Uni-spin 7006 and TT 63 L

[Jp Elim]

Johnson bought True Temper in the late 70's. Whether Johnson came up with the right or left switchable idea or TT already had it figured out, it is an unknown to me. But it was a good idea, whoever came up with it. It was made switchable by a special gear, 122D, that was used on the Sprint 215 and 235 also. So maybe Johnson did come up with the switchable idea. Just take off the screw and cover on the opposite side and switch handle sides. Super easy, even for me.The gear is shown at the bottom of pics.  I've got a couple Johnson 700 reels for parts so I tore one down to see how it works. Have a black, TT 63L, so put them next to each other to see how they compared.   Nice, solid rod/reel combo.   Wish they'd kept making them.  P.S. Decided to add a tear down of a TT 63R to compare. The 63 oscillates , but doesn't switch handle sides, so it adds some extra parts. This 63R is red because I already had it torn down.

[GaryWB]

Now I know where that gear goes.

[Fossil]

The uni-spin idea sounds attractive but I keep thinking with the trigger on top of the handle every time I picked up the rod to set the hook it would end up in the cast position.   How would a guy avoid that button when holding the rod?

[salmonfishing]

JP, thanks for posting parts breakdown.

[409davidb]

Thanks for taking the time to post some good info about these combos JP. The pics of the reel broken down really help with seeing how that combo is put together and works. I really wish Johnson would have stuck with this type layout on the graphite Crappie spins! I really don't understand why a lot of companies made all the spinning tackle with left hand retrieve only?

[Skip Smith]

Great photo layout, Jp!  Thanks!

[Jp Elim]

David. I did a little research on the switchable handles. I have Mitchell 4400 series reels that all switch handles, as well as the Johnson Chairman series reels. Here's a Johnson Chairman 830 next to a Mitchell 4450 and a 4430. All started production in 1979. Johnson didn't have covers over the screw on the Chairman reels, like they did on the 700 reel. I went through a bunch of Zebco catalogs and found in 1973, Zebco had a new XRL80 that switched. So who was the first ? I really don't know.    Also, remembered Gene writing somewhere, that one of the Chairman handles, fit the 700 reel. It's the 830. Bottom pic shows the comparison. One is the 830 handle and the one under the plastic is the 700.     Another good thing to know, is that although the drive shaft is different on the 700, compared to the 63. The drag knob, which is right (63-1182) will work on it, it looks a little different, but it works.

[409davidb]

This is what it's all about right there JP! Thank you for taking the time to research and share your findings with us! I have to agree with your findings on that handle. I'm not sure either about who did the reversible handle first, or when? But it sounds like your close to the timeframe to me. I just wonder why they started with only the left hand retrieve? Most people I know use the right hand retrieve. I'm left handed, and taught myself to use the right hand retrieve when I was very young because it was the most common.