My reel has a problem.

[jooleyen]

I spent $65 on a Cabela's Prodigy (relabeled Team Dawia Advantage) three days ago and it seems to be having problems already.
Odd problems are:

- The drag is very smooth, but when I test it by pushing my thumb against the spool and turning the handle, the line-guide on the reel doesn't move side to side, but it does on all of my other baitcasters. (This may just be Team Daiwa's method of engineering)

- The reel makes an odd screeching noise during the cast when the tension is set kind of tight.

- When I loosen the tension knob, the screeching noise stops, but an annoying loud knocking noise occurs due to the spool being so loose and free. The spool shakes from side to side during the cast.


Now I'm thinking I really need to buy that reel maintenance video from the Lake Fork website. I'll also get some Quantum Hot Sauce oil/grease.

You guys think it just needs to be lubed?

[BigBassin144]

Ok, Joolz, you made me curious. I went and checked out my baitcasters (both of which are daiwa's). On My new Viento (199.99), the line guide does move while holding the spool to activate drag. On my other, a Procaster SE (79.99) the line guide does not. I belive that this only occurs in higher end Daiwa's. My suggestion: Take it back.

BB

[jooleyen]

I was just mentioning that because I found it odd, but I honestly do not think that has anything to do with the other two problems. The reel is discontinued, so I don't think they'll take it back. I'll do everything I can to fix it. Or sell it on Ebay.

[pig n jig]

You lost me. First thing , its not necessary for the line pawl to move when taking drag.Second, make sure your Magnetic brake setting is working.Maybe the retainer ring is loose.Move the magnetic settings back and forth and see if it changes. The third thing is, put the line pawl in the center of the spool when casting and see if the sound stopped.The line pawl might be way to one side and the line stripping off to the one side will make some noise. If you have some oil, remove the spool and add a drop of oil to the spool bearings.A dry bearing will squeal, but being new,it should have had excessive oil. Keep the spool tension knob just tight enough that you cannot chuck the spool back and forth by hand. Let me know If I lost you ? P N J

[jooleyen]

I'm still here PNJ I'll try that as soon as I can get my hands on reel oil. Would you trust that Danielson Reel Oil I got from Sportsman's Warehouse for $1.50?

[pig n jig]

Originally Posted by jooleyen

I'm still here PNJ I'll try that as soon as I can get my hands on reel oil. Would you trust that Danielson Reel Oil I got from Sportsman's Warehouse for $1.50?

Jools, Danielson would be fine.I buy regular sewing machine oil.It is a high grade oil for stainless steel bearings in sewing machines and you can get it at a real low price per volume of oil.In customer reels, I try to use Shimano oil, or Hot sauce.I leave it up to the customer. I do like the sewing machine oil,its a great oil, but wouldn't put it in a customers reel, unless they were ok with it and I prefer not to ask them.I have plenty of the reel brand oils on hand.If you haven't bought any, I might suggest the ardent brand reel butter oil.Its a high grade oil as well designed for reels. P N J

[jooleyen]

I can see you're viewing the thread PNJ. I don't want to edit my last post, but with your advice I did some testing. I put the line pawl in the middle and casted with the tension set JUUUST to where the spool wouldn't move from side to side. The magnetic brakes do work. I tried from the highest setting on the brakes to the lowest, but I still got the howling noise.

Then I adjusted the tension knob and set the magnetic brakes from the highest to the lowest setting. When the brakes were on high, I didn't cast far, I got the spool knocking, and I got the howling noise. With the brakes on low everything was perfect!... except for the fact that I got the howling noise, the spool knocking, cold hands because it was the last thing I tested, and a niiiiceee biiiggg backlash. I checked the screws to see if they were loose, but they're fine.

[BigBassin144]

As for reel oil, I recommend Abu Garcia. Both oil and grease. So do the majority of the guys that work at the Cabela's near me. I'd still try to tack it back. Cabela's claims they have great costomer satisfaction, so If they want to keep it, they'll take it back.

BB

[pig n jig]

Jools, hold the rod out in front of you with a weight tied on and engage the reel, adjust the spool tension knob to where the weight slowly creeps to the floor when the reel is engaged.That is where you want your tension set at for most casting presentations.If you take the side plate off to oil the spool bearings.look at the magnetic plate and make sure its locked in the side plate and not flopping freely. It shouldn't be loose. P N J

[weaverml34]

Joolz,

Why does it seem you have issues with every reel you buy? What are you doing to your reels? I hope you get everything worked out but it seems odd to me that you have so many issues with your reels.

