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Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:49 pm
by Timothy Claypole
Hello Folks,

I’ve recently purchased a lovely J W Young true-pin reel. It arrived on Sunday and I christened it yesterday. Very happy with the reel, but why do they need to glue the grub-screw in? After my session I merrily set about cleaning and oiling my new piece, but when I went to pop the grub out to clean etc the screwdriver mashed the head of the screw. Spoke to Chris Miles today and it’s gone back for a new (unglued) screw.

Can’t understand why they’d do this given the importance of needing to adjust float, clean, fettle etc.

Anyone else been baffled by this or have a good idea why they have adopted this practise?

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:09 pm
by Paul F
It is a bit of a pain, but better than it falling out on the river bank.
Just slightly warm it with a lighter, and it will come out easy.

No need to remove it really though, just clean inside the bush with a cotton bud, you can use a little Swan lighter petrol if it is really oilily

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:47 pm
by Timothy Claypole
Never heard of a grub screw falling out! I’m pretty sure I’d notice the end float getting a bit flabby well before it fell out.

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:03 pm
by Watermole+
The grub screw is set in (glued) usually with ‘Loctite’ for a purpose…to prevent it being unnecessarily being tampered with!

This screw determines the ‘end float’, that is the amount of free movement of the line drum. If the screw is too loose, it will usually not do any harm but will cause a little rattle and possibly may cause the drum to foul the backplate.

On the other hand, if the screw is set too tight, it will cause friction and bind between the locking fork and the groove in the spindle which will cause rapid wear and inevitably reduce performance and shorten the reel life.

This screw adjustment is precisely set at the factory when new and should only need adjustment after many years of use-if ever!
It was never intended to be used as a friction brake or to be interfered with, hence being set with ‘glue’.

Let’s hope that it will be ok now..

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:07 pm
by Liphook
Had they picked up the wrong Loctite? A tiny smidge of the lightest thread lock I could understand, but I find it bizarre that it was glued in hard :roll:

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:07 pm
by Barbelseeker
Good old Locktite Blue 242 - many happy memories of using the stuff

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:33 pm
by Timothy Claypole
Don’t think Garry Mills glues his in, at least not the reels I’ve had him service.

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:47 pm
by Timothy Claypole
Watermole+ wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 7:03 pm The grub screw is set in (glued) usually with ‘Loctite’ for a purpose…to prevent it being unnecessarily being tampered with!

This screw determines the ‘end float’, that is the amount of free movement of the line drum. If the screw is too loose, it will usually not do any harm but will cause a little rattle and possibly may cause the drum to foul the backplate.

On the other hand, if the screw is set too tight, it will cause friction and bind between the locking fork and the groove in the spindle which will cause rapid wear and inevitably reduce performance and shorten the reel life.

This screw adjustment is precisely set at the factory when new and should only need adjustment after many years of use-if ever!
It was never intended to be used as a friction brake or to be interfered with, hence being set with ‘glue’.

Let’s hope that it will be ok now..
I get that it’s not a friction brake Watermole, but as much as there might be ideal factory settings, I’d prefer to set up my reel as I like it.

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:22 pm
by MWithell
I have a screw loose. Should I be using Loctite? My wife says I'm beyond help but I'm just wondering...

Re: Glued-in grubscrew

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:28 pm
by Timothy Claypole
MWithell wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:22 pm I have a screw loose. Should I be using Loctite? My wife says I'm beyond help but I'm just wondering...
:eyebrow: :Hahaha: