Check this out; go to the bottom of the page and look at the hedgehog tool

http://www.japantackle.com/Tuning_parts/tuning_bearings.htm

I ordered one of these before the RoadTrip, and it was waiting for me when we got home. Got to try it out yesterday, and all I can say is; Why didn't I think of it?

It works perfectly. This is the easiest way I've ever found to tackle this task. I tried it on a brand new reel, and it pushed the pin out with ease, and with absolutely no damage. It made the re-install very simple and foolproof also.

The tool appears to be very well made. The threaded shaft mates perfectly with the tapped body. We'll have to see about longevity; as I said, I've used it once. I think that as long as you don't use a pair of pliers to turn the cross-shaft it should last a long time. I was able to remove the pin from a brand new reel with just finger pressure on the cross-shaft. I'm thinking the only way you could ruin this tool in use is to try to push out a Revo spool pin backwards.

great review ghoti. I also got mine yesterday and used it on my Calcutta 50xt and Revo Inshore. The tool is pretty good. It did not touch the spool edges when removing and putting back the pin. The tool actually sits on the bearing that makes it clear/away from touching the spool edge. Excellent product.

And thanks for the link when I was looking for a tool

ive seen those on ebay but never put 2 and 2 together.

here's a pix..

I want one, but d**n thats pricey for a piece of plastic with a screw...

it's actually solid aluminum and stainless steel shaft.

I want one, but d**n thats pricey for a piece of plastic with a screw...

It's cheap compared to a new spool. If you continue to use pliers, or punch and hammer, sooner or later you're gonna be ordering a new spool.

Been there, done that, blasphemed.

It's cheap compared to a new spool. If you continue to use pliers, or punch and hammer, sooner or later you're gonna be ordering a new spool.

Been there, done that, blasphemed.

Definately understand the value of the tool...but I would hope the price to be based on the materials and workmanship. they would probably make profit at 9.99

If you're thinking in terms of mass production, I'd have to agree with you. 10-12 bucks would be just about right.

I'd be willing to bet that Hedgehog studios is one guy who has to contract out the machining to one outfit, the anodizing to another, ditto for printing, and packs them for shipping in his basement.

There will never be a mass market demand for such a tool, so, economies of scale just aren't there.

If you're thinking in terms of mass production, I'd have to agree with you. 10-12 bucks would be just about right.

I'd be willing to bet that Hedgehog studios is one guy who has to contract out the machining to one outfit, the anodizing to another, ditto for printing, and packs them for shipping in his basement.

There will never be a mass market demand for such a tool, so, economies of scale just aren't there.

Completely agree.....I would jump on one for 20$.. 42 might be too much for me

What's not helping is the current exchange rate yen - dollar. It's about 30% out of whack in the wrong direction right now.

Why didn't I think of it?

Don't engineers tend to overdesign things and make them cost 20X what they are really worth?

An awful lot of good inventions have come from an average Joe getting fed up with something and saying " there has to be a better way "

My engineering staff would have taken a month and 10 meetings to design this.

"My engineering staff would have taken a month and 10 meetings to design this. "

Well, I've spent at a lot of years cursing that dad-blasted spool pin, and never thought of this thing. And, you are correct. I spent some time thinking about a tool, and every thing I came up with was over-engineered, and would have been expensive to produce.

"My engineering staff would have taken a month and 10 meetings to design this."

Our company's engineer is nicknamed "Rubber Ruler"...in addition to the above, our version would've weighed about 250 lbs and had 14 revisions.

Good review. It looks like a nice tool and I might end up getting one because I like my Revos. But personally, I think that a reel manufacturer should make an affordable tool that is widely available if their reel requires it for maintenance. I'd gladly give Abu $20 for this tool, but $40 is a little steep.

I was just wondering what exactly this tool does. Does it just use the screw to push out the pin or what? If someone could give me a pretty good description, I might be able to find something that would to the same thing cheaper.

I was just wondering what exactly this tool does. Does it just use the screw to push out the pin or what? If someone could give me a pretty good description, I might be able to find something that would to the same thing cheaper.

yep, its safely pushes the pin out. You screw down the handle, to push out the pin. The concept isn't unique, there's plenty of tools like it, I'm sure. But this one fits spool bearing retainers.

Glad to see some good reviews on the tool. I ordered mine about a week ago. Originally I made one of those "do it your self" plier tools, but it was a case of the wrong tool for the job. I got away w/ it a couple times then I wrecked a pin. At that point I decided the tool was worth 45 bucks. With the pliers I was also nervous about bending or scratching the spool shaft.