[Wild Bill]

I use all Penn Slammer spinning reels except for some small Shimano Stradics and one Quantum PT Cabo 30. When I purchased the Cabo reel, it had a lifetime warranty and 24 hour turn around on repair. They have since backed off on both the lifetime warranty, and they are certainly not adhering to the 24 hour turn around.

My Slammers are serviced in my shop because they are so simple, but I did not want to deal with all the little parts in this Asian reel. The reel worked fine when sent back to Zebco but was a little rougher than when new. It is three years old. Other than taking the side cover off and applying some grease, it had not been serviced. It also had not been used nearly as often as my Slammers.

Got a letter saying the service was $58.95 (add $10.00 for the shipping and insurance from my home to Zebco). Now I do not mind spending money on tackle. In fact, I love spending money on tackle, but want to get value for my money. I called and asked what they were doing to the reel. The women was very nice but was vague. She said they were going to open it up, remove all parts and clean a lube it. I asked if new parts were involved and she was again vague about that but implied some would be replaced. She said she used to work in the repair center.

I was debating whether to pay it or tell her to throw it in the trash can. The wholesale price of the reel today is $145.00. I think I paid about $130.00 three years ago. Investing nearly $70.00 on a three year old reel is questionable.

Decided to let them fix it this time. This reel will be ground down next time until I cannot stand the roughness anymore and then tossed. No more Cabo reels will be purchased. Maybe I will feel differently when I get it back, if they actually replaced gears and bearings. They are costly.

My Yamaha service is $95.00 per hour and I do not mind paying a reel tech either, but when the repair is a significant percentage of the reel cost, you begin to question the validity of having them serviced.

 

[Peltz]

I would probably pay $10 to get it back, do my own greasing and cleaning, use until it stops working and then toss it.

 

[Wild Bill]

I would probably pay $10 to get it back, do my own greasing and cleaning, use until it stops working and then toss it.

That was another option I thought about. I know the Slammers well and can do them in 15 minutes. I once tore down a Shimano Sustain and it had three times the number of parts--many little plastic sleeves, etc. I got it back together but it took way too long and several tries. I am not going that route again. If you own a bunch of any make reel and service them often it gets easier. I only have one Cabo.

 

[Francis]

WB,
Don't feel too bad! For what it's worth I think all the reel companies are getting a little worse with their service departments. Times are tough.

I have a buddy (charter captain but the name will be withheld to protect the innocent) who has accumulated almost 50 Shimano Baitrunners through the years. He was told time and time again that when he blows them up, Shimano will service them for free, or next to nothing. Just ship them to the place in California. He was told this by former customers, tackle reps, other captains, and guys who work at the tackle shop.

Fishing every day, it's a lot easier for him to just walk in the shop and buy a new one and switch the spool then making a call, going to the post office, etc etc etc so in about six years he saved up over twenty of them to ship back. He finally took a blow day, packaged them all up and sent them to Shimano as he was instructed. When the service department got back to him, they wanted almost 50 dollars a piece to repair them. At that price, he is better off just buying new ones donating the old ones to a charity to get the write off.

Maybe Penn is the best company out there, right now. Maybe. . .

 

[Seahunter]

The reel worked fine when sent back to Zebco but was a little rougher than when new.

Nothing a pinch of saw dust and a liberal application of grease wouldn't resolve....for a while ;-)

There is something to be said about simplicity in design. Look at the number of Penn Spinfisher 7XX that are still in use today. Maybe not the smoothest of reels but I'll take toughness and durability over smoothness in a heart beat.

 

[27 sailfish]

Braided line,saltwater - big fish and little reels are not a good combo.Something has to give and most times it is the reel, even if well cared for.

There is a market for the higher priced light tackle reels.Some of the Penn baitcasters cost over $250.00 but seem to hold up well.I don't do enough LTJ to buy one.

I like the regular Penn spinning reels or mid priced baitcasters.If I can not take it apart and fix it , I won't buy it.

I can not see how Cabo can back out of a warranty that was part of the reason for you buying their product.Might be worth asking a lawyer friend to write them a letter - sure can't hurt.

Reel repair labor is not cheap - sometimes it is best to just write off a reel and buy a new one.Save the old one for spare parts :thumbup:.

 

[Wild Bill]

Nothing a pinch of saw dust and a liberal application of grease wouldn't resolve....for a while ;-)

There is something to be said about simplicity in design. Look at the number of Penn Spinfisher 7XX that are still in use today. Maybe not the smoothest of reels but I'll take toughness and durability over smoothness in a heart beat.

Saw dust!

 

[Wild Bill]

Braided line,saltwater - big fish and little reels are not a good combo.Something has to give and most times it is the reel, even if well cared for. :thumbup:.

