Has anyone had this happen or seen what i mean.I want to get some newer presidents to replace my old verson presidents but handling one in the store i turned the handle backwards to see how much the reel would flex because of concerns about how much my older president was flexing on rods with raised reel seats and the handle easily stripped or broke inside the reel somewhere and spinning the handle no longer had any effect.Yes the knob on the other side was tight.so i tried this with other reels and even my own and they where all fine except every new president and orra i tried.i didnt need to apply much pressure and every one broke and the handle just hung there lifeless.Anyone else noticed this i want to get a newer president but seeing this i think i will have to find older models somewhere or pick something else.

I have 5 new presidents and 5 old ones. I have tortured every one except the micro series. It's a d**n good reel. Nothing bad has come from ANY of them.

Am I understanding you right? You are in the store breaking reel handles, and nobody says anything?

If I misunderstood, I dont mean to offend.

Hootie

Yes pres. are great reels thats why i want more,and yes i may have tried to torture a few to make shure they where quality but i really do mean i applied very little pressure just a firm turn.Dont see how the handle would turn backwards in a real situation,but you never know.Like i said none of my 10 reels do this including my old model president and some real cheap ones.Im mainly concerned that this speaks for long term quality,of the reel if maybe parts are made cheaply.

Oh and to specify,its not the actual handle that goes bad its whatever the handle connects to inside the reel.Gears or the threading on the cap screw that holds the handle in or something. I havent taken one apart to see.

A buddy of mine and myself each bought a new President at the BPS reel trade in. Both of us had problems similar to what you described. Both of us returned them.

I lost a decent size fish because of it. No room for that in my game.

I'm not sure I understand this thread. If you backreel on a Pflueger spinning reel with the anti-reverse engaged, the handles unscrew. That's how they're designed. The cap on the opposite side does nothing but cover the hole and protect the threads.

I'm not sure I understand this thread. If you backreel on a Pflueger spinning reel with the anti-reverse engaged, the handles unscrew. That's how they're designed. The cap on the opposite side does nothing but cover the hole and protect the threads.

x2

The unscrew thing is exactly what I was thinking. They're not broken, you just unscrewed the handle a little. Buit I wouldn't keep trying to torture test things you don't own. It's towards the illegal side of douchey.

na i just gave a little turn maybe 1/4 in.And i dont think its just unscrwing because i wont screw back in.But either way i guess ill just go with something else.Anyone know where u can still find abu cardinal 502albi reels man i love mine.

In order to screw the handles back in, you have to hold the rotor stationary while you crank the handle. It won't tighten any other way.

Not broken, just don't reel the wrong way and it won't come unscrewed on you on the water..