Reel Flaws

[JOJOPRO]

Okay so everyone talks up how great their pins are, but never say anything about their flaws. If you've fished a reel enough, or especially if you have fished more than one reel, then I'm sure you have come to find at least one thing that you would change about a particular reel. So let's here some honest criticisms (not manufacturer bashings) of the reels you currently fish or have fished.

I have only ever fished with my Raven Vectra SST-2. My only complaints are;
* The clicker mechanism / On/Off ratchet, does not slide On/Off smoothly.
* I would have preferred they not put any porting into the back-plate. The next reel I purchase will most definitely not have any porting in the back-plate to help keep out dirt and grit.
* The adjustable tension screw is both a blessing and a curse. I love that it allows you to remove the spool from the pin and back-plate quickly and easily without any tools. My complaint about it is that, the screw tends to adjust itself. The screw will loosen at times and you must check it occasionally to make sure it's not coming out, (or falling out into the river while you're fighting a fish ).

John

[Mepps3]

Owned both and sold both.

Bob James handles are to loose and catch line (concave shape) Also the On/Off ratchet lever is in the way. Nothing better then casting a screamer Play in the spool (not tight compared to other reels in this price range). Price is to high for this reel imho.

Milner Kingfisher spool is to soft of a metal. It does not take much to dent or nick. Great reel other then that.

[Frogpoop]

my mykiss collects skein juice....

[Joewallguy]

The screw that holds the backplate of my kingpin on likes to tighten its self till I cant get if off without a tool.

Also the clicker is a little screwy in my opinion. It would hardly move intill I lubed it up and now that I have lubed it, it is way to lose. Hardly stops the spool.

For $525 I thought the clicker would be better......like on a millner????


Still love the reel though. I know I can get something for the clicker problem and make it stronger (like Mepps has) but why should I have to. LIke I said, I payed $525 for the darm thing!!!

[FishKilla419]

The screw that holds the backplate of my kingpin on likes to tighten its self till I cant get if off without a tool.

Also the clicker sucks in my opinion. It would hardly move intill I lubed it up and now that I have lubed it, it is way to lose. Hardly stops the spool.

For $525 I thought the clicker would be better......like on a millner????


Still love the reel though. I know I can get something for the clicker problem and make it stronger (like Mepps has) but why should I have to. LIke I said, I payed $525 for the darm thing!!!

This is the kind of stuff I was looking to hear about in my comparison post.
Good to hear from somebody who owns one and uses it regularly.

[Frogpoop]

zero nadda zilch in the problem department with my king Pin..

[Phishin incident]

JW, Purist II....I think there is becoming some play between the spindle and the spool, rattles and clicks when i reel quickly (retrieving) But other than that its been great...ive had it since i was 15.

Anyone else have this ratling feauture?

[Paine Falls]

Paine Falls - Genesis

Truth be told. I am the best critic of my work.

- Some reels have a line trap issue between spool and back plate. The idea was to keep the clearance on the larger side so that dirt and water can more easily flow through so that the reel is not perceived as a sensitive reel. All reels measure the same clearance wise, but 3 reels out of 15 have had a reporting of line trap issue. I have not experienced it myself. I use 12lb main line. Gap will be reduced on future reels.

- Spool has radial play that is not bad, but is present. Other reels with Q.R.'s have more. Play is actually in the bearings. Currently switching to using bearing spacers to take up the play. I'm also considering removing the Q.R. and having it as an option.

- Clicker gear is perceived to be too agressive (too large of teeth), but it is a design feature to deter people from using the clicker as a drag and then removing the possibility of clicker failure if accidentally turned on during battle.

- The guy that makes them is going in too many directions, but is currently dialing back to focus more on the business.

That is all the quality issues that the PFC has that I am aware of. Some are more or less a matter of preference.

[Bill Shearer]

Joewallguy
Send me your address by PM, and I'll send you a stronger spring and a new pawl.

I have had many different reels over the years, and every one of them had something about it that I grew to dislike. The thing of it is, that the thing I dislike, might be the very thing that the next guy puts down as the thing he loves about the reel.
Like all things in life we have to compromise.

