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Loose Reel Seat

958 views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  Tyler Speir  
#1 ·
Apparently the reel seat on my 10'6" Bruce and Walker fiberglass switch rod is loose. When I got it the threaded lower handle was missing, so I replaced it with an insert and lower switch rod handle. After letting this cure well I took it out to cast as a two hander and felt the slop. It was not an odd flexing feeling, but a wiggle in the reel seat. I had not previously felt this as I hand only cast it single handed, holding the upper cork only for casting.

Upon further flex testing I can see that the reel seat and lower end of the upper handle junction is the area of the slop. Is this something that will need to be pulled and repaired, replaced? How complex would you say this job will be? Thanks. Ed
 
#2 ·
Don't understand what you mean by "felt the slop". Is there a vibration? Is slop extra glue that oozed out when gluing it together? Did your glue cure correctly?

As far a removing it and replacing it, the hard part is getting the old part off, if the glue cured well. You can't always salvage the part that you're removing. I don't do this type of repair, but have seen it done by others or something similar. Take a pic and post it too, maybe then we can see what you're dealing with. Unless it's just something you can feel when casting.
 
#3 ·
BZ, I can hold the upper handle at the bottom and feel not flex but wiggle between what I now presume is the fiberglass blank and the reel seat. When I've built rods the reel seat has fully encased the butt of the blank, building the butt up to snug match the internal diameter of the reel seat. There is either a breakdown in this build up or this seat is just wiggling loose. I can probably post a photo of the area where there is "slop" meaning that there is an abnormal flexing action that is not one you feel when casting normally. You'd know in one cast as you felt this wiggle between your hands on a spey cast. I guess I could just strip off the current handle, replace the reel seat and go forward. I think I even have parts in my garage to do it all. Maybe the next time I see you I'll have it with me for you to see and feel or I'll have turned it into a project and fixed it (which would require me to clean off my rod building work bench that I've not used for that purpose for three or so years. Now is it just a place for me to stage all of my in season fly fishing gear.)

Many thanks.
 
#7 ·
Thanks Tyler. I'll try Dave's approach. I would hate to trouble you as you are probably pretty busy with all the family activity. You sir, do amazing rod work though and I hope to have you build me or the girls something in the future. Thanks again.