Centrepins

[Keith M]

That's the point, some like yourself like them to be free running while another angler I know that has used pins almost exclusively for over 30 years doesn't like them to be free running.

Looking on sites that sell used pins the seller always mentions that the reel spins for ages why this is I dont know as it bears no relation to an angling situation.

If the spool is very 'light' and it's also well balanced then it doesn't need to be able to spin forever as it will still take very little weight to set it in motion.
Keith Speers showed me one of his pins that only spun for around 30 seconds at most; but it still only took a few BB to set in motion.

At the other end of the spectrum I have an old 'Black-Cat' centrepin that spins for around 3 minutes when flicked with my finger but it makes a very poor trotting reel because of the sheer heaviness of the spool (and its poor inertia), its slight imbalance, and the constant need to play out line manually.

I use the Sheffield which is a great trotting reel and I don't think it is too free running at all, but I use my thumb whenever I need to slow down line release.

Keith.

 

[barbelboi]

I also judge a pin by the amount of force necessary to start it spinning rather than how long it will spin for............

 

[thecrow]

Both of the above posts use the same inertia test that I would think are a way of judging the useability of a pin, when testing this would it be with the pin in a vertical ( upright) or horizontal (flat) position? I ask because it would seem to me that a reel held in an upright position would start to move more easily.

 

[Bob Hornegold]

No, they have adjusters to slow down the speed.

Bob[/QUOTE

Not all expensive pins do hence the question.

I suppose it depends on what you call expensive ?

Bob

 

[associatedmatt]

It is the trudex I'm looking at , what are they worth ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[trotter2]

A nice trudex is a lovely reel it really depends if you can find a good one.
Not the most free running reels but you can always give the drum a flick with the thumb to get it going and speed up or slow down as you find it necessary.
You going to get a million and one answers too your question its all down to personal preference.
For my own opinion true pin over a bearing reel.
Best reel match aerial worst Adcock Stanton.
Good starter reel Sheffield.

 

[thecrow]

I suppose it depends on what you call expensive ?

Bob

I am a pauper Bob anything over a tenner is of of my reach

 

[tigger]

A good, run-in Trudex is a fine trotting reel. That's why so many were made, and why some were re-badged for other makers.
They're also pretty rugged, and well able to cope with barbel, pike and carp fishing.

I've had both trudex and rapidex reels, still have one of each boxed and unused and in all honesty I think they're ok (just) and that's about it. The trudex is the better of the two having a removable bickerdyke line guard....the rapidex is pretty naff having a built in caged drum so this cocks up any propper casting so trotting is gonn'a be off the rod tip or you'd need to pull loops of line from the reel and cast like that mg:. I'd say the rapidex is more suited to static fishing. Both of those reels are way behind the majority of modern reels imo.

 

[barbelboi]

Both of the above posts use the same inertia test that I would think are a way of judging the useability of a pin, when testing this would it be with the pin in a vertical ( upright) or horizontal (flat) position? I ask because it would seem to me that a reel held in an upright position would start to move more easily.

With a true pin I would always use it (for trotting purposes) horizontally - with a bearing pin it doesn't really matter. If you blow on the reel gently whilst off the rod you will see just how little 'blow' you need on a decent pin to put it in motion.

 

[thecrow]

With a true pin I would always use it (for trotting purposes) horizontally - with a bearing pin it doesn't really matter. If you blow on the reel gently whilst off the rod you will see just how little 'blow' you need on a decent pin to put it in motion.

My TFG classic starts to move quiet easily when blown on softly, this is after I used some very light oil on the bearing (s?) the reel is being held horizontally when I tried this.

 

[Alan Tyler]

The Rapidex was an out-and-out matchman's reel from the days of ten-yard pegs; it was all about retrieving quickly, casting a loop or two, and not having to worry too much about what the line was doing. How it sold for so long after decent fixed-spool reels became affordable (I bought my first Rap, new, in 1969 for five guineas), I don't know. Must mean something, I suppose.
As for the Trudex, I did say "run-in", and that won't happen while it's sleeping in its box, will it?
The joy of it is the machined, round arbour, which won't put "corners" in the line, which spoke'n'pillars reels do. On the well-watered rivers of Lancashire, this hardly matters, because the flow will get a blessed nylon-bushed Strikeright paying out line, corners and all; but down here in the Hertfordshire Sahara*, the smoother line coming off a round drum can make all the difference.

