For sometime now this plastic part has been a big thorn in my side and for a couple of reasons, 1. They are made of plastic and we all know what that means when we talk about Abu Cardinals and 2. They are a nightmare to find as a spare part.
I thought I had found enough to see me out with my Factory Cardinal parts chest having several in its numbered cubicle, then I had a few reels that required service work after the same part failed in the reel with a common reason being whilst playing a big fish the reel gave up or I was winding in some line and it just broke, these are both true events that clients have had happen and on a few occasions I have put their reels right but with my parts being over 50 years old there was no guarantee that the new part wouldn't let go again in quick fashion.
For me this was not acceptable especially since I now have so many 66 and 77 reels come from the Ghillies and Salmon anglers in Ireland and a few to many with this issue, so after chatting with Les Shaw it was decided we should try and get the part made from stronger stuff, brass was where were, long story short Les has had these parts made and sent me a few prototypes to try in my prototype reel, its the only 66 I have here so its the only reel I could try them on, glad to say I have fitted all 5 and they all work just fine, the reel works as smooth a silk, the spool oscillates perfectly and line lay is fine with no coning on the spool.
I half loaded the original spool with some CF600 Fluorocarbon line which at £67.00 a spool is not cheap but and old line from a Cardinal 55 well used is now sitting on the spool, while not the best for line lay its sitting fine even though it needs chucking out in the lake with a spin Dr on the end to remove some line twist, anyway here are some photos which should help you see what we have come up with, I think for those who use the reels rather than put them in storage its a fantastic part to keep you fishing and reels on the bank.
This as you can see is the problem with the reel where the white plastic axle holder has broken in two pieces
The part thats the issue
These are original plastic parts and the new Brass conversion part which comes as a set of three for £10.99
Available from Les's new website or in a service by myself at the same cost.
You will also find them on eBay from Les at some point.
Finished in a dull brass look they are perfect to keep reels on the bank, Cardinal 66 66X 77 and 77X models had them fitted but they did change on the 66X around 1977-78
fitted perfectly in the reel
No issues loading line so the CAD drawing was great from the off
