Another Merlin saved.
Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2022 9:14 pm
I have always liked the look of the Merlin but had never used one, so with the need for another winter project I took a serious gamble on one knowing that it had issues. That was a couple of months ago now and first impressions were not too positive, so much so that it was tucked away for a rainy day or three.
Twidling my thumbs and with rain forecast I plucked up the courage to pick it up and make a start. It had obviously been dropped from height onto concrete or similar resulting in a bent and cracked rim, bent front face, bent foot, broken line guard and would not turn without grinding but at least the centre boss wasnt cracked!
Straightening the rim and front plate was fairly straightforward although there were radial fractures that needed dealing where the rim joins the front plate so these needed digging out and filling with JB Weld (blooming marvelous stuff). Once hardened it was cleaned up to make it at least presentable. Removing the spokes gave me better access to the spool for a bit more straightening and once reassembled, using a similar principle to trueing a bike wheel it was soon spinning like a top! Still has a little wobble but more than acceptable for what I hope to use it for.
Next I had to think of a way to mend the line guard but a small length of car aerial was found to be just perfect. This was epoxied over the broken bit and cleaned up, then refitted.
I have also added a cork arbour (cork floor tile!) and will get some line on it this weekend ready for a trial.
She wont win any beauty competitions but is functional and one day it may get a full rebuild.
Twidling my thumbs and with rain forecast I plucked up the courage to pick it up and make a start. It had obviously been dropped from height onto concrete or similar resulting in a bent and cracked rim, bent front face, bent foot, broken line guard and would not turn without grinding but at least the centre boss wasnt cracked!
Straightening the rim and front plate was fairly straightforward although there were radial fractures that needed dealing where the rim joins the front plate so these needed digging out and filling with JB Weld (blooming marvelous stuff). Once hardened it was cleaned up to make it at least presentable. Removing the spokes gave me better access to the spool for a bit more straightening and once reassembled, using a similar principle to trueing a bike wheel it was soon spinning like a top! Still has a little wobble but more than acceptable for what I hope to use it for.
Next I had to think of a way to mend the line guard but a small length of car aerial was found to be just perfect. This was epoxied over the broken bit and cleaned up, then refitted.
I have also added a cork arbour (cork floor tile!) and will get some line on it this weekend ready for a trial.
She wont win any beauty competitions but is functional and one day it may get a full rebuild.
For many of us less talented souls this would be anything but straightforward 
An excellent result, it looks great! 