Replacing the Bail Spring on Mitchell 308 Spinning Reels

[epk945@aol.com]

I have found a new bail spring for my Mitchell 308 and am wondering if anyone has tips on changing it?

[Fred O]

1. With a good screwdriver of the proper size, remove small bail screw opposite side from larger screw with spring.
2. Remove larger screw, noticing how old bail spring nests in place within the rotating head spring nipple.
3. Using a cleaner such as simple green (or lighter fluid - be careful, its flammable) & the torn-off end of a cardboard matchstick, clean the inside of the spring nipple to remove any built up lube & dirt.
4. Clean also the entire bail assembly, paying close attention to the parts that ride against the pivot points on the rotating head.
5. Put one drop of oil (not grease) on the new spring, drop in place.
6. One drop of oil on the part of the angle lever that rides on the spring holder nipple & one drop of oil on the shoulder of the large bail screw.
7. Install the angle lever over the spring paying attention so that the spring end goes through the small hole in the lever. Before tightening screw all of the way, (just as it starts) adjust it in the proper position so that the stop tab on the angle lever is stopping properly on the side of the spring housing. Tighten screw. Tighten screw on opposite side after one drop of oil on screw shoulder & also one drop of oil on inside where bail end rests on rotating head nipple.
8. Check for proper operation. Sometimes you can slightly bend the bail to get a more free "snap back", if necessary.

It's a simple job once you've done a couple. If you have any problems, you can send it to me & I will install, lube & adjust at no charge.

Best Regards, Fred

[Penobscot Bill]

also keep in mind which spring you need, the older four coil or the updated five coil version-easy to find that out though-turn the reel upside down and read what is written on the bottom of the rotating head-if the number 5 is there, you need the five coil version-from my experience, unnumbered rotating heads all take the four coil spring-those springs are not interchangeable-there are a few other Mitchell reels that those springs will fit in-I have fished with no other reels but Mitchell 308s and 408s for many years. Life is good.
Bill Arp
Emmaus, Pa.

[Araye50]

My Mitchell parts books show just 1 bail spring, 81 287, for both the older engraved 308 & the later plastic emblem versions. If memory serves me correctly the 4 & 5 coil bail springs were interchangeable & only the early models had 4 coil springs. The springs only fit 1 way, having an end pointing out & away to fit the slot in the rotating head, and an end pointing up to fit the hole in the bail arm. Note that 309 springs are a backwards, a mirror image.

When you take the bail off be sure to fine tune it. Many bails have been tweaked through usage. Check to see if the outer end lines up perfectly when just the big screw holds the bail on. You do not want it to squeeze the rotating head or need to be sprung in if it resolves itself far off the post. Carefully bend the bail so that it perfectly cups the post on the outer end w/o binding. Occasionally you will need to twist the disc at the end to line up flush.

I was not aware of the number 5 being on the rotating head. Only 1 out of a dozen 308/309 408/409 reels I own has the number 5 following Made in France. It looks identical to several of the others. There is no 5 on the plastic emblem 308 or it's successors the 308A or 310 UL.

[epk]

to araye 50, thanks for the response to my question, it was very helpful