Mitchell reel repairs.

[anglerpaul]

I have a Mitchell match reel, which i had for 20 odd year.
It needs repairing the bail arm spring dont work anymore. If you know where i can send it to be repaired and serviced.

[Andrew Burgess]

Having own servarl Mitchell 300A , Mitchell 300C and Mitchell 410 Blue Match Reel and a Black Mitchell Match Reel as well

Yes, you can get spare part for it but it is very expensive as well!

The only known supplier of Mitchell Reels Spare parts was based in Southampton but I managed to locate another factory also in Southampton (I don't know if it is the same firm where I used to go to get the spare parts from)

The Address is

Reel Care,
100,
Kendal Avenue,
Millbrook,
Southampton.
Hampshire.
SO16 9LY

Tel: [phone]

Good luck mate!

[anglerpaul]

thank mate will give them a ring.
I have a 300A To i might as well get that serviced the same time. And yes they are both the old blue one's.

[BUDGIE]

Paul,Mitchells are the easiest of reels to work on going.Get yourself a couple of spare springs as this is the most common thing to fail on them.When youve got the springs let me know and I will post a step by step guide to replacing them.Mitchell have always been brilliant for their after sales service,especially spare parts.Servicing is also cheap but the postage costs due to the weight!

Try it your self its "reel" easy!

[Andrew Burgess]

Yes Budgie, Mitchells are the easiest of reels to work on going. And I agreed with you get yourself a couple of spare springs as this is the most common thing to fail on them! ;D

[anglerpaul]

Right i have managed to get the bail arm springs, the local tackle store got them for me.
Now i need to fit them the guide would be a help Budgie as i dont want to take it apart and get lost putting it back together. thanks

[BUDGIE]

Give me a couple of days and I will post it for you mate.

[anglerpaul]

Thanks Budgie looking forward to the infomation, make it easy please

[Andrew Burgess]

Being clearing out the "fishing attic" today - really putting up the piking rods and getting down the carp and feeder rods ready for this year fishing and I came across an old Mitchell 300 series leaflet with the parts numbers, just thought it might help someone who got a Mitchell 300 reels.

This will cover reels of 300A, 300C 301A and 301C

[BUDGIE]

Sorry for delay Angler Paul will sit down and do it this Saturday for you.

[anglerpaul]

Dont worry Budgie, do it when you can.
thanks for your help.  
They are great reels a few more days to get them right wont hurt.

[BUDGIE]

Right mate,sorry about the delay,here we go!

First thing you want to do is to give the outside of the reel a thorough cleaning.Get any old groundbait,dirt etc off.Some warm water with a bit of washing up liquid will do and scrub gently with a tooth brush.The reason for this is so that no crap gets inside when you start to take the reel apart.

Next thing is to find some where safe and well light to work.I like to put every thing on a tray covered with a bit of white cloth.This saves losing small parts!

Make sure you have the correct size screw driver as the wrong one will soon damage the heads.Have some WD40,3 in 1 oil and some vasaline at hand.

First thing to identify is why the bail arm mechanism isnt working.The bail arm spring breaking is a common fault on all traditional Mitchells but that said there are other reasons that the bail wont work.

First question I will have to ask is if the bail arm is not closing or not opening? If it is both the problem is definately with the bail arm spring but if it is not closing then we must look at the trip lever spring.

[anglerpaul]

Right Budgie the bail arm on the match.
When you touch to release the bail arm, it only moves about 1/3 of the way that it should.
The reel is in a very good condition and very clean.
I have the right screw driver and the wd 40 to hand and some vasaline.  
thanks again.

[BUDGIE]

From what you describe it may only be adjustment thats required rather than replacing the spring.It is hard to tell without acualy having the reel in front of me so lets go direct to the spring.



Unfortunately I havnt got a digital camera so will have to use words and diagrams so please bear with me.

The diagram above shows the location of the bail arm spring.Unlike other models you can actually see the spring on the Match without removing the bail arm.Manualy open and close the bail a few times while watching the spring.Can you see any obvious damage?The spring of course may not be broken but just worn.You have a new one so lets replace it either way.

To make things easier slightly undo screw B,dont take in out just slacken it off.Undo and remove screw A.

Unless completely broken the spring will still be holding the bail arm to the reel.The spring used on the Match is slightly different to most other models .As you can see from the picture below it has a loop on one end (B) and a peg (A) on the other.The peg is located in the reel and the loop on a pin on the bailarm.



Using a small flat blade screw driver release the spring.Take the new spring and pull it apart slightly (so it isnt quite so compressed).Apply a good dab of vasaline to the spring. Locate the peg of the new spring into the hole on the reel and then locate the loop around the pin on the bail arm.

Now the hard bit! Not technically difficult just fiddley!You need to move the bail arm assembly over the spring mounting so that you can put screw A back in.Make sure any movement of the spring is in a clockwise direction (closing the loops of the spring rather than opening them) Add a drop of 3 in 1 oil to the screw hole.Screw the screw A in.You will most likely find the bail when triggered will not open all the way.Simpley back off the screw till it functions correctly.Once you have achieved this open the bail arm and whilst open re-tighten screw A. Retighten screw B.

Fiddley but job done.If your bail arm is still not working correctly then we now know its not the bail arm s
pring.The only other cause could be the actual trip lever mechanism.Any problems let me know and we will rtake a look at that.

[Bigone]

Got my attention with this post, i have the same problem with a match the old black one.
Still a fantastic reel well worth spending money on.