i admit it. i've never had anything completely nice to say about any reel. well, i always try to find something positive, but the reason i'm working on a reel because broken. it always starts on the negative, never totally positive. that's about to change....
here's the link to the manufacturer.....
Pro Gear Reels - Simply the Best . . .
schematics are not listed for every reel, so i'm going to wing it.
prior to this, the last albacore special i opened up was several years ago. i had lubed it up and switched out the composite drag washers for greased carbon fiber, and sent the reel on it's way. last month i was sent two albacore specials that were basically brand new. when servicing a reel, it is my standard to grease the screw holes, grease the non-exposed metal surfaces, lube the bearings, and install greased carbon fiber drags. i opened up the first reel and was pleasantly surprised that everything had already been done. i went through the second reel just to take pictures. you may have an older progear. a jumpy drag confirms this.
here is the progear albacore special.
you only have to back out two screws to remove the right side plate.
these screws have to be greased, and, son-of-a-gun, this screw has grease on it!
looking at the right spool bearing, you can't tell if it's dry, grease or lubed with an oil of some sort. i called progear later, and dan at progear tells me it's lubed.
i pulled the spool to check the left side bearing and clicker assembly. progear says this bearing is lubed, too. and it's obvious to see that the clicker assembly is greased.
reel seats, particularly on older reels, are commonly bolted on dry.
we've got grease....
and more grease.
and how many corroded handles and stars have you seen.
grease on top of the anti-reverse roller bearing will keep water out and help prevent failure of the primary anti-reverse mechanism.
three screw are all you need to separate the right side plate....
cleanly into two pieces.
here is a stack of greased carbon fiber drag washers. nothing for me to do here....
so back together it goes.
i was going to grease the inside of the right side plate, but it's greased already.
three screws again.
the bellevilles go back on.
the star.
the handle.
the handle nut and you're done!
the only thing you might add is a larger grip.
the handle grip is purely a personal preference, so i will certainly not count that against the reel. that's why i give this reel a perfect 10!