van staal/repair

[nightfighter]

So what's the deal for someone (me) who bought a VS200 off the classifieds? Do I just send it in after the fall run? Where? What $$ to expect for this maintenance? Bo I need paperwork?

[jim sylvester]

vanstaal.com

[Pete_G]

The surf likes to break stuff, no matter what it costs or what it's built of.

It's the nature of the enviroment we like to fish in. It's better to accept the fact that pretty much nothing is bullet proof in the surf. Someone or something will always break ANY reel if given enough time and oppurtunity.

Accepting that fact saves me plenty of grumpage if something breaks.

[maddog2020]

jim sylvester & piemma: couple of questions for both of ya:

Were you the original registered owner?

How old was your reel?

I hear lots of great stories about VS. Unfortunately I know of some that weren't quite as good of an outcome. These aren't stories - I have facts.

thanks,

[fishpoopoo]

[PoPin Plug]

cool, did you still get the fish? lol

[jim sylvester]

Originally Posted by PoPin Plug

cool, did you still get the fish? lol

still landed the fish....a fat 40" 29#

a little different fight when the anti-reverse is gone

decksweeper was with me and was saying to himself what the #&*$ is he doing reeling backwards

[JFigliuolo]

Originally Posted by jim sylvester

still landed the fish....a fat 40" 29#

a little different fight when the anti-reverse is gone

decksweeper was with me and was saying to himself what the #&*$ is he doing reeling backwards

Some old timers SWEAR by a reel that can real backwards... It can be VERY usefull at times.

[Redsoxticket]

The VS warranty was lifetime, now it is limited to only one year.

http://www.vanstaal.com/Warranty.html

[striperondafly]

I have a problem with mine - its in the bottom of Barnegat Inlet

[jim sylvester]

Originally Posted by maddog2020

jim sylvester & piemma: couple of questions for both of ya:

Were you the original registered owner?

How old was your reel?

I hear lots of great stories about VS. Unfortunately I know of some that weren't quite as good of an outcome. These aren't stories - I have facts.

thanks,

original owner

3 years old

beat to hell

looks like they even polished it because some of the real surface scrathes are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by jim sylvester

original owner


looks like they even polished it because some of the real surface scrathes are gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim I thought that as well.. maybe they just wiped it down or something... too much TLC for my taste if they did
I'll be on the dark side of the moon tonight... tight lines

[jim sylvester]

bryan,
i must say....I can shave in the reflection off this thing......can't wait to drag it across a couple of rocks


tomorrow-sunday for me

[tattoobob]

Maddog, the only thing I can think of is the guy who owned it before me had to pay for the replacement?

[maddog2020]

Sorry - I was out fishing for once.

I ran into several guys toting VS 150's just at about sunset - first time I have seen THAT many guys fishing them ..... lol. Must be a good spot. Lots of bait in the water - bunch of schoolies for the most part. That any one here: Gloucester/Rockport area ~5:45pm?

Ok, I know the next person who gets this older style 150 isn't going to NEED that many parts.

Dan @ VS customer service is great - nice guy to chat with. The new gal is being trained and will replace Dan (suppose to retire w/in the next yr). I'll find out today around noon how things go.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by maddog2020

jim sylvester & piemma: couple of questions for both of ya:

Were you the original registered owner?

How old was your reel?

I hear lots of great stories about VS. Unfortunately I know of some that weren't quite as good of an outcome. These aren't stories - I have facts.

thanks,

Mine was new. Wife and kids chipped in and bought it for me for Xmas 2 years ago.

[maddog2020]

Was the warranty card empty on that mint one off Ebay, Brian/RIRH?

Being the original owner seems to be a good thing.

I know some people use the reels and never send in the card.

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

So what's the deal for someone (me) who bought a VS200 off the classifieds? Do I just send it in after the fall run? Where? What $$ to expect for this maintenance? Bo I need paperwork?

Just print the return form off their website and send it in. It's possible you are going to get whacked the first time in but then you'll be under warranty from their out as long as you send it in yearly. Very tough to predict what the cost will be.

You better hope it's not one of the old reels with the stainless center shaft though, issues with that generation of reels (they're from the Connecticut Van Staal) can get expensive. It's better to stick with the Ti center shaft reels.

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

So what's the deal for someone (me) who bought a VS200 off the classifieds? Do I just send it in after the fall run? Where? What $$ to expect for this maintenance? Bo I need paperwork?

There is a paper you need here it is, I also looked up Craigs Cantelmo's phone number 631-734-2251 he is the Feild Sales Manager you meet him at all the fishing shows really nice guy.

