[js1172]

Got an SX5.3 MC, making a bunch of noise. as you reel in that gets worse as you tighten the drag. have had every bearing out and checked them they all spin free, got aa trip too avon coming up mid may so would like to get it fixed. Thanks for any help!
JS

 

[BeachBob]

Call Avet ASAP.

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

I just had a Daiwa Saltist LD 30, that had a binding issue, and made the reel, just about useless!
I too, also had all the bearings out of this reel and were fine during inspection, put them back after cleaning and lubing and same problem!
Then I was told the pinion bearing was shot, and still had a problem believing this, but did as I was told!
And sure enough, I replaced pinion bearing on this LD reel and it is like new again, and I even used a Penn pinion bearing in place of the Daiwa!

EA

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

I also forgot to mention, that I own this same Avet as well, if it’s not the newer G2 series!

EA

 

[js1172]

the real is on its way to california, sposed to land there thursday. we will see

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

So, I gotta ask out of curiosity?
Was it binding up, as you were increasing drag with the lever? And how was the free spool?
My reel would function OK lol????
That is until you flipped up the lever slightly, and it went straight too, almost impossible to crank!
Just crazy, how you can have a bearing that, sounds fine and feels fine and put it back in and will not work!
I was thoroughly amazed, when I took the pinion bearing out of the Penn GLS 25 and popped it in the Daiwa and it fit and completely fixed the issue…!!!

EA

 

[js1172]

Free. spool was fine, just reeled rough on the notch above free spool, then got steadily worse as drag was increased, wasn't bound but was tight and jerky as you reeled and sounded like a garbage disposal. I pulled every bearing, greased the drive bearings then replaced the shields, oiled the spool bearings. all bearings would spin free, none were the slightest bit rough. I did pull the pinion bearing twice to check it.

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

Well, that is the same exact thing, I went through lol…!!!
I’m willing to bet, it will come back with a new pinion bearing in it or all new bearings!
What happens is, somebody unknowingly ratchets the drag settings to high and it’s just crushes the bearing somehow, but it still seems fine, but it’s not!
I still have the old bearing here from the Daiwa and you cannot tell there’s anything wrong with it!
But if you put it back into the reel, it will absolutely malfunction again!
When I bought my Avet SX MC, there was another guy there, he was taking the levers and tightening the drags to max settings, way over fishing specs, and you could literally hear that reel making noise after he did this!!!!!
What the salesman, did not know!!!!
By letting him do this, he was destroying every Avet reel he just touched, Sad but true!!!
If you do this to any lever drag reel, you basically just crushed the pinion bearing, overtightening the drag!
You can’t turn turn drag all the way up and then force the lever all the way up. I never understood why they made them this way, your average person that’s never used a lever drag doesn’t understand this, if they’re not familiar with them!

EA

 

[js1172]

sent it priority mail on monday after lunch from Baker WV, its out for delivery in chatham ca today!

 

[slosh]

Probably a bearing. I've seen a few over time that seemed 99% okay but were grindy in the reel. Only way to tell for sure is to swap it out, which sucks.

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

Probably a bearing. I've seen a few over time that seemed 99% okay but were grindy in the reel. Only way to tell for sure is to swap it out, which sucks.

Well, that’s exactly what I did on the Saltist HSH LD 30!
Swapped the bearing out of a Penn GLS 25, the pinion bearing, and one of the spool bearings, just so happen to be the same size lol!
Trust me when I tell you, I was thoroughly shocked!
I could not believe, that this bearing could be bad!
This defective bearing still looks and feels, like it is brand new and put it in the spool of the GLS 25 and works fine, so I have no idea LMAO!
But if you put it back in the Daiwa, it will not work whatsoever!

EA

 

[dirtyhandslopez]

Avet are very helpful. SX5.3MC is a great reel . Have caught many a drum with it. Till the pinion gear takes a s^&T.

 

[js1172]

I only use this reel on an anchor rod live bait fishing 1 week a year, however I signed up for SSI this week and plans are to fish more in the future.

 

[ExcessiveAngler]

Avet are very helpful. SX5.3MC is a great reel . Have caught many a drum with it. Till the pinion gear takes a s^&T.

So you’re saying you had a pinion gear fail on a SX 5.3 MC…!!!
Were there any telltale signs before that pinion gear actually failed?
I’ve heard they don’t really stand up too well, to salt water intrusion, especially from the surf!
And drum are hard fighting fish, I can see them putting a hurting on any smaller reel, with the drag locked up and trying to crank or winch them in with the reel and not utilizing the rod as leverage!
Then throw some heavy duty braid in the mix too!
Actually, really not that hard to mess up any reel, if you do the wrong things real fast, while using braid!
Not saying that you did, just have seen it happen!

EA

 

[Surfjunkie]

The pinion gears were a known weak point on the first gens. I always suspected that’s why the non-raptor versions of the sx and mxl I had were only rated to like 13lbs of drag. Never looked at the g2 internals to see what changed