I've been trying to use youtube tutorials for an hour but none of them work... the arbor "knot" doesn't even tighten to the spool, can anyone help?

I'm sorry it's not the Arbor knot but the person tying it. They're plenty of people use it with no issues. My guess is you aren't cinching it down the whole way.

It can't clinch down the whole way because it knots before it gets to the spool

I do an improved clinch knot, but I only use 3 twists to keep it slim. Wouldn't recommend it if you're using fairly heavy line though. I rarely use over 15lb.

I don't have much dexterity anymore. So, I bought a roll of narrow adhesive tape (like for bandages) and put about a 1" strip over the line on the spool arbor. Line never slips. No knots needed.

Dink, I tried that too, it's impossible. The knot slips out before you can tighten it.

I have used a variety of different knots. Everything from an improved clinch knot, down to a simple double overhand knot. Never really had any issues.

masking tape,  scotch tape....... anything really to make it stick while you turn the handle twice

I've been trying to tie my line to my spool for the past 2 hours and none of the knots i used were working. 

I don't want to use tape im afraid it'll slip. I want help from someone who knows about a knot that actually works 

***I appreciate you guys for trying to help me but the knots listed simply don't work

I don't want to use tape im afraid it'll slip. I want help from someone who knows about a knot that actually works

Seriously? Everything suggested here works, that's why they suggested it.

Then why doesn't it work when i do it? I do it exactly how it says to and i've been trying for hours. 

I'm sure this isn't right but I've always just tied a regular knot. I don't know if this is good or not. Not sure how to explain it just cross over line and put end through loop and tie knot.

I don't want to use tape im afraid it'll slip. I want help from someone who knows about a knot that actually works 

 

you will have 120+ yards of line on top..... no worries about taping it.

 

I got some reels that don't even have tape on since they are wiffle spools.

I'm sure this isn't right but I've always just tied a regular knot. I don't know if this is good or not. Not sure how to explain it just cross over line and put end through loop and tie knot.

 

I don't know if it's "right" but I've done it before too, and it works.

Then why doesn't it work when i do it? I do it exactly how it says to and i've been trying for hours. 

Just to clarify, you're saying the problem is just getting the knot tied to the spool in the first place? And you're not even getting to the point where you're trying to reel the line on??

the arbor knot works like a gem

Then why doesn't it work when i do it? I do it exactly how it says to and i've been trying for hours.

Well it has to be because you aren't doing something correctly. If the thousands of members on BR have no problems with a variety of knots to get the line on the spool and you do. All signs point to you then. I'm kinda hoping you are just trying to get a good laugh out of this and it's just a joke. Tie 2 over hand knots and tighten them down and use a piece of tape on them.

What type of spool are your trying to tie on onto; spinning or casting? What size and type of line?

A simple slip knot with 1 overhand knot to prevent slipping works on spinning reel spools. Baitcasting reels with holes in the spool, you put the line through adjacent holes, a simple clinch knot works well. If the spool doesn't have holes, the arbor knot should work, wet it first.

Tom

Electrical tape. You wont ever get down to it.

Honestly, pretty much any knot will work. I can get my 3 year old cousin to tie one of her "knots" and it will work just fine. All it has to do it hold the line in place while you spool line over it. You shouldn't ever get down to the point where the knot is the difference between landing and losing the fish.

But I personally use an arbor knot.... Never have had a problem with it on any reel.

I don't want to use tape im afraid it'll slip. I want help from someone who knows about a knot that actually works 

Tape is the one thing that will avoid slipping.  Whether it's 2 or 3 overhand knots, an arbor knot tied correctly, a uni knot will all work just fine.  As mentioned a knot isn't even necessary, a strip of tape over the line and the reel should spool up perfectly.  In the extreme rare event that the line is being spooled all the way to the arbor by a powerful fish, the knot would probably break.

***I appreciate you guys for trying to help me but the knots listed simply don't work

I use the same knot "that doesn't work" on every single reel I own (more than 10). It's operator error.

OP, are you threading the line THROUGH the holes in the spool? Or are you tying it AROUND the entire spool like you would with a spinning reel?