Daiwa SS700 - Servicing the Classic

The classic Daiwa SS700, a reel that is from another era but yet still in production today shows that this reel does stand against the test of time. It is a robust reel, compact reel with a strong drag system, and of course the distinctive sound of line out, it's music to any angler that very distintive 'ting-ting' that tells the world that the SS700 is in action.

In this fast moving, ever evolving world of technology, I wonder why would anyone wanted to get this reel. It's anti-reverse is so old school, nothing like the instant lock up of those anti-reverse bearing, it is much heavier that those newer reels, it's roller system is a joke and it is a pain in the ass to dismantle and service this reel. I wonder how many folks who have buy it, dun like it and sell it off ASAP, if not for it cult status, my guess is that no one is willing to pay around SGD150 for this reel.

I have it, I tried to make it better, but failed. So have to use it as it is except for a slight modification of the bushing to bearing for the worm shaft. And I do like it because it's uses the worm shaft design which I like. But to service it is another matter altogether, I seriously do think that this reel production is very labour intensive (maybe that's why it is shifted to Thailand?), you will see why in the servicing portion below.

Ofmer Axis 6 - Servicing the reel

The tiny Ofmer Axis 6, one I have been pretty much in recent times. As I am trying out an experiment to check how will the grease I uses stood against the constant usage and if it can still offer protection, I didn't open up this reel for a pretty long time. Now time to service it and to check out if any rust can be found since my last servicing.

Before I go into the servicing portion, a quick recap what I have done prior to this servicing. This reel is greased using Abu Teflon grease and bearings with Abu Teflon infused oil. With these Teflon in both oil and grease, the reel is indeed very very smooth to use, after a prolong use, the thin layer of grease is still found on the gears. No rust or any corrosion is found, but bearing in mind that I didn't use this in any salt water environment, not too sure if it will last on reels used in saltwater fishing.

Back to the servicing, Text in within the pics itself to make easier reading and more precise. Very simple job, for more details do refer to a more in depth write up on Reel servicing

North Fork Composites blanks

Been a while since I put something up on this blog, been busy lately plus having to serve my nation for 2 weeks keep me away for a while. Problem is that I haven't been fishing lately so what can I put in here? Luck have it that recently I am doing some search on the net to look for a 3 section 15ft noodle rod, previously I saw one piece for sale at a US website which is built by Dick Swan, but by the time they responded it is already sold.

One thing leads to another, then I saw an article that got my attention, it is about Gary Loomis (yup the same guy that started 'G Loomis' the company and partner with a Taiwan firm for 'Loomis & Franklin') first started his rod business by buying fly blanks and transform it into a noodle rod so that he can downsize his terminal when the fishes are not biting. Anyway, what have happen to between the man and the company is that he sold it off to Shimano more then a decade ago but stay at the company likely because of contract obligations. Recently, he is back to to a business he is familiar, manufacture blanks and his new company is North Fork Composites