This is an impartial Technical review of the Tica Spinfocus series of reels, along with a step-by-step Service Tutorial.
Remove the handle, Drag Knob and spool.
Aluminium spool, Solid Drag knob and handle with a click button for retraction and storage.
The Drag Knob has a good waterproof seal...
Remove the Spacers, Click leaf spring and retainer washer.
Now remove the Retainer screw, lock nut and the Rotor.
Rotor is made of Composite/Plastic and is "computer designed balanced".
View of the Roller Clutch Anti-reverse mechanism. Note the configuration of the springs.
Unscrew the Clutch retainer plate. PAY ATTENTION in not losing the springs!
Unattach the springs and store safely.
Remove the 2 Rear covers
Unscrew the LH Side plate
View of the Drive Gear and Oscillating slider.
Remove the Drive gear bearing and the 2 spacer washers
Unscrew the Drive shaft and remove.
Now remove the Drive Gear, the Oscillating slider, Oscillating Cam
Like so...
Components of the gearing mechanism are metal of the "pot-metal" type, Zinc Alloy, unpolished and stamped.
Unscrew the Anti-reverse lever at the rear of the reel.
Reove the Anti-reverse Cam shaft
Remove the Anti-reverse assembly in one piece. Do NOT disassemble.
Unscrew the bearing retainer and remove
Remove the Pinion gear and bearing along with the Anti-reverse Inner sleeve.
The Pinion gear is brass.
Examination of the Reel frame reveals it to be a plastic of some sort. This is a disappointing find, as the material used is not going to be very hard wearing and one can scrape shavings off.
In the depression formed for the bearing, one can see how shavings of plastic have come off after normal use. (Green circles).
The Oscillating gear and Pinion gear fit directly onto the reel frame, without any bushings or bearing to allow for pressure and wear on the frame. This is not so much of a problem with metal frame reels, but with plastic frames, this will lead to rapid wear of the reel and is a major shortfall.
This is what we have so far...
Examination of the Anti-reverse reveals a rudimentary system, simple and effective.
I do NOT recommend you opening this bearing up. The Anti-reverse pawl (the circular piece with the slots in it) fits back onto the reel in a very specific way. To arrange the slots on the bearing itself to fit the Pawl slots, and then to fit it back onto the reel so that it engages the Anti-reverse Cam was a MAJOR mission!!
Rather leave this bearing intact, in just the same way as you removed it from it's housing.
Once you've cleaned the reel, regreased and relubed, it's time to re-assemble.
Replace the Pinion gear, Side plate bearing and Oscillating gear.
All these components fit onto the plastic reel frame as already discussed.
Replace the Oscillating Cam.
Place the Oscillating slider, lining up the notches.
Slide the Main shaft in until it engages the slider. Line up the screw hole and rescrew.
Once fixed, place the Drive gear, engaging the RHS bearing.
At this stage, rotate the Pinion gear to ensure the slider functions properly.
Replace the bearing and washers on the Drive gear.
Once satisfied, screw the Side Plate back on.
Replace the bearing retainer and screws.
And the Roller clutch Inner sleeve.
Now replace the Anti-reverse bearing in one piece.
Slide the Anti-reverse Cam shaft into place and keep the configuration as it is in the picture.
Replace the Roller clutch retainer, lining up the slots and screw into place.
This would be the ideal sequence of replacement of this section....
Replace the spring...
Replace the Cam spring.
Now screw in the Anti-reverse lever at the rear of the reel, making sure the Cam flange fits flush with the reel frame...
Like so....
Replace the Rear covers...
On the Rotor, one can service the Line Roller. Unscrew the mechanism as shown below. Inside the line roller is a Bearing and a bushing. Nice! The Line roller itself is titanium coated, ready for braid.
Replace the Rotor, the Lock nut and retainer screw.
Then the shaft components...
Let's have a look at the Drag system....
Was gob-smacked at the finding!!
Proper Carbon fibre Drag washers!! Woven fibre nogal!! Amazing!
This now explains the initial problems that were found on this reel through excessive loading. This reel has such a powerful drag that the supporting components cannot keep up with it! The plastic reel frame and stem will deform under a locked drag setting. This reel's frame design cannot possibly withstand the drag pressure attained inside a metal spool.
Easy way round this is to NEVER overtighten the drag on this reel. The frame and reel stem will bend.
Another excellent feature of this reel is the serviceable handle with 2 ball bearings inside! Very nice for a reel in this class.
