Memories before the Zonda, IP and FX-es hit the market under the Megabass tag, one can only relate performance tuned Reels with the likes of i'Ze factory or RCS for Daiwa Reels. Founder and CEO of Megabass Yuki Ito also played the role to tune some of the memorable reels for Daiwa. One of Tigris' customer's Alphas ito ai was sent in - for parts initially, until we found a way to resurrect it.
 |
| The first few of See Through side plate design cue. |
We receive the reel in a state that's near 'unfishable'. The owner dumped it to cold storage after his last trip with the reel which was like some 30 years ago :P. It came with not only coarse cranks, we found out that the side plate that holds the MagForce magnet housing was broken. Adding more to the mess is how the side plate not being able to lock itself properly with the reel body. We scratched our heads and go "shyt".
 |
Top: ito-ai sideplate
Bottom: alphas sideplate |
For those whom are good in picking differences in pictures, take a look at the picture above you will find that the piece of plastic supposedly used to lock and align the side plate. Throwing into the picture is a side plate from a normal Daiwa Alphas.
We fused the magnet housing with the side plate using epoxy. This pretty much solved the side plate "sticking to the main body" part. yet we find that no matter how we lock the side plate in place, the magforce control clicker has some difficulties spinning right or left. We then figured out that there's a whole chunk of plastic that's gone missing. How on earth this reel's being abused in the first place?
With some scrap plastic and some shims we mended the missing mounting points, gave it a test - it's a fit! Spinning the magforce controller is now easier than before. Kudos epoxy and scrap plastics!
We go on to tackle the coarse cranking. Disassembling the reel we found that it's heavily laid with grease, grime, dirt, literally stuck everywhere on the reel.
 |
| Dirt, grime, grease, weeds, chocolate... you name it |
A look at the red main gear - kind of a trademark for this reel is the red accent of the main gear in red, as well as the pinion shaft cover piece is in red. The main gear - also covered in greasy mess.
 |
| Greasy mess |
A look at the worm shaft showing a lot of foreign object sticking in it. Main suspect of funny cranking feeling. Let's clean it up.
 |
| Blackened and dirty wormshaft. Isn't that a piece of weed? |
Gave the reel a rough but time consuming cleaning (the dirt and grime won't come off easily). This proves that this reel has not been in the servicing bay for a very very long time. Off finally it's cleaned and reassembled.
 |
| Stripped down, cleaned, spot greased, oiled. all good to go. |
Note to self-service anglers : never put a whole slab of grease to the internals of your reels. It will just mess up the inside of the reel and cause you cranking issues / operation issues.
Another trademark of the Alphas ito ai - is the bare aluminum finish on the body. Half translucent plastic covering the side and front, half aluminum finishing on the body and handle side with the bare aluminum finish. Coupled with the i'ze factory handle - one will not forget a hyper reel of the yesteryear.
No comments:
Post a Comment