HX Two Speed Issue

[AKSalmon]

I absolutely love my HX 5/2 but recently it's developed a problem: When I'm fighting a fish in low gear and want to shift to high, it won't up shift. This only happens when there is pressure on the reel. If I move the lever to free spool it shifts fine, and if I try to shift when I am not fighting a fish there are no problems. But I can't shift into high if there is tension on the line. Any guesses? The spring in the shifter seems fine and there is no salt or corrosion...

[dewercs]

When you shift from low to high, turn the handle backwards a little bit and it will shift into high, I had the same "issue" but it appears to be how they were designed.
Once you have figured it out practice it a few times, it works quite well.

[alantani]

bill, that shifter mechanism is spring loaded. it should pop right out. try this .....

shift into low gear, put tension on the line, now hit the side release button and try to pull the center push button out with a pick of some sort. can you let us know if that works? thanks! alan

[x-star]

Originally Posted by dewercs

When you shift from low to high, turn the handle backwards a little bit and it will shift into high, I had the same "issue" but it appears to be how they were designed.
Once you have figured it out practice it a few times, it works quite well.

I concure. You just have to back off the handle a little bit. A bit of a poor design on Avets part.

[AKSalmon]

Originally Posted by alantani

bill, that shifter mechanism is spring loaded. it should pop right out. try this .....

shift into low gear, put tension on the line, now hit the side release button and try to pull the center push button out with a pick of some sort. can you let us know if that works? thanks! alan

The reel is on my boat in the harbor and I won't be out for a couple days so I can't check this. But it does work if I back off on the handle slightly when I shift into high. I can't imagine that is a "feature"; I'd call it a "bug" -- at least until I get used to it. BTW: I caught and released a 150# halibut last weekend just outside of Gustavus, AK.

[BiggestT]

Originally Posted by x-star

I concure. You just have to back off the handle a little bit. A bit of a poor design on Avets part.

Sounds like the old double pump clutch transmissions on cars. I guess this design will keep Avet lovers busy.

[tlong]

I bought two HX's in May and didn't have any problem with them on a recent trip and I abused them with some huge Dorado shifting back and forth in intense heat and heavy drag. I used 40# test so maybe if your pulling max drag on them (65# spectra?) they stick?

[bladeduffer]

Originally Posted by BiggestT

Sounds like the old double pump clutch transmissions on cars. I guess this design will keep Avet lovers busy.

Yup. I've discovered this "fix" simply by messing around with my LX 6/3. It does the same thing irrespective of drag setting or resistance. Makes me wonder what else I've got in store. I mean, Avets appear to be generally good reels from what I've read in various boards but little design quirks like these do little to instill confidence. In reality, it's not a big deal to add that "backup" step but has anyone ever seen this present in other brand reels?

[YANK N CRANK #2]

Originally Posted by bladeduffer

Yup. I've discovered this "fix" simply by messing around with my LX 6/3. It does the same thing irrespective of drag setting or resistance. Makes me wonder what else I've got in store. I mean, Avets appear to be generally good reels from what I've read in various boards but little design quirks like these do little to instill confidence. In reality, it's not a big deal to add that "backup" step but has anyone ever seen this present in other brand reels?

I've experienced the "backup" with some of my other non avet two speed reels.... My penn internationals do it from low to high.. Its just slightly less pronounced than the avets... Every reel is different...

[Keta]

Sounds like salt, crud or lack of lubrication between the "Push Knob" (item #64) and the "Crank Arm Nut" (item #63).
Item # are off the JX schematic.

[AKSalmon]

Nope. No salt, crud, or lack of lubrication...

[SALTYDAWG]

I've noticed the same thing with mine, A little backwards pressure works for me as well