I recently had the plastic piece on my thumb bar fall off while I was casting around my pond. I can't find it now, but I did purchase a new replacement from my local Tackle Shop online. 

 

Has this ever happened to anyone? Is this common? Is hard to install? 

 

I'd like to hear your experiences and maybe a step by step install instructions. Thanks in advance. 

 

 

there may be 1 or 2 screws holding the thumb barr in place. 

You have to remove the palm plate and the spool, shown here for a metanium

You have to reach the screwdriver through the LW to get to the thumb bar screw(s). 

They recommend applying grease on the contact points before installing the new part

new part goes on the same way - the thumb bar has a mix of pins and threaded bosses that match the holes in the clutch post. 

Easy. 

I haven't done a Shimano, but it was essentially the same putting a custom Revo part on my Lew's ($23 Momo alloy part from AMO store)

 

 

Daiwa is the one that is complicated and requires opening the drive cover and major disassembly to get to the screw that holds the thumb bar - the screw goes into the side of the thumb bar.  

 

The plastic thumb bar is definitely a weak point.  I checked AMO store, they don't show a cost-effective alloy part for your reel, and the Japan KDW alloy part at the top is $90.

My ZPI Alcance came with alloy thumb bar. 

Shouldn't be that hard to replace. If you're not comfortable doing it reach out to Shimano, they had a problem with the first run of them losing the thumb bars. They might cover the repairs under warranty. 

 If you don't have the right screwdriver, it's time to get one, anyway.  What could be easier.

He said he has the part

wants to install it, and

asked for step-by-step instructions.  

The real conundrum is when you have to tighten the screws on your glasses...

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