Y’all may remember my thread last month about my FIL having a terminal brain tumor. 

 

I want to make a large oversized reel handle and knob. I imagine I could find a large pull cord handle for a lawn mower but I’m not sure how I would attach it to a handle. 

 

If I can find a reel that I can change the retrieve to left hand the issue would be him holding on to the handle with that weak/uncooperative right hand. I could probably make hard lashings that would act like a brace connecting the rod to his arm. 

 

Any my ideas or suggestions are greatly needed and appreciated. 

It looks like the handle on a lot of the Zebco spincast reels can be switched to either side, like spinning reels. You might be able to figure out a way to attach some kind of larger knobs to the existing knobs and make it functional. As far as making a whole new handle, you would probably have to get a reel and see and how the handle attaches and go from there. Good luck!

I second the zebco because of the handle’s interchability. 

 

I believe there ought to be a way to use the lawn mower knob. 

 

My approach would be to find a way to get it to “fit” over the current handle. That way, you won’t need to deal any problems attaching it to the handle and it would spin freely. 

 

Hope it works out. Sorry to hear that.  Brain tumors are no joke.  It claimed my mom’s life over 30 years ago. I hope he lives well passed the doctor’s best estimates. 

 

Update

I made my post immediately after reading yours and didn’t yet read jrob’s post. It appears he basically suggested the same thing. Great minds think alike.? ?

@HeyCoach, I can't help you on this, but wanted to send prayers to your FIL. I didn't read the thread and apologize for posting on this one. Hope everything works out well.

Hi, mechanical engineering student here,

 

How big dou you want the handle? I could maybe draw one up for you then you could go to a shop to have it made.

More details or a hand sketch would be appreciated

 

Nathan