[Drum Bum]

Anyone out there straighten spool shafts? have a 7000c3 with runout on left side of spool. How much do spare spools run? How much distance could a couple .001 runout kill? Anyone else seen this problem?

 

[Black Beard]

I tested a batch of 525 spools and the run out was 0.0007in to 0.002in. None was a problem when casting, you just have to balance the line on the spool. Strangly it was the lower run out spools that proved the most difficult to balance.
If you have just 0.001in run out on your 7000 you should have no problems - BB

 

[b3butner]

Blackbeard

Could you tell me a bit about balancing?

 

[Drum Bum]

Thanx B.B.

Did a little tweaking and got the shaft straighter. Runout seems less than .003 without putting a dial indicator on it. should be good enough without replacement. DB

 

[Black Beard]

Balancing line on the spool...

Here you go, good luck:-

SPOOL BALANCE
However, all the above is of little use if the spool is out of balance. The importance of spool balance when tuning a fast spool cannot be over emphasised. You have to start off assuming the spool itself is in balance, but it is the initial line lay that invariably determines whether a spool runs like a dream or screams like a stuck pig. First time around set the knot to one side of the spool and wind the line on cotton reel fashion for three of four runs across the spool. Then concentrate on feeding it evenly across the spool and fill her up. Now tape it down with some plastic insulating tape run exactly twice round the spool. It must end immediately over where it starts on the spool, an uneven overlap will put the spool out of balance. Now with the magnets slid all the way off tighten up the star drag, give the handle a good flip and put it into free spool with the spool rotating as fast as you like. It should be perfectly silent with no hint of vibration. If in doubt spin it again, place the reel on a flat surface and listen closely. If it's out of balance it will vibrate and possibly move across the surface in extreme cases. Bad news. Wind all the line off onto another reel and rewind it but rather than an even line lay make it the opposite. Wind on the line but keep it all on the right hand side to make a hump 4mm to 5mm high, then take the line rapidly across to the left and make a similar hump there. Finally a hump in the middle and then even it all out and continue to wind on evenly as normal. Tape down the end, spin and see how it runs this time. If it's still not right try variations of humping left, right, middle or right, middle, left until you achieve vibration free running. You either get it right first time or it may take a little while. Balance is obtained by the lay of the first 20 yards of line. There cannot be to much importance put on this subject.

Neil Mackellow