Shakespeare "synergy Steel" Spincast Reel Problems

[Haris122]

I just got done tinkering with the Synergy Steel Spincast reel I had bought a few days before New Year for the last time, before violently "dismantling" it. So I wanted to see if this design has been as problematic for other people as it has for me, or what is up with it. I know they only cost like $12 but frankly I expected even a $12 reel to hold up to at least half if not a full year of normal use.

I frequently had problems with something binding up the line as I was casting, so that instead of a nice distant cast, I wound up with the bind in mid cast, and then the line falling barely 9 yards or so on average away from me. I kept taking the thing apart and seeing the lines cutting into the soft metal on which it would travel when spooling and unspooling, as well as the pins that reel the line in. I kept coming up with momentary fixes, and the darn reel eventually would get back to the same problem. I'm glad I got a better one for my birthday, but it seriously annoys me that this stupid thing cost me so much time and portion of my sanity, on top of the $12 without ever amounting to anything useful. Right now I wish I could've "stoned" whoever designed the stupid thing with it, in process of my violent dismantling. Seems had they heat treated or strengthened the metal in some other way, all these dumb problems would've never shown up.

[moguy1973]

Maybe its just a case of you get what you pay for? I'd chalk that one up to the trash can and bite the bullet and spend another $12 for a new one.

[Haris122]

Trust me, other than the trashcan there's no where else I can chalk this one too now. As far getting another one, I don't know if I'm going to make the same mistake twice even if I'm cheap.

Then again, I do still have some things that could be used as spare parts if I get another one of those. Hmm. I guess I'll see.

[junkman]

Never seen many of the new/cheep spin casts worth much to me. I use a trusty old metal Zebco 33 that I rescued from the junk yard. been using it for 6 years now and still going. Have been considering one of the higher end spin casts from Abu Garcia but figured I would hold off till the trusty 33 quits. But then again I have a spare from the junk yard when it goes down. Many would argue with me , but I have used these reals all my life so I am pretty accurate with a spin cast so why change.