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.
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
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
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.
Too good to be true, apparently.
