ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
General Angling Topics => REEL TECH, SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE => Topic started by: REEFMAN on November 25, 2012, 04:09:56 PM
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(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 1.jpg)
Here is a combined review and Service Tutorial on the DAIWA SALTIGA LD 50 HS.
LD= LEVER DRAG
HS=HYPERSPEED
Why Hyperspeed? Well Daiwa have come up with a blitz fast reel - 7.1:1 ratio! Reeling 1.3 metres a of line for every turn of the handle! And this, without compromising anything in the Torque strength of the wind. Very impressive. It accomplishes this with a massive oversized Drive gear, made from Stainless Steel.
The Saltiga Lever Drag was modelled on the hugely popular Saltist Lever Drag that was brought out a few years ago. The Saltist was more or less a duplicate of the Avet reel design.
The Daiwa Hype, from their website:
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 2.jpg)
And here are the specs:
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 3.jpg)
Claimed weight is 25oz = 708 grams. With line on, this one weighed 774g, which is quite heavy. About 80g heavier than a Trinidad 30.
First impressions of the reel - Solid, solid, solid... just oozing Saltiga class. Extreme high tolerance manufacturing and build quality.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 4.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 5.jpg)
This is the Left Hand Side plate. Can you see any screws? Nope. Because there aren't any. It's a machined one piece Side Plate and frame out of a block of aircraft grade Aluminium.
This feature makes this reel about as solid and strong as they come...
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 6.jpg)
Interesting that all these reels are initially designed for Offshore Boat use. But Daiwa have seen what we South African anglers do with their boat reels, turning them into R/S casting machines! So there are a number of features making this Lever Drag reel one of the few Lever Drags that have a proper Freespool function, allowing it to become castable, and user-friendly for Surf fishermen.
Freespool out the box, without lubing, I achieved 2min 30 sec freespool!! This is probably due to the spool technology of the "floating shaft" principle.
Another great feature for the R/S anglers is the high Crossbar! Allowing big leaders and knots without compromising line capacity... Nice!!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 7.jpg)
Many people are worried about using Lever Drags for R/S purposes for fear of knocking the Lever Drag open into freespool, but the lever drag is no different in function and appearance to the Clutch lever on a Star Drag reel, so this should not be a limiting factor at all. The Lever Drag is quite stiff, depending on the pre-set Knob tension, and would be as difficult to knock into freespool as it is with a Lever clutch.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 8.jpg)
Let's dismantle the reel and go through it...
Remove the Retainer screw and plate, plus the Handle nut and handle.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 9.jpg)
Excellent handle knob. Big and comfortable, fitting the palm like a Power handle.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 10.jpg)
Good waterproofing throughout the reel! A big plus.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 11.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 12.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 13.jpg)
The pre-set Cam has an O-ring seal that fits really tightly into the female Cam... watertight!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 14.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 15.jpg)
Removing the Side Plate...
All the screws on this reel were placed with Loctite... a REEL pain in the butt to try remove!! One or 2 of the screws almost had their heads stripped trying to remove...
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 16.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 17.jpg)
And here is the only design flaw that I can find in the reel... one of those Ambassadeur type Dog Pawls, with flimsy leaf springs that clamp onto the ratchet. No spring retainer to force engagement of the Dog should the AR bearing fail. Disappointing finding this. If the Dog was spring retained, or better still double Dogs, it would have been so much better.
