My brother picked up a Fuego CT about a week or two ago and we ran into a problem on the water last night.  The reel will no longer free spool when the thumb bar is pressed.

 

I loosened the spool tension knob all the way and turned the brakes completely off - still will not free spool.  However, with these settings, if I apply pressure to the spool with my fingers and rock it side to side horizontally within the frame a few times, it will free spool.  Then when the line is taken up and thumb bar is pressed again, it sticks.

 

I opened up the reel and removed the spool to see if there was any debris stuck in it, which there does not appear to be.  The reel had never been opened up prior to me checking it so this problem would not have started due to tinkering and missing pieces upon reassembly.  I also messed around with drag settings with no success in fixing the problem.

 

Even with this issue it still seems to cast ok.  He didn’t notice it until he tried to make a pitch and couldn’t get the lure out more than a few feet.

 

Anybody have any thoughts as to what is going on?

 

Thanks!

Drag on all the way?

When I was playing with it last night it behaved the same way whether the drag is loose or locked out.

Also that the spool shaft is not bent. 

Was the spool ever taken out of the reel? Do you notice anything unusual regarding the spool shaft? I'd call Daiwa directly to resolve this issue. They should definitely fix you up with the parts needed or a new reel directly from Daiwa.  

Just return it. 

8 hours ago, Stephen B said:

Was the spool ever taken out of the reel? Do you notice anything unusual regarding the spool shaft? I'd call Daiwa directly to resolve this issue. They should definitely fix you up with the parts needed or a new reel directly from Daiwa.  

The spool was never removed from the reel until after the problem started and nothing seems to be off in regards to the spool shaft.  My brother is going to give Daiwa a call and go from there.  I’m thinking it is likely a bad bearing as suggested above.

Is the spool over filled?  Look underneath and verify that the line isn't rubbing the frame.

21 hours ago, J Francho said:

Is the spool over filled?  Look underneath and verify that the line isn't rubbing the frame.

That was a good thought.  I checked but unfortunately that is not the case.