I have an old PR1 5Bi Procaster in good condition, I just havent used it in years. What reputation did these reels have? I am mainly wondering if it is worth it to put new bearings, drag disc, and a new gear set into this reel. That will cost me around 40-50 bucks to rebuild it to like new condition. The appearance of this reel is very good. It was taken care of. If you had one of these, let me know your thoughts on the reel please. Thanks for any info you can give.

I see these listed for $20-$50 with $30 the average. Obviously they’re not refined due to the age but solid. If you put $50 into one I expect you’ll have a solid useable reel. 

this is a tough choice. Being small and lightweight, with a flipping switch also, it would be a great pitching and flipping reel I think.

 

I think I will put it on my pitching/flipping rod and give it a quick trial run.

If the gear ratio is 5.2:1 I'm guessing that would put the inches per turn at around 20 inches. Personally I'd prefer something faster when pitching and flipping, hit a target and get it back in quick to hit the next one. But that's still a very nice reel. Seems like reels back then had some "personality". 

On 11/9/2023 at 10:20 PM, Boogey Man said:

If the gear ratio is 5.2:1 I'm guessing that would put the inches per turn at around 20 inches. Personally I'd prefer something faster when pitching and flipping, hit a target and get it back in quick to hit the next one. But that's still a very nice reel. Seems like reels back then had some "personality". 

 So you wouldn't like my 3.8:1 reel then?  With good line, I can uproot trees with it!   It is a Quantum from years ago. I use it for the biggest and deepest diving crankbaits. It really saves the wrist if you do much cranking those big boys. The only complaint I have on it is that it does not have constant anti-reverse. It predates that being common in reels. 

 

I am fine with 5.2:1, especially for flipping as there is not much line out to reel in anyway. I agree about the older reels. Many of them just had cool looking designs and nothing else looked like them, made them easy to ID from yards away. Like cars these days, many reels are also so similar looking that it can be hard to tell one from the other. I love my old Shimano Bantam 100's!  The BB1 from Lew's/Shimano is also a legendary reel!