chugbug5

Hi All, Thanks for the additional comments about the bearings. I n case someone else may be interested in this disassembly sometime in the future, I though I'd add the following information... When I posted my original inquiry, I also sent an email to Tica asking the same question just in case I didn't get any suggestions here. I ddin't expect to get a response, but suprisingly I got a reply back today. They stated that I should be able to pry it off with a (flat blade) screwdriver without damaging it, which I did and the first one I tried (this time with more confidence) it came in one peice. Turns out the other KEY WASHER that was back further was metal and came right off. Ready to hit the water again! Tight Lines...Chugbug5

Hi All, Thanks for taking the time to reply! To answer the questions posed: Schematics... YES, I do have the schematics, and the parts (shown in my photo) ARE labeled and listed as separate parts, not an assembly (Key Washer - TWO bearings and a sleeve - metal washer - Click Spring & Holder). See additional attachment) Shape of the Key Washer and shaft... The shaft is FLAT on the sides with notches top and bottom. Rotaing Key... Unfortunately the Key Washer can't be rotated. More bad news is that even if I did get that one off, there is another larger one behind the click spring (not visable). The good news though is that all the parts I need to check are accessable without removing the Key Washer. After closer inspection, I found that the two bearings (visible in the photo) are sealed, so I couldn't do anything with them if I did get them off. They spin smooth, so for now I don't realy need to tear it down further. I just cleaned the shaft behind the parts (not visible) and added a little bit of new grease. But in the meantime I'll email Tica to see if I can get new washers for when the time comes that I have to tear any of them down to replace bearings. I have FIVE of these reels (two 2500's & three 3000's) that all have the same size washers, so if the bearing do start to fail, I may need quite a few new washers. Thanks again for taking the time to post! Tight Lines... Chugbug5

Hello All, I have a very specific question that I hope there is someone here that can answer for me. I have several Tica Libra spinning reels that I purchased back in the early 2000's. I haven't used them in quite a while, so before taking them out again I wanted to tear them down and give them a good clean & lube. BUT as soon as I took off the spool, I was stopped dead in my tracks with a little white nylon "Key Washer" that doesn't seem to want to come off (at least not easily). It appears to be set into a notch in the spool shaft, so in order to remove it, it would need to be pulled up out of the groove (basically expanding it) onto the larger shaft in front of it. But I'm afraid that doing so might break it, and I'd hate to turn a perfectly good fishing reel inoperable just from a broken nylon washer. Anyone have experience with these reels and know if it's OK to force it off (and it won't break)? Would a little heat work without distoring the washer? I thought maybe some of you guys that work on these would know how to deal with it. If not does Tica still offer replacement parts for them? I'd hate to think they'd make a reel that couldn't be taken down to clean and lube without breaking off a part every time you do so. To help better understand what I'm dealing with, I attached a photo of the said washer, AND a graphic I made up that shows how the washer is seated into the slot (or key) in the shaft (you can't really see it in the photo). Thanks...Chugbug5

Thanks DVT, I didn't see your post until after I added mine and the page refreshed. Based on your comment (all over $125 are spiltting hairs), it sounds like I could just throw all the names on my list into a hat and pick one and my choice would be the right one. Thanks for taking the time to comment! I'm still undecided, but I'll feel better about my choice when I decided to take the plunge. Cordially...Chugbug

Thanks for your input Francho! I understand the issue with basing a decision on bearing count and price alone-- if that's what I was my only criteria, I'd just by the Aird because it's has the most bearing for the price (I was only curious about the Aird because it has the good review). But I'm also interested in "quality and performance" because I want the reel to hold up as long as my Daiwa TDHi's. But how do you measure those? Papapajoe and DVT both stated that should be the bases to judge a decison on, but how do you dertermine that when you can't test out a reel, or even have the option to see and handle it before hand? Everything I read on the manufacturers website seems to be mostly puffery, or their slant on a specific technology. Here are the reels in my (serious) contender column: 1. Daiwa Tatula. 2. Daiwa Tatula Type R. 3. Lew's BB1 (the new one). 4. Lew's Tour-MB. 5. Quantum Energy PT. Can anyone offer any recomendations on any one in partictular? If so, WHY would you choose that one over any of the others? Any that I shouldn't consider? Does anyone consider the Tatula Type R worth the extra cost over the standard version? Thanks again for the assistance! Cordially...Chugbug

