This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Topics - Skip Smith
1
« on: October 14, 2019, 09:10:56 PM »
Last year (2018), an eBay dealer offered a Century Lite 125 with the reel foot broken off. It took some convincing, but they sold it to me as a "parts reel". I also had a Century 225 parts reel m/l contemporary to the 125, so I got to wondering, "Can I make a Frankenreel out of these two?" This may involve a gearset change, as the 125 gears feel smoother, but the 225 has an unbroken case/body. Results of this experiment are pending, and will be announced.
2
« on: September 26, 2019, 10:41:10 PM »
Earlier this year, I got a good deal from eBay on a Century Lite 125 graphite reel with a broken-off reel foot. Some time later, I got another good eBay deal on an early Century 225 missing the push button. Then I got to thinking, "They're from about the same time period, I wonder if I could create a usable Century Lite 125 graphite from these two reels?" The game is afoot! I've already established that the Century Lite 125 front and back covers work on the early Century 225 body. The Century 125 Lite drive train is much smoother and the star drag is correct, so more changes are in order. Updates to follow. Skip
skippdates to follow.
3
« on: August 23, 2019, 09:22:00 PM »
So, a buddy brought me a Laker 140 flea market find last spring, my first example of the model. Having collected Johnson reels for some 35 years, this is embarrassing, but could someone please tell me how to get the back cover off the stinkin' thing? Thanks, Skip
4
« on: August 12, 2019, 10:49:52 PM »
Making headway on cleaning/preserving the reel collection. Last spring, I realized that about 1/2 of the reels had been put on the shelf in "as received" condition. Several were seized up by dried-out lubes, others were very stiff. I started a program of cleaning and preserving, coating all moving parts with Vaseline until putting in service on a rod. Seven reels done, 18 to go, oughta keep me busy 'til Thanksgiving. I love working on reels, although some of 'em do cause x-rated language. My most recent opponent was a 710B with a very stubborn crank nut. It needed a ratchet and socket, but I won the contest. Skip
5
« on: August 03, 2019, 06:26:43 PM »
This afternoon I tackled a Century 100B that's been in my collection for years. Got the box (in fair shape) and papers, looks like it's never been on a rod. Locked up tight. I got it all apart and started cleaning and degreasing. I discovered the pinion gear solidly fused to the pinion shaft. Fought with it for 45 minutes...put penetrating oil on it, the whole bit. I finally put a wooden clip-style clothes pin on the shaft, right behind the gear, and smacked it a few times with a tack hammer. Finally got the gear to slide on the shaft, but I've never seen one seized up as tight as that one was. It's now all cleaned up and preserved with Vaseline. I rewarded myself with an adult beverage.
6
« on: July 10, 2019, 09:37:41 PM »
Well, darn it! I was hoping to have a Johnson mini-spincast reel to pursue trout, bluegill and sunfish with. I have examples of each of the reels mentioned in the subject box, as well as a Chinese-made Johnson Sabra 4 from the early 2000's. Alas, these small reels are fraught with problems. With the Sprite/Sprint models, if your lure or hook gets snagged, the line retrieve doesn't stop. Even with the drag tightened down, the reels keep cranking until the line is hopelessly twisted. I have two Sabra 4's, haven't succeeded in getting either one to retrieve line. I'll keep these reels as "display only", rare curiousities. Interestingly, the only Johnson "mini reel" I've had good service from is the Chinese-made Scorpion O5U triggerspin. It hasn't been seriously tested in landing a fish of any size, but at least it casts and retrieves reliably.
7
« on: October 29, 2018, 09:20:40 PM »
Last year, I grabbed a Johnson Javelin COMBO off of eBay at a very reasonable price (ca. $35.00). Yeah, yeah, I know it's Chinese-made and probably junk, but I've NEVER seen another Javelin rod/reel combo. My question is, does anyone have the years of Javelin production?
8
« on: September 14, 2018, 07:15:26 PM »
I can't figure out how to participate in "Johnson Fans Chat". Doesn't seem to be any way to highlight, and respond to, a specific comment or question. What am I missing?
9
« on: September 15, 2017, 06:04:51 PM »
This might qualify as a Johnson "service bulletin". Re: the Johnson Century 100B 45th Anniversary reels made in China, circa 2000. I've discovered a problem with one of the two variations of this model I have experience with. I have one that seems to be an earlier model, to wit: the "Johnson" name across the upper part of the pushbutton is in larger, vertical letters and the drag dial is numbered, as the original 100B, highlighted in gold. The tag on the reel foot is numbered 803. I have two other 100B 45th Anniversary reels, reel foot tag #'s 811 & 812. These reels have the Johnson inscription on the pushbutton in slanted, much smaller letters, and drag dial has arrows pointing to plus and minus symbols. These two (apparently) later reels have phillips-head sideplate screws that are virtually IMPOSSIBLE to remove to service the drive train gears. I applied various penetrating oils over a one-week period to one of the reels and still wallowed out the bottom screw head to the point that the only way to get it out would be to drill it. Has anyone else encountered this problem with this model? Solutions?
