Hi,
I recently purchased a Shakespeare 7'9" Wonderod, model 1240 (1955-6) and a vintage Pflueger Medalist reel, model 1495, to go with it. In my opinion, they look very good together. The balance is not bad, but with a DT7F line on the reel, the balance point is still further forward than I would like (it balances just on the front edge of the grip).
The rod came from the seller with a South Bend automatic reel attached; an Oren-O-Matic Balanced Reel, No. 1140, Model C. This reel, which may have been purchased with the rod (no real way for me to tell), balances the rod very nicely. In another post, Cornmuse suggested that I consider an automatic reel for this rod and said that they are much maligned, but can be enjoyable to fish. So, I'm now interested in spending some time with this reel, as an alternative to the Medalist 1495.
When the Oren-O-Matic arrived with the rod, it didn't work in the line-out mode. No matter what you did, the line went back onto the spool. The line-in mode (retrieve) worked fine and the retrieve spring seems to be strong. There's a little stainless steel rectangular bar that pops up in the line-out mode on the edge of one of the face plates and which is compressed when the retrieve handle is pressed up towards the rod. Initially, it didn't pop up at all. I've now worked it back and forth with my fingers many times and have oiled the stainless rectangle on both sides and it now seems to pop up consistently in the line-out mode.
The other face of the reel also has an outer ring that has a knurled edge and which turns, as does a stainless ring that's just inside of this outer ring. I don't know the purpose of either of these features. I suspect that the reel needs some service on the inside, in order to get it in proper working order.
Is there anyone out there who can help me with taking this reel apart, inspecting it and lubricating/correcting anything that needs to be done. With what feels like a still internal spring and with just enough experience with antique clock springs to know that I don't want to make a wrong move here, I need some advice before I head for my trusty screwdriver and pull the face plates off. A photocopy of the instructions that came with this reel would also be very helpful, if anyone has one. Thanks in advance.
I recently purchased a Shakespeare 7'9" Wonderod, model 1240 (1955-6) and a vintage Pflueger Medalist reel, model 1495, to go with it. In my opinion, they look very good together. The balance is not bad, but with a DT7F line on the reel, the balance point is still further forward than I would like (it balances just on the front edge of the grip).
The rod came from the seller with a South Bend automatic reel attached; an Oren-O-Matic Balanced Reel, No. 1140, Model C. This reel, which may have been purchased with the rod (no real way for me to tell), balances the rod very nicely. In another post, Cornmuse suggested that I consider an automatic reel for this rod and said that they are much maligned, but can be enjoyable to fish. So, I'm now interested in spending some time with this reel, as an alternative to the Medalist 1495.
When the Oren-O-Matic arrived with the rod, it didn't work in the line-out mode. No matter what you did, the line went back onto the spool. The line-in mode (retrieve) worked fine and the retrieve spring seems to be strong. There's a little stainless steel rectangular bar that pops up in the line-out mode on the edge of one of the face plates and which is compressed when the retrieve handle is pressed up towards the rod. Initially, it didn't pop up at all. I've now worked it back and forth with my fingers many times and have oiled the stainless rectangle on both sides and it now seems to pop up consistently in the line-out mode.
The other face of the reel also has an outer ring that has a knurled edge and which turns, as does a stainless ring that's just inside of this outer ring. I don't know the purpose of either of these features. I suspect that the reel needs some service on the inside, in order to get it in proper working order.
Is there anyone out there who can help me with taking this reel apart, inspecting it and lubricating/correcting anything that needs to be done. With what feels like a still internal spring and with just enough experience with antique clock springs to know that I don't want to make a wrong move here, I need some advice before I head for my trusty screwdriver and pull the face plates off. A photocopy of the instructions that came with this reel would also be very helpful, if anyone has one. Thanks in advance.
