Fenwick Cassette Reel Q?

[kjackson]

I've been trying to review my older fly gear with an idea of thinning the herd.  Started to play a bit with the Fenwick cassette reel and discovered that I couldn't get the blinking plastic cassette to release. I tried pushing the spool release on the outside of the reel, rocking the stupid thing back and forth, tried prying (just a little) and calling it names to see if it would come out and fight. However, I have had no joy.  Now it is a pretty good reel, albeit it mostly unused, and it would be all right using it with the cassette in place. However, I also have three other cassettes. It would be great to have them all working and be able to change lines during the course of a trip.

Has anyone information or experience with this reel? What am I doing wrong?  

[fishinwrench]

I had a Cortland cassette reel once.  The "cassettes" weren't vented and my backing turned black and rotted after the reel got dunked.   

[tjm]

23 hours ago, kjackson said:

What am I doing wrong?  

Never seen that reel, but my guess is that it wants lubrication, or more accurately cleaning of old hardened lubrication.  If the release is reasonably accessible, my "go to" would be BOESHIELD T-9. (or kerosene), being sure to keep the solvent off the line and backing. However, I might first try mixing a teaspoon of Dawn into a quart or so of hot water and immersing then soaking the whole reel for a couple hours to give the detergent time to soak into and dissolve the sticky stuff. Having rescued a few old reels I'm really skeptical of even using "reel lube".   Might be better to pull the line off prior to doing any reel work. And this is just what I guess that I would do,  not something warranted to work.

[kjackson]

18 hours ago, tjm said:

Never seen that reel, but my guess is that it wants lubrication, or more accurately cleaning of old hardened lubrication.  If the release is reasonably accessible, my "go to" would be BOESHIELD T-9. (or kerosene), being sure to keep the solvent off the line and backing. However, I might first try mixing a teaspoon of Dawn into a quart or so of hot water and immersing then soaking the whole reel for a couple hours to give the detergent time to soak into and dissolve the sticky stuff. Having rescued a few old reels I'm really skeptical of even using "reel lube".   Might be better to pull the line off prior to doing any reel work. And this is just what I guess that I would do,  not something warranted to work.

Thanks.

I am amazed that I can't make the blasted thing--the cartridge--even move; it's like the thing is locked in place. I could see it being a build up of old grease, saltwater and dirt, but the reel has only been used twice.  I'm going to try the Dawn solution and then move on to something more chemical after that if the soak doesn't break it loose.  And yes, I'll remove the line and backing first.  In my web search, I found no info on getting the cartridge free but did see one site offering the reel for $699 and another site with a final sale price of $16.  

[tjm]

In a lot of old reels that I've messed with in the past grease turns to cheese and oil turns to varnish. The latches on most reels is simple enough that the ones I've seen fail let the parts fall out, so I think it's a good guess that sticky oil is playing a part. What model is the reel? Maybe an online parts illustration would help.

[kjackson]

Thanks for the advice. I took the 1400 yards of backing (a slight exaggeration) and line off the cartridge and face plate and dunked it in a warm water and dish soap bath. Maybe five minutes later, the cartridge popped right off.  So I took some Q-tips and alcohol and cleaned the old grease off and from the inside of the cartridge.  Now, though, when I press the cartridge back in place, pushing it until it clicks in place, it's still a bugger to get it to release.  I'm going to check on what I can use to lubricate it--the cartridge is plastic of some kind-- and see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'll be selling the reel and the three extra cartridges that go with it because it won't be easy to change lines while I'm fishing.  

I've looked for a parts list, and there don't appear to be any online. The model is the Fenwick DCC560...

Here's an image of the reel, not that it does much but show you what it looks like. You can see the rim of the cartridge if you look closely.  https://hueckmanauction.hibid.com/lot/66282658/fenwick-cartridge-dcc56-fly-reel-made-in-usa/

 

[tjm]

I found this of the DCC78 model that may be the same as yours, as I think that same mechanism was used under many names-

I would take out the two screws that hold the latch cover #9 on and clean inside that, take things like that apart inside a shopping bag or pillow case so that the springs don't escape. If that spring #11 is full of hard grease or otherwise defective it could be your release problem.

If I want to lube something that I don't want to use oil or grease on, I usually use wax and on things like a fly reel spindle I may use bar soap like Ivory, just rubbed on. Wax I use depends on situation, paste wax smeared on and buffed off leaves a pretty slick surface, or a lump of paraffin rubbed on and left as residue, even rubbing with wax paper can work.

 

 

[kjackson]

I'm going to give up on this reel...at least as far as being able to change the cassettes when on the water. I followed the above advice and lubed the spindle/shaft (Number 3 on the top diagram) with paraffin and pushed the spool on until it clicked in place.  It should have popped free with little effort...at least that is what I was thinking. However, the cassette wouldn't release until I ran hot water on  it...so I tried one of the unused cassettes, thinking that it might just be a glitch in the original. It wasn't. I may try a Teflon lube and see if that will do it.  Or I'll just get rid of it and the three spare cassettes and call it good.

I appreciate the help and advice.  Thanks!

[tjm]

push spool in while working the release?  rotate spool cover slightly while working larch release? is there a burr in the lock groove of the spindle?  lock button bent? (I'm not positive but think that should be flat and if bowed up or down could bind)

I very rarely  change spools while fishing, hardly ever use any line but a floating line in the streams anyway, and in still water if the conditions are right for a sinking line or floating line when I rig up, they are likely to remain so throughout that session. I mostly use the spare spools I have for lines in other weights and change spools when using a different rod. At least you can use that reel with one line if you chose and perhaps with use the latch will "wear in".