Mitchell Reel Forum

I recently purchased another 300c on the bay. Good smooth reel
but the stem is twisted slightly. What are the possibilities that it could be straightened? When I put it on a rod it is canted enough that it is quite noticeable! Thanks for any help in advance!

hrgriz,
to the Mitchell Reel Museum.
I have had a couple Mitchells over the years that had the stem twisted and I was able to place the reel seat in a wood vice and give it the proper twist to correct it without it breaking. Warning, I've also tried the on rotors that were out of round that were disasters, so anything could happen.

Just for good measure, I just went to my garage, took a junked body and gave it a good twist in my vice. Then twisted it back. Then again. No problem.
The junked body was on older 5th version, so this test might not account for possible changes in the alloys they used for the reels.

Good Luck,
Ted Lanham

Ted,
Thanks! In my mind I thought it would be very brittle.
I should of known they would do it right .Fantastic reels. I am off to my vise!

hrgriz,

Ted and hrgriz,
This is wonderful news to me! I was completely unaware you could do this and am anxious to hear how it turns out.
Kind Regards,
Bill

Twisted or bent?
Big differance.
You can straighten a bend out by doing as stated with a vise and wood.
However a twist it would be very likely it would snap.
Handles are Aluminum and can get bent very easy.
, most of the time can be corrected.
You must be very careful when undoing a bend.
Also they scratch and scar very east.
Not sure what kind of medal the screws are.
They can be a pain sometimes.
I am picky when I refurb a reel cleaning even the screw, If it does not come out easy don't use much force cause they break then its drill and tap.
All I can say be Careful!

Schrack wrote: ↑Tue Jul 05, 2022 6:21 pm Twisted or bent?
Big differance.
You can straighten a bend out by doing as stated with a vise and wood.
However a twist it would be very likely it would snap....

Schrack,
What exactly do you mean by a bend and/or by a twist? I am having trouble understanding what you are saying, what is the difference?

So it sounds like you have actually straightened a bend out, on a Mitchell 300C reel stem using a vise and wood.
How did you do it or did it snap?

Kind Regards,
Bill

Bill,
After just reading the last two posts, I was going to take a couple pictures of what I had done.
My intentions were to put the reel seat in the vise and give it a 1 o'clock twist, as I had twice done before. Then I intended to put it back to 12 o'clock as it was originally.
Third time was a charm. On the third attempt to 1 o'clock it snapped.

Conclusion: Be careful and don't do it three times.

Ted Lanham

A Twist , when metal has a turn against the grain which would be clockwise or counter clockwise direction this only can be straightened out by heating . ( Alum. Is brittle and crumbles when temp exceeds limit believe 1200 degrees.
a bend when metal is moved with grain .
Example use a paper clip. Twist it. Now in twist it , most of time it snaps at twist.
Do the same only bend it, now in bend it most of the time it straightens out leaving a small bump where it was bend.
On a 300 handle I have been very successful in getting a bend 99% out, sometimes they will snap.
Have to this day undid a twist.
LOL probably more confused now!!!!!!

Ted,
Thanks for updating your former comment regarding twisting a bail foot. I will heed your caution and only in a last resort situation would I attempt this.

Schrack,
Thanks for your response and opinion regarding straightening a reel foot. We are so fortunate to have a place to exchange opinions and ideas as we do here at the MRM. We may not always agree but at least we can share and read what others are thinking or believe.

Kind Regards,
Bill

Not sure if it was twisted or bent. I followed Ted’s plan and it
worked! Mission accomplished. Thanks to all for your help

hrgriz,
I'm glad it cured your problem. Especially, since it didn't break like mine did on the third attempt.

Regards,
Ted Lanham

I think I got stem mixed up with handle, sorry .
Now my question, Does the slight twist have any affect on casting?
Is it just cosmetic?

Try it out and determine if it suits your needs. Nothing to lose, but everything to gain..........
Kim

I have several rods that are offset, to left, or maybe its the reel base twisted.
It does not interfere with casting just looks a little wierd.
I figured somebody might have noticed the same thing.
Have bought several rods that rod would spin , my fix is drill small hole thru rod and base, install small screw, problem cured.
Sometimes being a retired Aircraft Mechanic has its good points!