Pointless Abusive Van Staal-Bashing Thread
 

Every fishing board has to have one. :devil:

Come on, let's hear your gripes - we can't let other sites take the lead on this hot topic.

Any woeful tales of oil-leaking reels, sideplates that fall off in the middle of a fight, drag knobs coming lose and falling into the water, or just general reel grumpiness? And huge warranty repair bills?

How 'bout some after "self-servicing" horror stories, like how ______ (a VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE member here) serviced his best buddy's gold VS150, and upon attempting to re-assemble the thing misaligned the doohickey thingy with the thingamabob and ended up destroying the reel (through no fault of his own?)?


Does anyone want to see what a .300 winchester magnum will do to a pair of VS pliers?

Van Staal reels suck and only wankers like Barfmaster fish with them. :laughs: :hihi:

Die You friggen plug Ho!!!!!!!!!!:p

Moi, a plug ho? :eek:

yeah You
wanna buy a vs reel:D

Not if it's a gold 150. :laughs: :hihi:

VS. i love 'em, i hate 'em, i love 'em! :wall: i don't see how anyone could cheat on their VS. :confused: i even love my black and gold 200!

:laughs: :love: :wall:

I hate em so much......... I wanna another one :D
Anyone got a spare VS I could Ho?
'hound

I'd buy one if they had a bail!! :eek:

call me oldschool;)

I sent in my VS 200 after last season and they noticed a ding on the side plate/housing(must'a happened when I hit the rocks at Watch Hill one night). The tech guy suggested I pay for a replacement side plate so it would not leak in the future (it was not leaking any oil at the time and I used it alot after Watch Hill). So I sprung for the plate and an extra spool and got it back before all the selling/moving rumors/truths. I used it for about a week when I noticed a leak begin at the new side-plate/housing and more than a usual amount of oil comming out of the shaft and contaminating the drag washers (which I had to clean after use). So I sent it to Oklahoma for yearly maint. and wonder if it's ever going to be a useable reel again :wall:

Hi Chumbucket. :wave:

Black V S 300 love it. Only reel I've owned to make it from april to nov. no problems here.:happy: :happy: :happy:

"argh" :wave:

That about sums up the VS experience. :laughs:

:gorez:

I'm down to 2 now.

R U selling them?

got a 150?

selling them eh''''''
inothing lasts with Me the way i fish.
it was funny when Mike and I was fishing them 8' crashing in front and my reel was binding up.
pulled 2 out that night, couldnt believe it.
I look good running to reel up line:D
show pic of your plyers.
the cutters on mine suck. im gonna take em to the water fed wheel and see if i can getem sharp

pliers ain't pretty.

Got my VS 200 back from Oklahoma a week-and-1/2 ago and it looked and felt good (no leaking). Been taking it to the suds to re-introduce it to some linesiders and everything seems up to snuff except the handle knob is still a little squeaky(guess I'll have to pack some grease in there). Even caught a NJ twinkie striper today and left the drag light to see if the drags got sticky...silky-smooth:btu: . They replaced the Center shaft (as an upgrade=no charge) and the new one looks like it's treated with Titanium Nitride(gold color). Maybe they should try that,or ceramic/cer-met on the line rollers that keep grooving(noticed a nice groove on mine starting). All-in-all it looks like they did a good job on mine. :)

Glad to hear it - especially on the shaft replacement. I got "shafted" last year when they replaced mine.

Waiting for mine to come back from servicing as well. :err:

WAITING FOR MINE TO COME BACK FROM SERVICE,WORKED GOOD NO REAL PROBLEMS.

Anyone know exactly how to get the side plate off an old 200? I'd like to get in there and check/change the oil. I've never had any problems with mine, but haven't sent it in in a few years - and don't really want to right now, but it seems tighter lately (maybe just too damn cold).
Anyway, I'm thinking one of those rubber strap wrenches, anyone done it?
Bill

That would make for a great how-to thread...

I tried but couldn't budge it(I guess I was holding the flyer). I think you have to hold the body of the reel(where the gears/crank handle is) and let the flyer turn as you unscrew the side-plate. Maybe someone that was successful can reply...:smash:

Not Bashing but I would need a new line of employment to be able to afford a VS! So I will stick with my 2 Nautil's and 3 Abu's!!
Still cost me less than one VS!!!




:D :rolleyes:

i used a strap wrench. it took some work, but i was finally able to get it open. if you are not able to do it with the strap, and you really want to get inside, you can use channel lock pliers. i warn you, though, this WILL mark the reel. i ended up ordering the removable sideplate for $70. it is much easier that way.

I started this reply last night but the fire at the Canal Power Plant saved you from that one so I will start my re-rant now. Anyone who bought a VS was duped. Duped by slick advertising and the subliminal message that if you don't have one you are A) a loser, B) a poor excuse for a fisherman, C) a member of a lower class and shouldn't be even talked to on the beach D) not worthy C) an insignificant piece of whale dung floating aimlessly in the water, E) your income must be less than 100k a year and therefore you have no class whatsoever, F) you have no clue of the solid value in this reel. Well, I don't have one, never wanted one and always thought they were never ever worth the money. The technology in the design is outdated ( a cupped spool ?) there is a lot of machining but only to lessen the weight because if it was one piece it would weigh as much as a Penn 80lb class Senator. When it is very cold the oil turns to sludge and the reel turns roughly. This reel was aimed at yuppies and wannabees who hit the beach and want to look the part or send the message "hey look at me, I got a VS! And you should see my SUV!
Did this reel make you any better of an angler? No. If you were on a trip and needed parts could you go to the local tackle shop and get them or have the reel repaired? No. Hype my boys, all hype. The sooner they go down the better. Say what you want, I will match my take with anyone and I love my Penns, my Daiwas and my Shimano's. 90.00 bucks for a tune-up kit? PLEASE! 200.00 plus for a pair of pliers? P.T. Barnum said there is a sucker born every minute and he was right, the Van Stal Company proved it. Van Stal, Van Zebco and soon I hope, Van Gone. One thing is for sure they will become collectors items and the price will go up then and some clown will pay it, it's human nature only it's the weak side of human nature, the side that prevents us from evolving into a more intelligent species as living beings and as fisherman as well. They suck.:splat: :rocketem:

I am the batman

I think this thread made Steve grumpy. :laughs: :hihi:

Gotta love his honesty though!!!

Its all personal preference! I have never tried one but it could be the best reel in the world and I still wouldnt buy one because its out of my price range!
At $500 they should come with a 50#+ guarantee!!!!