15 hours ago, J Francho said:

A top end bearing replacement won't fix a binding worm gear. There is something else not quite right. That should operate smoothly when turned by hand. 

I dont think its the worm Gear. it feels like its in those nylon gears, or in the bearings that supports those gears the worm travels nicely by hand when its fully disassembled.

11 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Hear me out - I have had this problem with a couple buddies Daiwa reels. The problem was the nylon gears that drive the worm gear. These gears are very soft and subject to warping and getting out if shape if any piece gets in there. Try keeping one of those gears off and seeing if it still feels gears. Typically these gears are very cheap and easily replaced.

 

When it got submerged, it was pretty sandy inside, but Afterwards, it was not used until after it was taken apart and cleaned.  I'll take it apart one more time tonight and see If I can pinpoint the issue a little better. Im thinking it has to be the bearings.  There is enough grease around those gears they would be tracking smooth.

 

I'm talking about the same gears as Jedi is. Chances are that's the issue. No bearing will fix it. 

1 hour ago, JCBIII said:

When it got submerged, it was pretty sandy inside

Did you pull the shields off each bearing and flush them out? If not, well, who knows.

On 5/12/2023 at 11:09 AM, PhishLI said:

Did you pull the shields off each bearing and flush them out? If not, well, who knows.

I did not. I Soaked them  in cleaner and then lubricant like you do with normal maintenance, but I didn't pull the shields.  I was working under the assumption that since the reel was not moved/activated while it was full of dirty water, that the sand and debris probably never had a chance to mechanically work itself into the bearing. I did spin each bearing by hand and they all felt smooth before I re-installed them. I work with bearings and mechanical assemblies for a living so I wouldnt have put anything back in that didnt feel right, but its been a while since i did that  first re-assembly  

I took it back apart over the weekend, and It really appears to me that it definitely is from the gears themselves and not bearing related.  I couldn't pin/point any issue any further down than that, so am just going to send it in to DVT. I'm picking up my new boat this weekend and will be taking it on the lake with the previous owner(friend of mine)  for a day of fishing, so it looks like I'll be picking myself up a new one.  how unfortunate.  LOL