? for bantam1 about older shimano brakes

[Pro Reel]

Bantam 1, Over the last few years, I have seen a large number of spool brake housings with cracks in them on the older reels. The issue is on all of the B model reels. The cracks are forming in the plastic housing right at the point where the steel pins go. I'm fairly certain that shimano doesn't have any replacement spools left for these reels and the prices at some of the few parts dealers that still have them are very steep with crazy shipping prices also. I have tried repairing them with high quality fast set glues. I have had limited sucess with that. If there are just a couple of cracks, I have simply pulled those pins. I was wondering if you know of a way to repair them? Or if there is still a spool that would replace them or perhaps a replacement brake hub that could be pressed on? Also, do you know whats causing this issue? Is it simple age in which case we will see more and more of them go bad now, or is it a heat / cold expansion and contraction issue causing the cracks? The biggest problem I'm seeing is that once they are cracked, the steel pins slide out and make a screeching noise as they rub the brake ring. This also cuts a deep groove in the ring if they use it like that for awhile. I'm thinking about experimenting on the next one by removing the pins and then seeing if i can melt the plastic crack shut with a soldering iron and then grind the pin smooth and stick it in hot to see if that will fix them. What do you think?

[Dawg]

Rapid Fix works good on plastics. www.rapid-fix.com/

[Bantam1]

There is no real easy way to repair the cracks. You could order another spool from a newer model reel and remove the VBS hub. A small pai of needle nose pliers will do the trick. Do the same to your old spool. Apply a drop of super glue and press the new hub onto your spool. That is the easiest and best way to do it. Problem is the cost.

When I worked in repair we tried a few different ways to fix the pins on place after the hub was cracked. Nothing proved to be a permanent fix. You have a heavier spool in the older reels, plus the added weight of the line. The brake is out on the furthest point of the pin which adds to the leverage. Eventually something will give. The newer spools are lighter and have a different hub design. It seems to have taken care of the problem, but time will tell. The Curado B has been around since late 1993.

[Kevin70]

Would Shimano consider building another run of the spools for these reels and carrying the part again? I'm not suggesting Shimano give the spools away to fix people's reels, but they could at least provide a solution that someone could pay for to keep their reels working to get around the design issue.

I would assume Shimano could still make some profit on the part. I would think the only drawback to Shimano would be the loss of sales for those who would have trashed their Curado B/Chronarch A reels and bought new ones.

I wish I had known about the issue a few years ago. I would have purchased an extra spool for each of my Curado/Chronarchs.

[Bantam1]

Once parts have been discontinued we will not make another run. We maintained parts for almost 7 years after production stopped.

[Pro Reel]

How about selling just the brake component off of current models. Does shimano buy the parts and assemble the spools or are the spools supplied as a complete unit from some other company?

[Bantam1]

The spools come complete from Shimano Japan to us. They do not offer the VBS hub as a separate part. I assume for QC reasons to ensure it is square to the spool.