That is for sure. Smaller fish I like to crank right in on a strong drag. That is hard on any small spinning reel. Big fish get pumped but I am not into "playing fish".

Baitcasters wear too but are mechanically superior. I am using them more and more, if the lure casts and works well with them.

 

[27 sailfish]

You can always go with a Van Steel - last I saw they were ONLY $525.00 p. Lot of money for a spinning reel. I once tried one at Clyde's baitshop.Reeled it a few times and it is SMOOTH as silk.Then I saw the price tag and gently handed it back to the sales clerk.

I like the Penn spinning reels.Simple and easy to work on.Try some of the newer lubes- they can really smooth out a reel.Most times - IMHO - reels are not lubed right at the factory.I often take a brand new reel apart and lube it.Helps out in the long run.I even put a drip of lube on the screws ;-)- makes taking them apart next time a piece of cake.

Some bail rollers are sent out dry - no lube at all on this often overlooked but important part.

 

[Wild Bill]

You can always go with a Van Steel - last I saw they were ONLY $525.00 p. Lot of money for a spinning reel. I once tried one at Clyde's baitshop.Reeled it a few times and it is SMOOTH as silk.Then I saw the price tag and gently handed it back to the sales clerk.

I like the Penn spinning reels.Simple and easy to work on.Try some of the newer lubes- they can really smooth out a reel.Most times - IMHO - reels are not lubed right at the factory.I often take a brand new reel apart and lube it.Helps out in the long run.I even put a drip of lube on the screws ;-)- makes taking them apart next time a piece of cake.

Some bail rollers are sent out dry - no lube at all on this often overlooked but important part.

My friend Simon has at least four Van Staals that I know of. They are precision made and tough. They are also heavy and have a slow retrieve. I think they are overkill for stripers but he likes them. I can see an advantage for the guys standing in the suds all day or night.

I now take all my Slammers apart too when new. Not only may they not be lubed properly, but they may have screws not tightened properly that will come loose and cause problems eventually.

 

[cisco651]

Bill...Maybe you ought to catch smaller fish..LOL

Bruce

 

[Barefoot]

Saw dust!

Work in noisy rear ends (for a while)

 

[mosgo]

I run the Bail-less Van STAALs. looks different but it's Tough as nails and I never had a problem..

 

[Wild Bill]

Work in noisy rear ends (for a while)

There are a number of comments that could follow that statement.

 

[ctb]

Get a Shimano, have Jerry at Reel Perfection service it annually, end of story. I don't understand folks who go with Penn, Okuma and Quantum. Daiwa makes good stuff too. As for cranking the drag down and not playing fish, is that a new technique or just cool?

 

[Wild Bill]

As for cranking the drag down and not playing fish, is that a new technique or just cool?

It is just a quick efficient way to land a fish. It does not work with really big fish and the drag still has to be set well under the breaking strength of the line. This works with stripers up to about 8 pounds, which covers many caught in the bay. Even bigger fish should not be "played". They should be pumped to gain line when necessary and brought to the boat as quickly as the tackle will allow. I do not know if it is cool or what that has to do with anything. It is just the way I enjoy doing it. For me the idea of catching fish is to land them, not play with them.

As for reels, if only one make suited everyone, there would only be one make. Penn Slammers are my choice in spinners.

 

[reeltor]

A couple of years ago I purchased a Cabo trolling reel for 160.00. When I opened it up I realized I'd made a mistake. I was amazed at the make up of this reel. It might be an engineering marvel, but small gears, lots of plastic and too many parts for me.I should have read the schematic. Never again... If I can't rebuild it I'm not buying it. I will say I've had no problems with it though.

 

[Wild Bill]

A couple of years ago I purchased a Cabo trolling reel for 160.00. When I opened it up I realized I'd made a mistake. I was amazed at the make up of this reel. It might be an engineering marvel, but small gears, lots of plastic and too many parts for me.I should have read the schematic. Never again... If I can't rebuild it I'm not buying it. I will say I've had no problems with it though.

I agree Paul. Came to the exact same conclusion about their spinning reels.

 

[Polkster]

Next time, I highly recommend Joe Cox in Prince Frederick, MD. He is very reasonable and does an awesome job. He also repairs rods and custom builds nice rods as well.
The Reel Thing Rod and Reel Repair and Custom Rod Building by Joe Cox - Home

 

[going2fast]

always wanted to try one of those bailless van stalls. not even sure how it works but it looks kool. reminds me of the old mitchell 300 reels. now that was a tough reel. bought a cheapo penn captiva and the first time i used it smoked the drag. caught 4 spades at the light tower[9.4, 10 even 11.4 and 13.2] had to hand line the last one in. but those fish will destroy all but the best reels. never buy cheap again.