Mitchell Reel Forum

300 Mitchell Problem.
I have a couple with same issue.
When under a load reels pulseate when reeling in, like get a hard turn.
Have had them apart and all is well on inside.
You can crank all day with out a load!
Has me puzzled any advise Welcome.

Hey Schrack,

First off, I moved your post to Mitchell Reel Service Talk. This forum is for any service or repair issues.

The one time I've seen this is on reels with ball bearings that are worn out. The other is when the reel has new gears with the wrong matching old gears. In other words, if you install a transfer gear from 1950 to a reel made in 1970, it could bind up during heavy loads. A better example is putting NOS gears in a 1950s reel. Lastly and most likely is if you serviced this reel, did you add shims? If so, too many will make the reel bind up. Try taking out the shims around the head and did this fix the problem

Maybe someone else knows more about this problem

Regards, Wallace

Have not installed any new parts, so leads me to go with shims.
Do not know what previous owner did.
He however found the grove that rod rides on had a uneven seam, once it was filed down reel worked fine.
I don't mix parts, only use year of reel.
Sometimes takes a little work but gets it right.
Now if it needs shines their will be play in the head, correct, so add a shim
Will get on it in am.

Hey Schrack, Don't add any shims as this could be the problem already and adding would only make it worse. It's better to have too much play in the head than not enough. Regards, Wallace

I would say head play is excessive, I am going to try 1 shim in head.
If it adds to problem will remove.
Most of the others have slight head play.
I look out for shims when I take apart.
Have not seen any so far in plate that spool rides on.
It is funny the older reel the less issues.
Have repaired almost all other issues, without any problems.

Reel problem fixed, put .015 Shim in head , the plate already had one shim , also head had one in.
Tested out and works like it should.
Also took off And line and replaced it with Stern which increased casting.
Have been having trouble with Ande seems to hang up when casting.
Kinda threw me off at first, guess must be design.
Learned a couple new tricks with this problem.

Hey Schrack, I would have never even tried what you did to fix it. Remembering my dad working on fishing reels back in the 1950s, like you he would never give up. I would have told the owner it would be cheaper to find one for sale in eBay. But that's just me being me...

Kind Regards, Wallace

Outside of being 75 and cheap, I never give up!
Always try to figure it out even if its outside the box.
Buying another, why unless it is so FUBR it is impossible to fix.
However still listen to advice!
Over the years Mitchell's have always (most of the time) are easy.
Happy 4th.