[nightfighter]

Jim, Pete, and Bob, thanks. Annual service done in Tulsa only?

[tattoobob]

As far as I know, yes

Oh and do yourself a favor and send it in before January. you will get it in 2 weeks if you wait it could be up to 2 months

[gone fishin]

How the hell did you screw that reel up setting the hook? Must have 100 lb. test line and one huge pair of biceps!!

[maddog2020]

Keep in mind if you have the older style w/ the interior counter weight they WILL change the shaft & gear out to the newer titanium nitride one and it WILL cost you more $. You can't take off the side plate on those either - strap wrench .... that is a joke. Doesn't work on a reel that hasnt been service. Some special tool that attaches and needs a couple of tons for force to open it.

NOTE: they don't need to contact you if the fee is below $200. Guess how much the new shaft, gear & other std parts come out to $180. In fact when the shaft came back it was BENT intensionally so it couldn't be re-used. I heard that at one point some of the "black" colored shafts were nickle coated and created even MORE problems = supposely very few of those show up now.

I'm still waiting to hear from those other two to see if they were original owners or not.

When you buy an "used" older style reel w/ interior counterweight that hasn't been service so it has newer parts - be aware of the $$ it WILL cost you. I'm not making this up.

My terminology many not be correct: what I call the shaft is the piece joints the spool to the body of the reel - piece that goes up and down. Feel like THE SHAFT when that $180 comes up on some ones CC.

The idea that they FORCE you to make your older style reel more current since you aren't the original owner and charge you $180 just isn't right. I haven't any idea what would have happened if I was the original owner all along and sent it in for annual service IF I would have been charged the parts.

Those of you who were fortunate to get it for FREE - PLEASE post your specifics of being original owner and whether or not you always had sent it in for service.

Buddy if mine has a few VS's - never sent one in for service... fishes them MORE in a yr than a regular person would in a decade. He just keeps filling it w/ oil & grease. He has a maintenance kit he purchased but has never used a part from it. All of his reels have the hex on the side plate and can be opened w/ service wrench.

[maddog2020]

FWW = Ben: Dude u are crazy & funny at times. Your BS doesn't bother me.... just hard to keep track of your username.

Good to be different otherwise the world would be a boring place.

Oh - those of you who haven't checked out one of mikecc's Quarrow Tiderunners - u really need to..... a lot of rod at any price. Use the left over to buy a Shimano Spheros or Stradic.

[nightprowler]

Originally Posted by maddog2020

Keep in mind if you have the older style w/ the interior counter weight they WILL change the shaft & gear out to the newer titanium nitride one and it WILL cost you more $. You can't take off the side plate on those either - strap wrench .... that is a joke. Doesn't work on a reel that hasnt been service. Some special tool that attaches and needs a couple of tons for force to open it.

NOTE: they don't need to contact you if the fee is below $200. Guess how much the new shaft, gear & other std parts come out to $180. In fact when the shaft came back it was BENT intensionally so it couldn't be re-used. I heard that at one point some of the "black" colored shafts were nickle coated and created even MORE problems = supposely very few of those show up now.

I'm still waiting to hear from those other two to see if they were original owners or not.

When you buy an "used" older style reel w/ interior counterweight that hasn't been service so it has newer parts - be aware of the $$ it WILL cost you. I'm not making this up.

My terminology many not be correct: what I call the shaft is the piece joints the spool to the body of the reel - piece that goes up and down. Feel like THE SHAFT when that $180 comes up on some ones CC.

The idea that they FORCE you to make your older style reel more current since you aren't the original owner and charge you $180 just isn't right. I haven't any idea what would have happened if I was the original owner all along and sent it in for annual service IF I would have been charged the parts.

Those of you who were fortunate to get it for FREE - PLEASE post your specifics of being original owner and whether or not you always had sent it in for service.

Buddy if mine has a few VS's - never sent one in for service... fishes them MORE in a yr than a regular person would in a decade. He just keeps filling it w/ oil & grease. He has a maintenance kit he purchased but has never used a part from it. All of his reels have the hex on the side plate and can be opened w/ service wrench.

I had this happen to me, sent it in, and paid about $180 for the service. I was a bit peeved that when i spoke with him on the phone he said he would contact me if it was going to be over the 36 fee. but it wouldn't have really mattered, its not like i wasn't going to have the service done.
i noticed the other night while i was out, that there is a white grease that is building up where the shaft comes out of the main body. i called and left messeges twice and haven't heard back from them.
I have still been fishing with the reel and landing fish without problems, im just curious what the reel looks like on the inside...if there is grease coming out there must be water and sand gettin in!