tell-tale sings of it ever having been open before. I had read about that on this site I believe that the # of shims can vary. However the other 300's I took apa...

Well after I lightly greased it and replaced the roller bearing in the crank I now have a very nice 410.
Its my first 410.
I like it.
It still spins backwards thought

I wiped them down with T9 Boeshield.
Might paint it someday.
Now I have a 400 to dig into.....

Thanks.

It came out nicely.

Conflatulations accepted...Actually I took 3 reels for $15. If I remember correctly it was the 410 and two 300's. Big spender, eh? It provides a steady flow for me to learn before getting on to more expensive reels.

Schrack, You are right the grease wasn't greasy anymore. Grunk! The reel is sparkly now and will be going back together next session. So I don't need to worry about the lack of shims? Just put it back as it was? By the way I found three Hollow ground screw drivers at a yard sale and am thrilled. The...

In the past I've asked many a novice questions and have been paid with good answers and helpful insights. Now a little give-back. Last evening I went through my 14 300's, 410 and 400. I picked the smoothest and quietest of the bunch and began to dis-assemble. Thinking of one message that many of you...

Glen it was not hard at all. I needed to get my ducks in a rows then it went 1 2 3. I said at the beginning that I needed to learn what it is that I'm looking at. I knew about the mechanics but did not understand the condition and what the condition needs to be. You have been a great help in "g...

The bearings seem to be okay. But they are soaking in marvel mystery oil for the afternoon.

I hope you Gentlemen would continue on as I go through this cleaning process. In the photo's you can see shiny areas and gray areas. Are the gray areas the result of oxidation? Am I ready for grease coating or shall I continue buffing. There doesn't seem to be any scale left on the surface and the s...

I'm new at collecting and I only like old reels. I don't so much collect as that I reinforce my fishing lineup with identical backups. Also, Like Don309, I give them to others. My plan is to collect 408's, don't have one yet but they're on the way, someday. I also collect a limited number of Johnson...

Photos 410 and more

Next, on my table is a 410. Got it apart and it is dry on the crank bearing. All greas is yellow and hardened up. Are new bearings available for these 410s?

Okay then. A little scotch bright and I’m good to go. I don’t use these in salt.
There are allot of orions here at Willow Grove NAS in PA. Relics from Cold War and other uses. Cool planes.

I love JB Weld. So if I were to find corrosionI should drill or grind it out and fill with JB weld?

Don, I got 4 more locally today. I'll go through them one at a time. All of these spin okay and obviously need cleaning One sounds like the gears are rough. Glen if the oxidation viewed on the attached photos isn't bad, and I'm only going to fish it is there any advantage to me cleaning it further? ...

Sage advice and I thank you.

When you said that, once clean, it could be protected with a coat of grease were you talking about rubbing on thin like wax on a car or thicker?
Thanks

Does this article explain properly? Is the author on the right track?

https://brightworkpolish.com/what-is-th ... corrosion/

Wow Glen that is a good Kick-Off to my quest for understanding. There has been a Temco Swift sitting at a local airport for 40 years that needs your help. I was into airport hopping for a while when younger and knew where many of the old project planes died. What an era! In and out of old Taylorcraf...

Hello again folks, Sometime back in previous threads someone mentioned treating a reel for corrosion. It was in reference to a reel I had asked for help on and it was suggested that perhaps their were better reels out there for me to learn on. That is unless I wanted to fully restore it which would ...

I find this subject intriguing and confusing. And perhaps it matters and perhaps not. I've not seen long term studies with controls that would support defendable conclusions. My Son is a refiner and he was noncommittal. I had heard not to use 3-in-one on tightly toleranced items and that wherever it...

There is so much info on Fiberglassflyrodders. I don't have any love for bamboo beyond the fact it is pretty to look at. I like early Hollow fiberglass for fly fishing. I have re-wrapped or re-worked a couple of Wright McGill fly rods with excellant results and hope to do the same for spinning rods ...

My family has always used 3 in One for our sewing machines and I wish I know more specifically why not to. Perhaps it is just the era. Maybe the older machine, our old singers, were more appropriate to benefit from 3 in One than todays machines. I just got a used brother and hope to have it up-and-r...

Goodmorning Schrack, Could you elaborate on the term reel wrenches?
I am new to reel repair and would like to know how you folk find the right screw drivers and wrenches to use to limit damage and scratches. I using automotive tools and I figure that there must be a better option.

I guess I'm not too far off then, Judging by what I see here. I have a cleaning schedule and it has worked for two years so far as that in all the longer I've been cleaning reels. It is as follows: Supplies -I slice hotel keys and/or old credit cards into scrapers and toothpicks to remove all old gr...

I will only use WD-40 for roadwork style loosening and that rarely. I will read the post Don referred to and perhaps take up this post again. Isn't it fun having all this free info to choose from?

Good Advice!
Thanks

No it’s perfect. Fishing today.

That’s my answer. Thanks Don.

Is The Mitchell Reel supposed to be primarily lubed with oil only? The lube ports don't seem to offer very much access for a substance as thick as grease. I mostly collect old spin-cast reels that are frozen and so are acquired for a reasonable price. Most of these reels are full of dried grease and...

you bet! I also have a 400 and a 410 I'll be keeping. 300's show up allot in my area and I may as well grab them. They fish well and are versatile.

Lol. Funny now. Sorry that I gave pause.

These mechanical aspects are interesting. The 302 that I have seems nice enough but is too big for general use. I have squired 6 or so 300’s. I may use them as trading pieces to get into 308/408 sized reels.

Thanks for improving my grasp on these models.

Yes that is correct. Today I fish with two 8 yr old grandchildren. They will hold a 304 for the first time. They currently use Zebco 33's.

It sounds Idylic. Are there many sailboats on it?

with the help of a friend I discovered that the 301, 302, 304, 308, 408, 908 all turn counter-clockwise. Perhaps all right hand wind as well turn that way.

Apparently I had offended some with my comment about the small end or the big and It was a reference from a famous book showing how it is hard to see everything eye-to-eye. My intention was to be light-hearted. It was not in any way intended as an insult. I greatly value this forum and in the future...

Perhaps my old joke goes to far. In Jonathan Swift's book, "Gulliver's Travels", the Lilliputions could'n agree on which way to do something. It seems reel rotation of Mitchells may be the same way. I like your way of thinking about the matter, thanks.

Do you break you eggs on the small end or the large end?

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