10
« on: April 14, 2017, 09:23:24 PM »
Many of you know that I service and maintain the fishing tackle for Camp Barnabas, a nearby summer camp for disabled kids. Most of their tackle is the cheapest variety of Chinese Shakespeare's and Zebco's. For the 2016 season, I decided to try to upgrade their tackle a bit, and provided some 6 Johnson graphite reels, with thanks to Chad B. for a generous donation. When I collected their equipment at the end of the 2016 season, I was stunned and, frankly, a bit outraged, that nearly all of those graphite Johnson reels were unusable, front and back covers missing, nothing but parts. For 2017, I resolved "No more good stuff", so the Camp got the cheapest stuff I could round up. I still felt the kids deserved better, and over the winter, I began to wonder if the Century 100B reels might a better choice. Yeah, they're old, and parts are a bit of a problem, but they're built like an M1A1 Abrams tank and they're easy for Skip to work on. Plus, the only part readily removable without tools is the front cover. A phone conversation with Al cemented my resolve to give Johnson's another shot. For the 2018 camping season, I'll introduce a pilot program of a handful of Century 100B's and see how they survive. Don't care if the front cover looks like the reel has been dragged through a gravel pit behind a Jeep Wrangler, don't care if it has a 1967 pushbutton and a '78 crank handle, as long as it casts, retrieves and the drag works. Not spending over $15, in my mailbox for complete reels. Donations of complete reels or parts are welcome.
11
« on: January 30, 2017, 05:09:31 PM »
I've just taken my Century 135 out of service after using it for two years. Mind you, just giving it a rest. My 135 was easy to service and put to work, gave flawless performance. It's basically the successor to the Citation model, I believe, with the same dimensions. I have two examples of this reel, and will use the other one next time it comes up in the rotation. Great large spool capacity reel!
12
« on: July 10, 2016, 01:34:29 PM »
In 1983, Johnson introduced a graphite composite reel body/foot, replacing the cast metal unit used in their earlier reels. The graphite reels had what Johnson called "drive train drag", which they claimed eliminated spool slip that caused line tangles. In catalogs and advertising, these reels were called "Tangle-Free". The 1983 model line consisted of these reels: Sprint 445, Century Pro 345 rated for 14 lb. line Force 525, Century 225 rated for 10 lb. line Century Lite 125, Spirit III rated for 10 lb. line Uni-Spin 7256, Uni-Spin Lite 7155 rated for 10 lb. line The 445 and 345 were larger than the other models, 525,225 and 125 were much alike, the Spirit model had a shorter back cover. The Uni-Spins were an under-the-rod model that could only be used on the rod they came from the factory with, because the line-release pushbutton was on top of the rod. By 1987, several changes were made in model names and new models added. The Sabra 545 was a very large reel rated for 17 lb. line. The Sprint 445 was still available, but it's 14 lb. line companion was now the 710. The 525 and 225 were unchanged, but the Century Lite 125 was now rated for 8 lb. line. A new model was the Crappie Pro 230, rated for 6 lb. line. Uni-Spin 7256 was unchanged, but the smaller version was now called Crappie Spin 730, rated for 6 lb. line. 1989 brought major changes to the lineup and model names. The "tangle-free" feature was emphasized in the names. TF 17 Sabra 17 lb. line TF 14 14 lb. line TF 10 Century 10 lb. line TF 8 8 lb. line Crappie Pro 230 and Crappie Spin 730 continued to be offered, rated for 6 lb. line. The larger Uni-Spin was discontinued and with the exception of the Crappie reels, only one model was offered in each line test weight size. In 1992, the 1989 model line-up was joined by TF 8 Plus and TF 10 Plus. The Plus series claimed improvements to the spool and body/foot design and heavier gears and drag system. In 1993, the "Sabra " name was dropped from the TF 17 and the "Century" name was removed from the TF 10. The original 1983 front and back covers and pushbutton were replaced with Plus style covers and pushbuttons on all models. A new model was Century 2000, which had all of the Plus series features and selective "pulse retrieve", which claimed to send a fish-attracting low-frequency vibration through the line during retrieve. I believe the 1993 model line-up was offered until 1997, when production was moved to China.
13
« on: May 14, 2016, 09:22:17 PM »
Johnson made these delightful little micro-spincast reels for five years, 1978-82. A mere 3" front cover to pushbutton and 1 3/4" across, and spooled with 4 lb. monofilament, they're perfect for crappie, trout, bluegill and sunfish. These little reels are easy to fish with and easy to work on. Their 5.16:1 gear ratio makes for an uncommonly high-speed retrieve for a spincast reel.
14
« on: November 11, 2015, 11:48:17 AM »
Nice job of posting the catalog collection, Al! I'm glad someone got around to doing what I don't know how to do with them
15
« on: November 24, 2014, 07:55:08 PM »
Can anyone advise how to adjust the internal drag on the dual-drag models, such as Guide 155? I know the adjustment is a hexnut on the driveshaft, but which way to tighten and which to loosen, please. Many thanks!
|