Also, the way in which the gears are stacked, it is VERY difficult to replace the Ratchet gear inside the blades of the Dog Pawl, without having to prise them open slightly... the chop who designed this needs a slap about the ears!! C'mon Daiwa... time to upgrade your Pawl system!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 18.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 19.jpg)
Another huge plus for a free floating spool shaft reel... a Centrifugal Brake system!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 20.jpg)
Inspection of the frame shows none of those machining swirls that are so often found on the inside of a machined metal reel. The inside of the Saltiga is smooth and seamless!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 21.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 22.jpg)
Proper oversized Carbontex Drag washer that fits against a solid steel metal Drag Plate. The Washer was dry, so we need to grease this with Cal's to prevent Drag spike.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 23.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 24.jpg)
Lots of bearings (6) in this reel. All sealed CRBB bearings. Not crazy about sealed bearings, one can never see whether they are properly greased or not without removing the seals.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 25.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 26.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 27.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 28.jpg)
You can dismantle the Drag Plate if you need to, but this shouldn't be necessary for a standard service.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 29.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 30.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 31.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 32.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 33.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 34.jpg)
The anti-reverse Roller bearing. Quite a short bearing, I expected a longer one, considering the way Anti-reverse bearings are developing.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 35.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 36.jpg)
Back inside the Side Plate...
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 37.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 38.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 39.jpg)
Clean all parts in a bath of Benzine, scrub with a toothbrush. Open all sealed bearings up, regrease. Spool bearings can be oiled.
Paint the body and frame of the reel with a thin layer of grease to prevent any corrosion and help with waterproofing.
Putting the reel back together...
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 40.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 41.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 42.jpg)
When replacing the Dod Pawl, it should be first attached to the Ratchet. Position the Ratchet over the square tubing of the collar, without seating fully. Line up the retainer plate for the Dog Pawl and screw it in place. Before tightening all the way, wiggle the Ratchet down on to the square tubing - this will help prevent bending of the Pawl leaves. This is tricky to do. Take care.
Test the functioning of the Dog Pawl several times. If the Pawl doesn't engage properly, then the leaves of the Pawl are too wide apart and should be gently bent together to engage the Ratchet better.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 43.jpg)
Grease the Drag plate components properly, especially the O-Ring seal.
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 44.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 45.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 46.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 47.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 48.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 49.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 50.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 51.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 52.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 53.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 54.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 54B.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 55.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 56.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 57.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 58.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 59.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 60.jpg)
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA LD/Saltiga 61.jpg)
Congratulations! All done!!
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA%20LD/Saltiga%204.jpg)
Conclusion: Boasting a 15kg Drag, (who will ever need that!) precision setting of the Drag, superb freespool and great handling makes this reel one of the finest masterpieces I've ever opened. Having cast with one and seen how easy it is to control, using the preset Drag control button just like a Cast Control knob, it's now a piece of cake to use this reel in the R/S facet. A touch on the heavy side, but nevertheless a beast of a reel. If only they made the Anti-reverse mechanism more solid and predictable, this would be the reel to beat all reels!
A masterpiece of engineering!
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(clap) ... great tutorial , quite different to the star drag saltiga's , but really looks solid with some nice innovative features .. :win: from the Daiwa stable again ... :corrct:
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Reefz any method to make the ratchet any louder mine is not hard enough
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:happ: What can I say? Thanks 1000 times over! I have been waiting for this for a long time. Great tut Tony. Now I can start on my reels.
Cyclone I sit with the same thing as you and the only way I see us improoveing this is to cut the springs a bit shorter. I have done this to a Telica and it worked a charm.
:+ cred: To you Tony.
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Thanks Fritz
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Wow that is seriously different to your average star drag reel! Very cool though!
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Reefz you done it again aweome tutorial :tkx: :+ cred: . Looks like a reel that can take the punch any idea what this reel would retail for? ....and after that my scroll wheel on my mouse needs to be serviced :hnthnt:
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Mike they are about R3500-00 if not mistaken.
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Just saw, they are on special right now at Basil Manning for R2800!! :shk Limited stock.
Normally about R4200?
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Just saw, they are on special right now at Basil Manning for R2800!! :shk Limited stock.
Normally about R4200?
Just my luck.... :unhap
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Just saw, they are on special right now at Basil Manning for R2800!! :shk Limited stock.
Normally about R4200?
:shk :shk .. thats a good price ..... (bat ... you got enuff reels ..... :rotfl .
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You can never have enough... :hnthnt:
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Thanks for a great tut Tony! :+ cred: Also huge thanks for servicing my reel! :tkx:
Oh and :dwa: rulz!
