So the drag just stopped working, cold turkey? No gradual degradation of function over time?

I had a similar thing happen to a BBS III a few years back - one day there was simply no drag or resistance whatsoever in the line-out direction. In fact the spool rotated like a bicycle wheel in line-out. After looking at all the parts, cleaning them thoroughly and a good deal of head-scratching, I ended up taking it to Leland in the Bellevue Orvis store.

He took one look at the free-rotating spool and pronounced it a catastrophic drag failure. We tested that theory by putting my spool on a new frame, which then worked perfectly. Since my spool already had backing and line on it, he replaced my old frame on the spot and I walked away thoroughy impressed once again with Orvis' customer service. BTW, that reel has performed flawlessly ever since.

K

 

The Bellevue shop will open at noon, but in the mean time, navigate to www.orvis.com, and scroll down to the "Live Chat" section. There are technical experts at hand 7 days a week to assist.

 

Thanks Derek!! And Ken, I don't even have an extra spool to try, believe it or not..... I need lots of gear this year!

 

I called Orvis back East, but they had no one there that could help today anyway. I called Dov in Bellevue and he walked me thru as best he could, (and he is good) and we still couldn't figure it out. Everything seems to seat properly. I put the bearing on the shaft by itself and tightened the drag and it sinches tightly! What gives? I am puzzled. Everything seems "flush" when I put things back together. I understand Orvis won't send me parts (unless I beg them on the phone tomorrow). I'm going crazy over this. Especially since I had the reel refurbished and sent in last Spring to Orvis...... Any ideas or experiences are more than welcome!!

 

Larry, does that model have a groove in the shaft where a spring clip is inserted to hold the bearing cup down to the drag in the body of the reel? I once lost my spring clip and when I felt the bearing assembly by hand it felt like it was working. Once I seated the spool, nothing. I finally realized that I had lost the spring clip after looking online at the exploded out reel construction/parts diagram. A few minute looking around my work station with a magnetic bar found the spring clip. Cleaned it up, slipped it into the grove and the drag was fine. Ed

 

Nope. You are supposed to be out fishing Ed!

 

Sorry Larry. I'd like to be fishing but we are having an inside to get healthy weekend. Maybe mid week when those with jobs are working!

 

Update: So I took my reel over to my fishing pals joint. We looked and looked and couldn't detect anything really easily visible. After looking under some magnification and sliding the bearing on the clutch gear shaft, we determined (and it is hard to see with the naked eye) that the clutch gear shaft has slight wear sort of on the upper half where the one way clutch bearing rides.....just enough so it can slip. (It would not slip when we put the bearing on by itself, but only when we raised up up on the clutch gear shaft a bit) Conclusion. It appears it will probably have to be sent to Orvis for replacement of the clutch gear and could probably use a new bearing as well. The clutch gear has a small shaft that sticks up and that is what the gear rides on. If you look at the CFO diagram, you will understand this better if interested. Point is, you can't "see" the wear very much. It took us a good hour or more to figure out what we think was going on. Bottom line tho, I love my CFO reel.

 

Bottom line tho, I love my CFO reel.

A disc drag CFO was my "I finally have my dream reel!" reel. Believe it or not, AFTER getting Abels, Pates, Tibors, Sages, All the biggies in the late 80's to 2000! I finally worked for an Orvis Dealer in 2000, and it was the first thing I bought on the guide program. I had wanted an Orvis reel from childhood. I love them too. My favorite all around "troutfit" is my SP 589-5 and CFO.

 

I'm a firm believer in simple mechanisms.

 

Update: For those who love their CFO Orvis reel: I had to send my reel to Orvis in Vermont for repair. I was correct in figuring out what was wrong. The gentleman on the phone from Orvis was the nicest person I have ever spoken with. He rushed the repair order for me and I have the reel back in my hands as of April 12th. It was completely refurbished inside. Sweet service!!! Just plain sweet!!! Thank you ORVIS!!!!!! That was something like 12 days sent/returned repair! It's like brand new.