[pig n jig]

The Daiwa magnet setting should be placed at 3, or 4 and then the spool tension knob set accordingly. That way you can adjust the magnetic setting higher for windy conditions. P N J

[jooleyen]

Weaverml43, I was talking to Lunker-Lander today, and I said the same thing. I do have many issues with my reels. Maybe It's because I don't oil them every month? Either way, I've had problems with two or three new reels.

Now, PNJ, what part should I be oiling? I'm ready to try this...

[BigBassin144]

Joolz, I never oiled my reel once this past summer. I oil all of mine once a year before spring. That's it. I've never had any problems. I honsetly don't think you should need to oil them once a month... Unless you're out like super power fishing 24/7.

BB

[Lilmoosecountry]

Discontinued or not. TAKE IT BACK. They should give you your money back if nothing else. Most stores have a Return policy.

[jasonfish320]

Oil should not be the problem here, unless of course it's getting wet or moisture has gotten in...have you tried taking that line off? I noticed from the pics that you've got mono/floro on there....I would first take everything off and free spin the empty spool to see if you get that howling sound..if so, you've probably got bearing issues..you can take it back or you can buy replacements bearings..it makes it a lot easier if you have the schematics of your reel, and I think that Daiwa no longer has them online, but you might find it elsewhere.

I had this problem with a shimano once and it turned out to be a small broken piece of a washer inside the reel...easy fix..just needed the schematics...this will make it a lot easier to put things back together properly...Good Luck!

[jooleyen]

No, you can't make the howling noise without casting unless you can spin the spool extremely fast. My dad also bought the same reel and I tried to cast on very low tension, and it made the knocking noise also. Do you think this is just a coincidence, or do Team Daiwa Advantages really suck that badly? It's just a relabeled TD A, right?

[weaverml34]

Originally Posted by jooleyen

No, you can't make the howling noise without casting unless you can spin the spool extremely fast. My dad also bought the same reel and I tried to cast on very low tension, and it made the knocking noise also. Do you think this is just a coincidence, or do Team Daiwa Advantages really suck that badly? It's just a relabeled TD A, right?

Joolz you are correct. The Cabela's Prodigy is the Daiwa TD Advantage relabled for Cabelas. There's an article on tackletour.com about Cabela's deal with Daiwa to make a couple of reels for them.

[brushhog]

Originally Posted by weaverml34

Joolz,

Why does it seem you have issues with every reel you buy? What are you doing to your reels? I hope you get everything worked out but it seems odd to me that you have so many issues with your reels.

Hey joolz, Don't feel bad. I've got a brother in law who is the same way with cars. Every car for twenty years has been a lemon or he wrecked it.... Cars cost more than reels!

[lunker-lander]

Wheeeew!, I was gonna buy that reel for my St.Croix Avid PNJ Rod, but now I'm glad I sure as hell didn't!

LOL, hope ya get it fixed Julien...

-Dane

[weaverml34]

Joolz hope this helps. There should be another bearing behind your tension control knob. To get to that one just loosen your tension control know until it comes off. Be careful not to lose your tension spring. The bearing will be right behind the spring. If you take the eraser end of a pencil and put into the inner race of the bearing you should be able to pull it out.

[weaverml34]

Originally Posted by jooleyen

I spent $65 on a Cabela's Prodigy (relabeled Team Dawia Advantage) three days ago and it seems to be having problems already.
Odd problems are:

- The drag is very smooth, but when I test it by pushing my thumb against the spool and turning the handle, the line-guide on the reel doesn't move side to side, but it does on all of my other baitcasters. (This may just be Team Daiwa's method of engineering)

- The reel makes an odd screeching noise during the cast when the tension is set kind of tight.

- When I loosen the tension knob, the screeching noise stops, but an annoying loud knocking noise occurs due to the spool being so loose and free. The spool shakes from side to side during the cast.


Now I'm thinking I really need to buy that reel maintenance video from the Lake Fork website. I'll also get some Quantum Hot Sauce oil/grease.

You guys think it just needs to be lubed?

Joolz I just thought of something else. If you have your tension control set too tight it may compress the tension spring enough that it might be rubbing against the spool shaft. Take your tension control completely off and make sure that spring isn't messed up.

[jooleyen]

I tried what you said, but I still can't get rid of the howling. It isn't as bad as it was at first. I don't think I'm going to return it because everything else seems fine and it was only $60. However, I did not find a spring.