Ryobi Mastermatch reel

[caferacer]

I have an old Ryobi Mastermatch autobail trotting reel with a bail issue,it locks fine but when unlocked the bail stays in the open position and wont close.Its a lovely reel and I would love to save it.Any suggestions?

 

[108831]

Sadly unless you can contact a specialist reel repairer,someone on here will quote the guys name,you will be lucky otherwise,its been out of production for more years than you could remember...

 

[Richox12]

If it doesn't work then open it up. You can't make it worse

 

[silvers]

The old mm200?

iirc, like the Mitchell match, you can’t close the bale arm manually ... I suspect the springs and trigger are all in the columns for the bale arm

 

[caferacer]

Yes its a Mastermatch MM200.Its a simple enough system on closer inspection.The bail roller side has a series of small sprockets that mesh with the bail arm roller,the other side has a simple bail lock switch and the bail spring.The problem is the spring has several ways of locating it and this in turn must time perfectly with the position of the bail arm roller on the gear wheels.Im going to give it a bit of time tomorrow and I reckon(hoping) it will be fine.Its a lovely little reel.

 

[caferacer]

If anyone has one working and is willing to send a pic or two or has a schematic pic please get in touch.

 

[rubio]

Does it close when you turn the handle? Sometimes backwinding before opening bail arm is needed with anti-reverse on to line everything up. At least that's how a couple of old reels I have work.

 

[caferacer]

It closes when I turn the handle but it seems like it needs more spring tension to flick open the bail arm,either I have the spring located incorrectly or there is a second spring that Im missing.If I had a pic or schematics I`d be sorted but thats a big ask as these are so old and werent hugely popular.I remember Dave Coster raving about them in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

[rubio]

Have you tried pressing and releasing bailarm? It might open easily if it's one of them types. Don't know that reel at all tho. Hope you sort it

 

[108831]

The sprockets you talk of are a swine when you take the bail arm off,I had to,to straighten the bail arm after dropping one of mine,getting it lined up correctly took ages of trial and error,have you bent the said arm as this totally ruins the operation and only a miniscule out of shape does for them..

 

[caferacer]

I think you are onto something,I just checked the bail arm and it does appear to be very slightly off,the roller side seems to be at a slight angle-just enough for a small bit of extra friction and as you suggest,this would hinder a snappy bail.I`ll give it a go tomorrow.