I bought my first Van Stall (250) this year and have been lucky enough to find time to put quite a few hours on it. When it was new, i noticed that it was fairly stiff but I have since noticed that the spool and the spool cup that rotates when you crank the handle have loosened up and can be rocked back and forth a little. I noticed it while jigging last night, I could actually feel the bump of the spool rocking to where it stopped against the baring every time I worked the jig.

Is this normal for a VS once they break in? It doesn't seem like it's anything I can tighten up with out opening the case?

While my VS is older and hence different, I'd wager that sounds very wrong.

-spence

While my VS is older and hence different, I'd wager that sounds very wrong.

-spence

ditto, after a few years mines still rock solid, mines china made. HAIII!!

I had mine for years I have a 300 it sounds wrong. :fury:

Call rivers end in CT.

Doesn't sound right to me.

I've had my share of issues with my vs reels
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Sounds like my 250. The spool wobbles too. There is a plastic sleeve and sometimes it gets worn when you fish hard with them. Some of the wobble is correctable with a new sleeve. Mine is so bad its not fully correctable....
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I bought my first Van Stall (250) this year and have been lucky enough to find time to put quite a few hours on it. When it was new, i noticed that it was fairly stiff but I have since noticed that the spool and the spool cup that rotates when you crank the handle have loosened up and can be rocked back and forth a little. I noticed it while jigging last night, I could actually feel the bump of the spool rocking to where it stopped against the baring every time I worked the jig.

Is this normal for a VS once they break in? It doesn't seem like it's anything I can tighten up with out opening the case?

You know, I hear &*&% like this all the time. For $700 you should expect excellence. I had a 250 and it literally blew up the 2nd year I had it. VS repaired it for free but I sold it. I have several 704z that are 20, 30, 40 years old and the only thing that ever goes haywire is the dog spring. 1/10th the cost of a VS and a workhorse. Of course, I don't wet suit but I fish 100 days/nights a year, many on the boat but a lot in the surf and I love my Zs.

Sounds like your anti-reverse bearing is starting to go.

They fail more often than Zebco would care to admit. And using them for jigging seems to make them fail faster. ;)

Sounds like your anti-reverse bearing is starting to go.

They fail more often than Zebco would care to admit. And using them for jigging seems to make them fail faster. ;)

That's actually what I was thinking having first hand experience with that situation with a 150. I sent it back and they fixed it for free but I would say I still share PIEMMA's opinion.

That's actually what I was thinking having first hand experience with that situation with a 150. I sent it back and they fixed it for free but I would say I still share PIEMMA's opinion.


I'm starting to feel the same way.

Usually the real problem is how the problem gets handled. I'll hold judgment until I get there I guess as I'm generally happy with the reel. I do beat the snot out of it.

I agree on the anti-reverse bearing if the handle turns the wrong way.....shaft/spool wobble is definitely the plastic sleeve....

Every VS I have has water in it at the end of a season.... Looking into switching to ZB to replace them,,,,
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I had the bracket that the line roller is on loosen up.Only problem I ever had.

I've got a couple of the originals and they're still going strong. A bit of spray to clean and that's it. Gave up on sendin them in after th ist couple yrs as they didn't need it.