So you think its bullet proof

[Mad as a fish]

I have been to Durham to pick up Slosh30 from Harry Barker who has upgraded my slosh which is now bullet proof so I can now go fishing knowing the shaft is not going to let me down when I am fishing the rough stuff. Harry pointed out to me that the shaft is the only weakness that the Slosh30 has, so if you think your Slosh is bullet proof think again.
Harry has done a few of upgrades with no problems at a very reasonble price.
Thanks Harry top man

[PETER]

alrite mate a dont own one but how did this happen you must of been trying to pull a good snag out by walking backwards with yr rod pointing straight forward with yr thumb on yr reel or sommit

[Mad as a fish]

Hi Peter i think you misunderstood my post mate i had the upgrade done before the reel shaft went for peace of mind.

[PETER]

a see a must ov my mistake mate tight lines

[Mad as a fish]

No probs Peter

[marco1967]

these reels id think have to be really abused like everyday , pulling through kelp etc , to make that shaft bend . a weekend angler etc who fishes clean/mixed ground wouldn't need that mod for a long long time , if at all ..... also if you strengthen that part , maybe just maybe the extra load will be transferred to another part , only time will tell ... 1000's of these reels were sold , I wonder how many shafts bent and what caused them to bend ??


I own 2 sl20's and a 30 , the 20's I have had for 7 years now and been well used I think in that time , both are still ok .

anyone having the mod done , go for it , but I do think its a knee jerk reaction from most anglers that don't fish the kelp/rock every session, thinking their reel is gonna explode one day ...

[harry barker]

Mods to reels.

I'm pleased you happy with the upgrade Trevor and it was nice meeting you to.
If you can get me the fs shaft to me I'm sure I sort it for you mate..

As far as the upgrades to SLOSH and SHA Diawa reels I'v had a lot of interest from lads asking can I do this modification as a kit so to save them bringing the reel to me then having to call back for it after the work is done.

I'm busy working on this idea and I think I will be able to do this very soon the only thing I would need would be the old damaged shaft sent to me then I could mod it with new stronger stainless steel insert and include new bearing and retainer plate as a package.

I'm also talking to a tackle shop that's shown interest in this modification.

I'm still looking for all old damaged/bent/worn shafts for above reels please let me know if you have any.
cheers H

[harry barker]

these reels id think have to be really abused like everyday , pulling through kelp etc , to make that shaft bend . a weekend angler etc who fishes clean/mixed ground wouldn't need that mod for a long long time , if at all ..... also if you strengthen that part , maybe just maybe the extra load will be transferred to another part , only time will tell ... 1000's of these reels were sold , I wonder how many shafts bent and what caused them to bend ??


I own 2 sl20's and a 30 , the 20's I have had for 7 years now and been well used I think in that time , both are still ok .

anyone having the mod done , go for it , but I do think its a knee jerk reaction from most anglers that don't fish the kelp/rock every session, thinking their reel is gonna explode one day ...

Its not just the shaft that bends mate,the shaft is made from brass and is well made apart from a inner end that has a very small reduction to the dia and this is the main problem.
This part wears out causing lot of movement to the main shaft and in time damages the outer bearing and is some cases the completed end cage of the reel.
You will find lots of tackle shops that repair these reels do the same repair time and time again.
Well known fault on a very good reel.

[marco1967]

full respect to yourself for taking the time and being clever enough on the cnc to make such a shaft , it would be interesting to know what fishing the people do whos reels have done this and over what kind of time frame . id also recommend a blob of grease under the plate where the recess is , I don't think daiwa ever put any in that area , maybe a drop of oil !!

like you said a weak link in a strong reel .

[harry barker]

Thanks for your reply, Its a shame that Diawa didn't see this as a problem but it is happening all the time with these reels and if you have a word with Andy at Rutherfords I think he will tell you he does lots of replacement shafts as does Frazers at Gateshead and god knows how other shops in the uk have done the same work.
cheers H

[g-force]

The problem is mainly with the newer SHV & SHA models, where the bearing has been replaced with a brass bush (where the shaft locates in the side plate). This can wear very quickly, giving just enough play to enable the shaft to bend where it has been machined very thin to be held by the retaining plate. The regular sloshes are less prone in this respect - but not immune (especially if really abused & the bearing erodes). My local tackle shop takes in quite a few sloshes every week for repair and nearly every one is for a replacement shaft.

Harry - I've found one of my old, bent shafts from one of my SHA's (might have another if I can find it but suspect I may have thrown it away). I'd been wondering what you did regarding shimming out the replacement bearing - did you ream out the existing brass bush or come up with something from scratch? I only ask as I've also got a spare bush, which I replaced the last time I had to fit a new shaft. If you PM me your address I'll send you the shaft (& bush if it's any use). I've got a couple of 30 SHA's which I'd really like to get done for the coming summer season (which for me starts around mid-June with our summer matches up the coast) as I'd really lost faith in them due to this weakness - otherwise I think they're cracking reels - so I'd planned to get in touch anyway. It'd be great if you were able to send parts as you say, but I'd still be happy to do a couple of trips down from Blyth if necessary just to be able to get these otherwise excellent reels "fixed" once and for all!

Cheers, Gary

[harry barker]

The problem is mainly with the newer SHV & SHA models, where the bearing has been replaced with a brass bush (where the shaft locates in the side plate). This can wear very quickly, giving just enough play to enable the shaft to bend where it has been machined very thin to be held by the retaining plate. The regular sloshes are less prone in this respect - but not immune (especially if really abused & the bearing erodes). My local tackle shop takes in quite a few sloshes every week for repair and nearly every one is for a replacement shaft.

Harry - I've found one of my old, bent shafts from one of my SHA's (might have another if I can find it but suspect I may have thrown it away). I'd been wondering what you did regarding shimming out the replacement bearing - did you ream out the existing brass bush or come up with something from scratch? I only ask as I've also got a spare bush, which I replaced the last time I had to fit a new shaft. If you PM me your address I'll send you the shaft (& bush if it's any use). I've got a couple of 30 SHA's which I'd really like to get done for the coming summer season (which for me starts around mid-June with our summer matches up the coast) as I'd really lost faith in them due to this weakness - otherwise I think they're cracking reels - so I'd planned to get in touch anyway. It'd be great if you were able to send parts as you say, but I'd still be happy to do a couple of trips down from Blyth if necessary just to be able to get these otherwise excellent reels "fixed" once and for all!

Cheers, Gary

Gary,
I progressed a bit doing these reels now and as you rightly point out the SHA Daiwa's have fitted a bush instead of a bearing, a backward step in my opinion so I have done the exact same mod to the shaft as I do to the SLOSH by inserting a stainless steel pin into the brass shaft and machined a increase in dia of the shaft then retainer plate grove bringing back the strength to the shaft.
I now fit a bearing and shim to o.d of the bearing to fit the housing of the reel frame.
So the upgrade to the SHA reels are stainless pin and larger retainer groove to the weak point of the shaft and replace the poor bush with a roller bearing and shim.
I would say if you want you could send me a damaged SHA shaft I then could mod it for you.
This would save a little time for me as part of the modification to your reel.

Or If you can wait a little while, I think I have a supply of damaged shafts coming in from a well known tackle shop.
I think they are very interested in this project.
I will pm you my address.
cheers H

[g-force]

Thanks Harry, I've sent you a PM.

Gary