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Awesome article Reefman :tkx: . May I ask what backing and topshot this reel has been spooled with, with reference to breaking strain, diameter and length. I'd love to own a Saltiga but can't afford a Stardrag version at the moment so I'm considering one of these.
Thanks again
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This is Weedeater's reel... I'm sure he'll come back to us on how much line he got on...
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Awesome tut Reefz!
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the saltiga leverdrag is something special. I wont say its the next big thing since the latest justin bieber cd, but it does have its place. The drag on that thing is something you have to experience for yourself.
like I always say buy what you can afford. ANY reel can catch any fish (obviously there are limits).
@reefman - WHERE DO YOU GET THE TIME TO DO ALL THIS ????? great post!!!! (clap)
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Awesom review/Tut Tony :udman: ... still don't know how you find the time to do all these in detail reviews and tuts :dunno: ...
Daiwa have certainly put alot of thought into this reel..
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Awesome article Reefman :tkx: . May I ask what backing and topshot this reel has been spooled with, with reference to breaking strain, diameter and length. I'd love to own a Saltiga but can't afford a Stardrag version at the moment so I'm considering one of these.
Thanks again
Kamesh
600m of 50lb Berkley Whiplash and I managed to fit on 150m of .55 topshot (measured) sans leader. At time of the tut the reel had significantly less topshot (Ultima) on it due to me having stripped most of it off due to line burn, on the last day of the Kosi trip.
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Thanks Weedeater, much appreciated.
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Great tut, Reefz. HUGE :resp: for your ability to make even the toughest reel service look like a walk in the park. :udman:
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:happ: What can I say? Thanks 1000 times over! I have been waiting for this for a long time. Great tut Tony. Now I can start on my reels.
Cyclone I sit with the same thing as you and the only way I see us improoveing this is to cut the springs a bit shorter. I have done this to a Telica and it worked a charm.
:+ cred: To you Tony.
Fritz tried by making the spring shorter but it still sounds the same maybe somebody has got some other advice in making the ratchet louder
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:happ: What can I say? Thanks 1000 times over! I have been waiting for this for a long time. Great tut Tony. Now I can start on my reels.
Cyclone I sit with the same thing as you and the only way I see us improoveing this is to cut the springs a bit shorter. I have done this to a Telica and it worked a charm.
:+ cred: To you Tony.
Fritz tried by making the spring shorter but it still sounds the same maybe somebody has got some other advice in making the ratchet louder
Did you make both springs shorter? Reckon you just need to make the stiffness of the springs tighter, so that it's ore difficult to move the clicker point - so that it whacks harder against the ratchet?
(http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/articles/SALTIGA%20LD/Saltiga%2021.jpg)
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Agree with Tony.
I will fidle with mine as soon as I get the guts, hopefully this week and then let you know. If I am not mistaken the Telica had only one spring.
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Wow, have just made up my mind, I'm buying one!
Thanks for all the info!!!!
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Guys! for those of you that service your own reels. I have a small warning for you on doing this.
On the opposite side of your handle inside the reel.(left hand side). You have a small cup/hole that the spool shaft fits in. DO NOT fill this space with grease. Just make sure you have some lube in this spot. The fit between shaft and hole is so tight that when you put the shaft back inside with to much grease the spool WILL NOT disengage into free spool. I spent the whole afternoon learning this and I came so close to marry the reel with my garage floor.
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Amazing the tolerances of this reel... such tight fit that a layer of grease will affect the entire function...~!
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It is the first time i see the leverdrag in its undies. I don't think it was built for distance casting if you have a look at all the exstra attatchments to the spool. One can't think that a real with a simple drag system like that cannhave a great drag like this. Shos you why Daiwa is one the best reals out there.
Thanks reef for your time and effort
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Reefz any method to make the ratchet any louder mine is not hard enough
I had a nother look at mine last night to try and increase the sound of the rachet going of.
Remove the spool, look into the frame and take the spring on the left. I removed three turns of the spring and the nound is better and louder. Only shorten the left.