And one more thought.
If there is anything about any product you purchased, that bugs you, let the manufacturer know. That's the only way to get things improved.

[Centerpin Bob]

I have the Raven Matrix XL 5".
Porting holes on the handle side are about a 1/4" in Diameter. Porting holes go all the way around near the rim of the spool. The porting holes are not large enough to do a fast line retrieval using your finger in the larger ports like other reels have. Even though I knew and recognized this potential issue when I purchased the reel I thought I could just use the handles for Line retrieval. I have since only confirmed to myself that having the larger ports allows for much faster line retrieval specially on those long drifts. Otherwise great reel for the price.

[Joewallguy]

Joewallguy
Send me your address by PM, and I'll send you a stronger spring and a new pawl.

I have had many different reels over the years, and every one of them had something about it that I grew to dislike. The thing of it is, that the thing I dislike, might be the very thing that the next guy puts down as the thing he loves about the reel.
Like all things in life we have to compromise.

And one more thought.
If there is anything about any product you purchased, that bugs you, let the manufacturer know. That's the only way to get things improved.

Are you the manufacturer???
I hope I did not come off to strong.
Let me say this, I love my Kingpin. I would not trade it for any other pin. I have just had a few little issues with it that I know I could solve if I contacted the manufacturer. I have just been lazy and I fish too much.

I have fished this reel 100 out of the 150 days I have owned it. Fished it alot! It's a work horse and a runner for sure.

[float_angler]

Joe, Floatman55 is Kingpin rep. and from what I hear
pretty nice guy. (And he catches fair amount of steelie to boot )

I have in my collection (I use them all through out the year NOTHING
sits in my case and collects dust!) exactly 28 float reels some of them
one offs, some of the highly collectable and some of them mass
produced.

Some of them really nice to look at but spins like a wooden wagon wheel,
some of them super light but can't get past the spool flex.
clickers too weak, too strong, hard to engage, mechanism in the
wrong place. Handles too short, too long, wrong taper...
holds too much line, not enough line. Too heavy, bulky, and plain
ugly...Foot too long, short, off centre, off set, regular, extra crispy...?
Silver, green, gold, black, purple...

I love them all. Right now I'm fishing a rare (I was told, Bill?)
chromed out kingpin. Love the reel but I'm not sure if I'm spooking
steelies with the super bright reflection off the reel...or am I attracting
them

[Mepps3]

Joe, Floatman55 is Kingpin rep. and from what I hear
pretty nice guy. (And he catches fair amount of steelie to boot )

I have in my collection (I use them all through out the year NOTHING
sits in my case and collects dust!) exactly 28 float reels some of them
one offs, some of the highly collectable and some of them mass
produced.

Some of them really nice to look at but spins like a wooden wagon wheel,
some of them super light but can't get past the spool flex.
clickers too weak, too strong, hard to engage, mechanism in the
wrong place. Handles too short, too long, wrong taper...
holds too much line, not enough line. Too heavy, bulky, and plain
ugly...Foot too long, short, off centre, off set, regular, extra crispy...?
Silver, green, gold, black, purple...

I love them all. Right now I'm fishing a rare (I was told, Bill?)
chromed out kingpin. Love the reel but I'm not sure if I'm spooking
steelies with the super bright reflection off the reel...or am I attracting
them

I would like to see the chromed out kingpin Post a picture!

[Bill Shearer]

float_angler
If you are referring to a 4 7/8" reel, then the silver,(chrome?) is a recent, but now 'standard' colour.
If the reel is a 4 1/2" original, then it is in fact, rare.

Thanks for the compliments as well

[Mepps3]

float_angler
If you are referring to a 4 7/8" reel, then the silver,(chrome?) is a recent, but now 'standard' colour.
If the reel is a 4 1/2" original, then it is in fact, rare.

Thanks for the compliments as well

Here is my 4 7/8 in silver/chrome....is why I asked:



and my other in flat silver: