It Lives Again!
-
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 1637
- Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 2:22 pm
- Location: Salisbury, NC
It Lives Again!
Sometime back I bought a Congress 4 screw Kentucky style reel in terrible condition. It suffered from electrolysis and corrosion and was so bad it would not move, nor would any of the screws loosen.
So I soaked it for a week in Kroil, and after about 5 days I had some screws start to loosen although I could not get it apart until after the full week of soaking. I then cleaned the reel and ran a tap through all the threaded holes. Thanks to a donor parts reel from Jim Garrett and Skip Brooks I replaced the handle, one oil cap, and a screw. The post the drive gear runs on was too rusted & pitted to use so I had to make another. I made it from some very tough steel. These post are on a taper and the taper has to be exact or the gear will wobble. I also made it .001" under size to keep the gear from jamming. It has a 2-56 hole tapped in the end which I thought I would never get tapped in that steel. This keeps the end movement to about .002" since the centrifugal force of the helical gears try to force the gears apart. I had to save the reel since it may be the last remaining example stamped Congress. These reels are very hard to find.
So I soaked it for a week in Kroil, and after about 5 days I had some screws start to loosen although I could not get it apart until after the full week of soaking. I then cleaned the reel and ran a tap through all the threaded holes. Thanks to a donor parts reel from Jim Garrett and Skip Brooks I replaced the handle, one oil cap, and a screw. The post the drive gear runs on was too rusted & pitted to use so I had to make another. I made it from some very tough steel. These post are on a taper and the taper has to be exact or the gear will wobble. I also made it .001" under size to keep the gear from jamming. It has a 2-56 hole tapped in the end which I thought I would never get tapped in that steel. This keeps the end movement to about .002" since the centrifugal force of the helical gears try to force the gears apart. I had to save the reel since it may be the last remaining example stamped Congress. These reels are very hard to find.
- RonG
- Super Board Poster
- Posts: 1468
- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 8:49 pm
- Location: Frostproof, FL
- Contact:
Re: It Lives Again!
Wow, way to go Don. That is the only marking I've seen on that Montague reel. You had to save it and you did.
Ron Gast
https://reelsnlures.com
https://reelsnlures.com
- john elder
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 8541
- Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2003 2:44 pm
Re: It Lives Again!
Incredible job, Don! You are still the master! It gives me faith that a Talbot Meteor I have had cooking in Kroil for a week may finally give up and let me in! Just gotta love nickel silver! Thanks for posting!
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Honorary Life Member
Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
Re: It Lives Again!
Awesome job, Don!
Aloha
Brian F.
_________
ORCA Member 1997
Got a spare reel stamped "Pflueger" or a Montague Imperial?
"Caution, objects in reel view mirror are older than they appear."
Brian F.
_________
ORCA Member 1997
Got a spare reel stamped "Pflueger" or a Montague Imperial?
"Caution, objects in reel view mirror are older than they appear."
Re: It Lives Again!
Great Job Don ! Beautiful little reel. Doug
Re: It Lives Again!
Don, for a second I thought you meant Congress, not the reel. Too good to be true, apparently.It Lives Again!
Steve Vernon
ORCA Honorary member
Book: ANTIQUE FISHING REELS, 2nd Ed.
Websites:
Antique Fishing Reels
Kopf reels
Hendrick reels
"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose."
-
- Frequent Board Poster
- Posts: 48
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 9:40 am
- Location: Green Valley, AZ
Re: It Lives Again!
Great job Don! I wouldn't have thought it possible, and would have used it in the "Ugly Reel Toss." Dave
- reelsmith.
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 1715
- Joined: Sun Sep 14, 2003 11:08 am
- Location: Connecticut
- Contact:
Re: It Lives Again!
Dean.
Wanted: Kosmic Items, Small Leather Fly Reel Cases, Early Fishing Related Bottles, Fly Reels and Pre-1900 Angling/Casting Medals.
http://www.tackletreasures.com/
http://www.tackletreasures.com/
- Midway Tommy D
- Star Board Poster
- Posts: 3135
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:23 pm
- Location: Eastern NE
Re: It Lives Again!
Well done, Don!
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Re: It Lives Again!
Don, I’m not one to nitpick, but in the first set of pictures I only count 3 screws? Just yanking your chain. Beautiful work! Congratulations.
Reeltyme
Reeltyme
Re: It Lives Again!
Beautiful work Don!!!
Bad Bob
Bad Bob
- Wayne B.
- Super Board Poster
- Posts: 1024
- Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2009 7:46 am
- Location: Virginia Beach
- Contact:
Re: It Lives Again!
It is hard to hide skill and talent. Great job, Don!
Wayne Benson
ORCA Member, 2009
Waynesreelcollectibles.weebly.com
ORCA Member, 2009
Waynesreelcollectibles.weebly.com
-
- Ultra Board Poster
- Posts: 1637
- Joined: Thu Oct 09, 2003 2:22 pm
- Location: Salisbury, NC
Re: It Lives Again!
Thanks for all the kind comments guys! Hang in there John. I know you can do it. I'll mention this once Steve as I don't want to get into politics here. I think they all want power, perks, the party and more money. They forget why they are there except in their campaign speeches.
Re: It Lives Again!
Great rescue, Don. That beautiful reel deserved a second go-around.
Mike N
Mike N
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
ORCA Founder, 1990
- Robyn Summerlin
- Advanced Board Poster
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2003 11:22 am
- Location: Woodville, TX