[nightwing34]

Hey guys, got a question....

Got a Newell 229 for x-mas that i wanna use for toggin. only problem is they got me the 5:1 model instead of the 3.6:1 model.

I looked at the diagram that comes with the reel and it seems like it would be relatively simple to turn the 5:1 into a 3.6:1, but i've never owned a Newell before, and i've had many "simple" projects go horribly wrong on me. So I figured i should get opinions from people who knew: is it as simple as it looks to change the gearing, or should i just look for a 3.6:1 model elsewhere and be thankful for a new reel to go jiggin weakies and blues with?

Thanks guys for any feedback you can give....

 

[Leprechaun]

Been HERE Before

NW34 - if you go down the board a bit to a thread entitled "Reels for Blackfishing" you will see a long debate about the use of different speed reels for this use.

I personally ONLY use the 5:1 Newells for this purpose for reasons that I spelled out on that other thread. Its really a personal preference on your part - if you prefer the 3.6:1 gears, know that it MIGHT take 5 minutes to swap them over, if you spend 2 minutes of that time reading the instructions and applying lube to the teeth.

On the Newell reels the entire bridge/gear box assembly comes out in one piece - no flying springs or other nasty surprises will await you.

Just call Newell, speak to the parts gal: Norma and order the gear set you want. Its a bit laborious to go thru this, only because Newell DOES NOT take credit cards. So you tell her what you want, she takes your order/shipping info and then you send off a check. About 10 days later your stuff arrives.

Not the smoothest operation out there, that's for sure.

rgds, Leprechaun

 

[Capt.XXX]

Stay with thr 5:1

You'll find that you will like it better!

 

[skatemaster]

X-Mas present? Was it new?

Go back to the store and exchange it for a 3.6:1 reel.

To order the gears from Newell will take a couple weeks and cost $40-50 (just guessing). Probably easier to exchange it.

It is simple to swap gears. But there are plenty of things to screw up if you haven't opened a reel before.

 

[615676]

Is it necessary to open it up right when you get it and lube its up? I recently got one also and releatively new to fishing so have not opened a reel yet.

Thanks
Space

 

[skatemaster]

To swap the gears, you have to remove 7 screws (3 different types) loosen the bearing cup, a 9/16 handle nut, various washers, a c-clip, etc., slide the main gear and the rest of the drag stack out, flex the yoke and slide the pinion out, put the new gears in, while making sure that the dog is in the right place, replace drag stack in correct order with the eared washer in the slot, replace all screws without cross threading, and retighten the bearing cup. Oh yeah, shoot some lube into the right spots too. It is a trivial procedure, and takes only a couple minutes if you have done it before, but there are little parts, and if the process is not familiar to you, you might not be sure how the parts go back together.

It is MUCH easier than working on a Penn.

 

[nightwing34]

wow...well, from the looks on the other post that Lep mentioned i'll probly give it a shot as is and see how it feels...if i don't like it, i'll give changing the gears a shot when i do my first "off-season" maintenance on it....

The info's greatly appreciated guys, like i said, this is my first Newell, didn't wanna rush headlong into somethin not having at least some info/recommendations...thanks much

 

[togmaster]

old post

If you look back at an old post i put up it gives you step by step pictures of working on your Newell. I'm working right now but later I'll post the link for you or if some one else can help him out thanks Mike

 

[nightwing34]

Thanks TM...I'm gonna be thumbin thru the old posts when i get home (someone else reminded me about EC posting a "newells a-z" thread that i wanted to find as well)

All this info's great, wish i'd piped up on this board before the season ended, i mighta finally been able to outfish dad after all these years *lol*

 

[619627]

NIghtwing34...if you call Norma at Newell and purchase the 3.6 gears (newell does COD), i can install them in less then 5 minutes...very simple to do...as skatemaster expertly mentioned, it takes two tools and little else then removing one gear set and replacing it with the new gear set. Personally, i rather use the 3.6 gears, but with the 200 series reels, the 5 to 1 gears are fine. And newells 5 to 1 gears happen to be excellent, both smooth, yet powerful enough to pull fish in.

EC NEWELL MAN*

 

[Billy40]

Yeah, Steve's pretty good at swapping gears.