Pflueger Cub handle adjustment and other Supreme questions

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 12:40 pm

Well, you guys got me interested in these old Supreme reels, so after I got one for my friend (previous posts on that) I picked up one for myself as well (I've been a spin fisherman until now). I got them both cleaned up and working smoothly. Thanks to responses here and emails from some very helpful ORCA folks, they both spin quite feely with a flip of the handle.

My question: the second one I got has the Cub handle. While the reel camE with the instruction booklet, it got wet apparently sometime in the past and is fused solid (anybody got a technique for that?). So, I am wondering how to adjust the Cub handle. By the way, it came with only the Cub. I understand some say these handles are not preferred.

Bonus points: There is a spiral "ramp" inside the reel to adjust the tension on the spool for anti-backlash. On the first reel I got this ramp is nylon, on the second reel it is brass or bronze. What does this reveal about the age of each of these reels?

Many thanks for all the help. In a few days it should be warm enough to take one of these out to the pond and learn how to make birdsnests...

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:46 pm

Peter-Haven't had a chance to look into your Supreme request in detail just yet. Will check back tomorrow when I do a bit of research (of sorts). Ciao! Bad Bob

Tom E. · Post by **Tom E.** » Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:44 pm

Peter, The cub handle is a bit tricky, but it can be a very effective drag mechanism. First take it apart (remember what goes where) clean the washers and coat with a light coat of grease. Reassemble, put back on the reel and string it up. Now tighten each of the 6 screws about the same. You will have a tendacy to overtighten the screws. As you tighten test the drag until you are satisfied. Go get a big fish on and let him run.

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:30 am

I like the cub handle, it works nicely as long as its cleaned up well. Just make sure all the screws are loosened about the same, like tom said it is very easy to overtighten the screws. They will probaly look very loose and like they are ready to fall out when you get them adjusted properly but that is how they are supposed to be and they'll be fine.

RAM · Post by **RAM** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 9:43 am

Peter-The 1573 model with the gray knobs and with the letter "B" on the foot has the nylon cam. Check for those markings on your reel. That puts the date at least as late as 1964. The nylon cam may have been considerably earlier, but I didn't take a bunch of reels apart to find out. I know that the nylon use puts it at a later date than the metal cam. Nylon came into common use in reels in the late 40s, e.g. for gears. Hope this helps a bit. Bad Bob

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 11:20 am

Thanks, Bob. Both reels appear to have marbled grey knobs on the handles (I don't want to try to pull the rubber grips off, I think they will not survive the attempt). The one with the nylon cam seems to have lighter grey handles and says "Patented" on the bottom of the foot. The one with the metal cam says "Patented" and "Pats Pend" right below it. Neither has a "B" that I can see.

Also, internally, the one with the nyon cam has a wire spring that provides tension on the oil port cover, the one with the metal cam has a flat steel spring for this purpose.

Please don't dismantle your collection just to satisfy my curiousity!