I know this is an old post but this is knowledge for any future beings looking for the same info. I had the exact problem. When fishing saltwater on a kayak one of my rod leashes got caught around the cranking handle and engaged it while casting causing this is exact problem. The reel wouldn't cast and seem bound up when reeling. Tore the whole think down, like all the way cleaned it all seperated bearings from frame cleaned and oiled put it back still had problem. Thing is everything ran smooth until id put the side cover on. Somehow I think the shaft moved in the spool or something. I ended up taking a fingernail file and sanded the spool shaft down until it freely spun again. Now its better than new! Not sure the exact cause but simply sanding it down fixed it. Shorting it down in length not diameter.