[csurp]

I was just given an old Mitchell 302. The reel seems in pretty good condition but there is an intermittent click in the gear train. I can strip a 300 in my sleep after fishing them for years, but the 302 seems a little more complicated and I am getting older.

I would like to send it to someone for service and conversion to a fixed bail. Can anyone recommend someone to do the work.

I have got a lot of modern gear, but it would be fun to put an old school setup into service. This classic reel deserves it!

 

[yerbyray]

Well I just converted three 302's to a Manual Pick Up, commonly known as a PUM. The parts are available on Fleabay as you will need the crosswind cam and the manual pick up. The parts might cost you 20-25 bucks if I remember correctly.

Look for the Torpedo knob handle or the Hi-Speed round knob handle as those are nice.

The internals for the 300 and the 302 are completely different. The 302 is much more simple in design.

I am basically all thumbs and I enjoyed the conversion myself.

Labor to clean, re-grease and install new parts wouldn't be too bad (30 bucks maybe) if you find someone but if you can turn a screw driver and read a schematic; you can do this.

 

[yerbyray]

Ohh Yeah....you can boost the drag with Ht-100 washers too.

Many of the critics who bash the older Mitchells target the drag. Adding the HT-100 washers will add some poundage and take away their argument.

The Mitchell 3xx series has been around since the 1950's. I would wager that there has been a reel style that has caught more fish than them.

I doubt there is any reel other than Van Stall or Zeebass made today will reel in a fish in sixty years.

 

[yerbyray]

I'm bored can't you tell?

I am field testing a Manual Pick Up on a Mitchell 300 now. It is one I bought off Fleabay that was designed for a Mitchell 308 / 302, but I am seeing if it will work on the 300. Preliminary results look encouraging as it fits and lays line on the reel but not as evenly as I like. I am going to toy with a shim to see if I can even it out.

 

[buster]

I fished the 386 and 488 Mitchells for many years handed down from my father who wouldnt use any other.Great reels for their era.The only downfall is finding parts(French made).Also the main gear was the trouble area(occasionally),but solid,strong reels.One note,if i remember correctly some of the 302s had a click in them all the time.,otherwise maybe the anti reverse mechanism is worn.

 

[MSRIEF]

I fish Mitchell 386/7, 396/7, 486/7, 488/9, 496/7, and 498/9 reels for last 40 years and parts are, and have been available whenever needed.

 

[buster]

Good to see parts are available.Twenty years or so ago i had a hard time getting them.Maybe now the old Mitchells will stick around for another 50 years!!