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Ya wish I could get my Trini 30 ratchet to work properly... :cnfzd
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Hi, thanks for the tutorial.
I seek help in understanding how to remove the nut below the present cam and strike lever.
Is it necessary to remove it in order the split the spool from the right side plate?
Which direction to loosen? Clockwise or anti-clockwise?
I have a SALD40HS and have tried to loosen the nut with no success, and the nut is almost rounded.
Help please. Many thanks.
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Fishtight, if my memory serves me correctly, it wasn't necessary to undo that nut. It was yonks ago that I did this tut and haven't opened one since then, but in the series of photo's above, I removed the side plate without undoing that nut?
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Just saw, they are on special right now at Basil Manning for R2800!! :shk Limited stock.
Normally about R4200?
Stoppit!!!!!! Awsome mechanics...and a leke tute!!!!! :udman:
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Fishtight, if my memory serves me correctly, it wasn't necessary to undo that nut. It was yonks ago that I did this tut and haven't opened one since then, but in the series of photo's above, I removed the side plate without undoing that nut?
I'm referring to the hex shaped nut beneath the pre set cam. If you don't remove it, how do you:
1) separate the spool from right hand side plate;
2) remove the spool shaft from the spool.
In your pics showing the pre set cam during re-installation, you can see the hex shaped nut.
In your pics showing the spool shaft separated from the spool, the hex shaped nut is no longer on the spool shaft.
Regards,
fishtight
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I'm referring to this nut shown by arrow in the pic. The spool shaft protrudes out from the nut, no?
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In this two pics of yours, the hex shaped nut is no longer there on the spool shaft.
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Ok that Hex "Nut" belongs to the Cam Preset that fits inside the Lever itself. See the Schematic. It doesn't unscrew at all, but is just a means of attachment for the Cam. The Spool shaft fits through it freely. I enclose a Photo of the side plate removed from the reel, but the Nut is still there...
It only comes out if you dismantle the entire Lever Drag system.
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I see. So I should be able to pull out the whole spool assembly after I remove the lever system...
Mine is stuck somehow even after I removed the lever system. Not sure what's the reason.
Let me try if I can yank it out somehow.
Thank you so very much for your advice.
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Would suggest that you unscrew the Side plate first and remove it, spool should come out easily after that.
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I have 2 Saltiga twin speed lever drag reels, took the 1 apart & couldn't put it back together.Took the other one apart to see where I went wrong. Big mistake, now had 2 reels where I couldn't get the twin speed mechanism working. After fiddling around for about 12 hours, yes persistence, gave up & took them to Kingfisher to sort out! Moral of the story, Sometimes it's worth one's sanity to get someone else to service the more complicated reels.
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Hi Tony
I got a Saltiga LD 60 2 speed and stripped it to service. I can not get the drag lever off from the side plate. The pre set cam A does not want to come out.
At this stage the drag lever does not want to move back, it is stuck.
I need some help please.
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Geepers Piet, I last opened this reel 6 years ago... I really can't remember how that Lever works. I never removed it during the tut, which suggests to me that it was difficult or specialized equipment needed. :dunno:
Edit:
oK SO I did some snooping around and the chaps at Alan Tani have discussed this problem...
try this thread.... http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9812.0 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9812.0)
NB: Just remember that the Hexagonal "nut" is not a nut at all! You can't remove it.
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Thanks for the reply Reefs.
I spoke to Mike Roger at Kingfisher and he recons that it should come out, if it does not want to it can have a little corrosion build up.
So to be on the safe side i will have another go at it and if I fail I will rather send it to them
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Hi Reefs
I spoke to Jonathan of Jonathan's reel repairs and he informed me that there is a circlip but not easy to see. After checking and double checking my wife and I manged to get it out and all was well.
I am so relieved after spending so much money to buy the reel. All that remains now is to clean and assemble.
Thanks again for your inputs.
:uarocks
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Ja Jonathan is the pro. :)