*Cue "Hearts and Flowers" on a violin off-stage...

Oh, and about compensating drags on pricey reels - the new(ish) three-pronged Hardy Conquest doesn't have one. Vexing, but one soon learns whether one's game needs raising. Mine does.

 

[tigger]

As for the Trudex, I did say "run-in", and that won't happen while it's sleeping in its box, will it?

I have used them well "run in" (the boxed example I have is very free running anyhow and is good to go as it is) .Yes they have a solid drum that cuts out line crinkle but due to the very narrow drum/line lay, line stick can still be a pain in the harris. The reel has no holes in the front plate which means you have to use the handles to retrieve line which takes an age and gets very laborious after only a few trotts. To enable you to bat the spool for line retrieval you need to remove the line guard so imo the reel is ok if your prepared to put up with slow fiddly retrieval of your float and line stick throughout your trotting session.

 

[thecrow]

I have read that part of the Trudex is made of ebonite (the centre boss), the information comes from a reel being sold on the bay. A quick google revealed that ebonite is a type of vulcanised rubber, as the seller of this reel has specified that there are no cracks in the centre boss is this something buyers of used Trudex reels should be aware of? is it a known model specific problem?

 

[seth49]

I have read that part of the Trudex is made of ebonite (the centre boss), the information comes from a reel being sold on the bay. A quick google revealed that ebonite is a type of vulcanised rubber, as the seller of this reel has specified that there are no cracks in the centre boss is this something buyers of used Trudex reels should be aware of? is it a known model specific problem?

Believe it is, there does seem to be a problem with the boss on the centre of the reel, if the centre screw is over tightened it can cause the boss to crack. It is something to look out for with trudex reels, the one I have is fine.
The good thing is Gary Mills does a replacement boss for these reels. Made from alloy I think.

 

[tigger]

I have read that part of the Trudex is made of ebonite (the centre boss), the information comes from a reel being sold on the bay. A quick google revealed that ebonite is a type of vulcanised rubber, as the seller of this reel has specified that there are no cracks in the centre boss is this something buyers of used Trudex reels should be aware of? is it a known model specific problem?

It's just a piece of placcy and occasionally it gets cracked. I know Garry Mils makes the replacement piece for them and i've heard of several others making the part. Someone was making the part in alloy which would be better.

 

[Tee-Cee]

I have two Rapidex reels from the early 60's (once used as per the Alan Tyler post on 10yd pegs!) and it is absolutely ideal for still water close in fishing for roach and the like. It can run fairly freely via the knurled thingy but I prefer it at half speed, if you know what I mean....

Its minimal diameter is fine and I oft wonder what would be a present day equivalent? (answers on a postcard)

BTW it handled today's 7lb ish carp with aplomb and without line lay problems. ..

 

[Alan Tyler]

You're right about the retrieve, Tigger, but somehow it's never bothered me; I sort of jump the float back a rod's swing's-worth, then bat, swinging the rod back towards the float, and repeat. I don't like dragging the bait upstream unless I'm spinning.
And the unperforated face keeps the bread mash or maggoty sawdust out of the innards.
Mostly.
Since I adopted your system of a fresh shot of Sensor per trip, I wind 100 turns onto the "handles" side of the drum, then when I retrieve, the working part of the line falls on the other side, keeping bedding in to a minimum. But I do wish they'd made a version about 3/16ths wider.

 

[tigger]

You're right about the retrieve, Tigger, but somehow it's never bothered me;

You sound like a patient chap Alan .
I think i'm in too much of a hurry a lot of the time !

 

[trotter2]

The centre boss usually brakes because it has been taken off and the two screw which hold it in place are over tightened cracking the plastic. Plastic being what it is becomes brittle and will very easily brake when it's dried out.

Parts are available from mills but they don't carry the youngs logo, and don't look very good imo.

Regarding the batting of the trudex with a line guard fitted the best way I find it to filck the handles just like John Wilson does with a full cage line guard on the match aerial.
Plenty of footage on youtube of him doing this.:thumbs:

 

[thecrow]

How about not allowing your float to travel far downstream and then it wouldn't be so far to bring it back