Hi Guys, Thanks for your input. DVT, I think you're right. The other bearing I couldn't find looks like it's part of the "Spool Assembly" (part #17). It's shown in the exploded view, but not listed separately in the parts list. The spool assembly parts are just grouped as a single line item. (DVT) You also raise a good point, and one I find hard to understand-- if bearing are so cheap, then why do they still use bushings in places instead of bearings? The Aird is a very good example-- when I reviewed the parts list, where I expected to find bearings (because of the high bearing count), I found a bushing instead (under the cast control cap-- same as my TDHi's). One could argue that since it does have a bearing closer to the spool (the one in the spool assembly), a bearing isn't necessary there? But if that argument was true, then why would the Tatula have a bearing there instead of a similar bushing? If I can't judge them by the bearing count, then what's the best criteria to use to get a good unbiased list of reel to consider? Not all reels have reviews, or aren't always current. All that's left is recommendations. Soooo, what other reels can I consider that would be comparable to the Tatula? Is the Quantum Energy PT a compoarable reel? How about the Lew's BB1, or Tour MB? Thanks again for the assistance! Cordially...Chugbug

Hello All, I'm considering my first new baitcasting reel purchase in a long time to replace one of my trusty Daiwa TDHi's. They've served me well over the years, and are still in great shape but I'd like to try one of the newer styles. I was considering all the reels in the $150 ~ $200 price range. But after reading a good review on Tackle Tour (http://www.tackletour.com/reviewdaiwaairdcasting.html), I was considering adding the new Daiwa Aird to my list of prospects since it appeared to have similar specs. I was adding all the reels to a spreadsheet, and one thing that glared back at me was the difference in the price of the Aird vs the number of bearings it has compaired to other reels of similar price or with similar bearings (both the review and Diawa's website say it has NINE bearings). Other reels with the same or even less bearings are much more expensive (such as the Tatula which only has 7). Concurrently, other reels with i the Airds price range have quite a few less bearings. So since the parts list are available on the Diawa website, I decided to download and review the Aird and Tatula's parts lists to see where all their bearings were and how they compared to each other. But when I reviewed the Aird parts list, I could only find THREE: one on either side of the level wind (#'s 52 & 66), and one on the right side of the spool shaft (#13). The review said their were two in each of the knobs, so if they are counting those (which I think would be lame), that's still only SEVEN by my count. So where are the other TWO? The Roller bearing was counted separately (the total would be10 if you include it). After not being able to find all the bearings, I decided to do a similar review of the Tatula's parts list. I found FIVE out of the seven bearings for that reel. So are the other two for that reel in the knobs too? As I said, I haven't look at new reels for quite a while, so I'm not up on how they all count their bearings these days, but to me that kind seems like cheating. You expect the bearings to be in the REEL not necessarily the handles. Don't get me wrong, that's a nice feature, but say that's where they are. No where in the reels online liturature does it say it has bearings in the handles. Do other reel mfg's count them that way too? Or is Daiwa trying to put lipstick on a pig by being able to say the Aird has NINE bearings? Any thought would be appreciated. Can anyone share where the rest of the bearings are on the Aird. Is it typical for reel manufactures to include the bearings in the handles? If so, how are you suppose to know that they're there? Not everyone posts their parts lists online, AND besides, at least for Daiwa, they don't show the handle bearings in the parts list anyway (the handle is shown as ONE PART). Thanks in advance for the advise. Cordially...Chugbug5

Hi Guys, Thanks for the heip. I'll give both options a try. My wife gave me some old hoops, and she has plenty of clothes pins! Tight Lines...Chugbug5

OK. Purchased the material, and tried to put a pattern on a bait. I did get a little bit of a pattern on the bait, but most of the spray was splotchy using regular spray paint (from a can). Now I have a few more questions... 1. Do you guys use paint from a can or mix up and use one of those tiny touch-up sprayers? 2. Do you tape the netting to the bait or hold it some distance away? (I tried to tape mine to the very bottom of the bait) Thanks...Chugbug5

Thanks ___Fish! I may try to get my wife to pick some up for me (and save myself the embarrasement)! Tight Lines...Chugbug5

Hello Guys, I'm looking for a source of lace or netting for applying a 'scale' look finish on my crankbaits. I've been making my own crankbaits for a few months (turn mine on a lathe), and have been applying pretty plain finishes on them. They work (catch fish on them), but I'd like to make some to give for Christmas gifts this year, so I'd like to upgrade my finishing techniques. I remember from the old days (back in the 70's) when they were just starting to use lace and I was contemplating getting into it, there were lace "templates" that were used. Templates as in small plastic squares of patterns that were held an inch or so away from the bait when sprayed. I've done some extensive searching on Google, but can't seem to find any such animal (figured it was a problem with my search terms that I couldn't find anything). Can anyone give some links to places to get any such material or any lace-like materials I could use? I did see the posts on foil finishing. Interesting application. Definitely going to try this method as well! Tight Lines...Chugbug5