New Reel Advice

[Pete_G]

The oil leakage issue is made out to be much more then it is. It's rare and with a quick rebuild at VS it's gone, no charge if it's within warranty.

It happens, but John R nailed it right on the head. There are gaskets and they can fail but it's not that common. When you think about how hard many VS owners fish and where they fish it's suprising they last like they do. Really the gaskets are a big part of the reason the reel is what it is, simultaneously it's probably it's weakness.

Some leakage is normal. You don't want a river running away from the center shaft, but the reel is supposed to "lose" oil on to the main shaft. It should have a slight gleen from being coated in oil and not too much more. Slow loss where the handle enters the body is normal too. Anything that is literally dripping would be an issue.

The reason VS wants to get reels back yearly is that a fast leaking reel will be running VERY low if it's not out after an average season. A reel that loses very little oil could probably go a very long time. Hard used VS reels that go for a decade before rebuild isn't uncommon.

As for "maintenance" versus a "major repair", it won't be any different. At the factory each reel is completely stripped down, parts are checked, cleaned, replaced if they are outside acceptable tolerances, and then the reel gets put back together. You effectively have a new reel after servicing.

Lastly, to me a "low number" VS when buying used is anything with that stainless shaft. We can debate all day whether the lack of support for old reels based on it is right or wrong but it isn't going to change the fact that the parts for it are either extremely limited or already gone and the upgrade will be expensive. The hit you are going to take on a used reel (with the titanium nitride shaft) will be directly related to how many parts, if any, need to be replaced. If nothing needs to be replaced it will be an inexpensive visit. That to me is the only real risk of buying a used VS with a titanium nitride main shaft.

Uncle Rob, I wouldn't buy a Stella for the surf.

[surfer4life52]

So do the newer VS's, the ones with the counterweight outside the spool have the titanium shafts??

Thanks
AG

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by surfer4life52

So do the newer VS's, the ones with the counterweight outside the spool have the titanium shafts??

Thanks
AG

The titanium nitride shafts are distinctly gold or bronze colored, that's the only dead giveaway.

I'm not sure exactly when the switch to the external counterweight took place, so it doesn't necessarily indicate a nitride shaft.

Plus there are a number of reels now that have been upgraded, so you can also have fully updated reels with internal counterweights.

[ChiefLinesider]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

I wouldn't buy a Stella for the surf.

Would you get a saltiga for the surf? As often as I go? Or VS?

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

Would you get a saltiga for the surf? As often as I go? Or VS?

I've never used a Saltiga for an extended period of time so I can't really comment on it. After taking a real close look at the ones that were in the shop for a while I'd be scared to submerge them in the same way I do a VS. Bottomline is a VS can roll around the bottom of the ocean for a week or two and when it comes out be immediately ready for business.

Getting dunked while changing plugs, going under while being used as a walking stick, or tumbling across the rocks doesn't phase a VS. It's simply built for that.

The Saltiga is NOT built to be a surf reel, but obviously it works well for some. It was intended to be on a boat vertical jigging for tuna and other brutes. Serious fish to sure, but it's not just fish a surf reel has to hold up to.

The stresses the Canal puts on a reel (a spot where the Saltiga seems to dominate) are quite a bit different from what we deal with in Newport, in my opinion.

I think that's part of where reel wars come from. Just like I don't have a clue what I would need in a Canal reel, people don't necessarily see why I love my Van Staals.

[ChiefLinesider]

I sure would be bummed though, if it dripped oil after a month or some other problem. Send it back. & have to use my only back up reel (Okuma) thats got issues as well...


Thats what bothers me about VS, is all the small things. Its like owning a car. Where youve got to pay a big sticker price upfront & pay an annual cost ontop of it. And it may not always function when you need it. I would feel at the mercy of my reel.

& THE MAINTENANCE COST IS GOING UP OCT. 1 from 36 to $50...

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by ChiefLinesider

I sure would be bummed though, if it dripped oil after a month or some other problem. Send it back. & have to use my only back up reel (Okuma) thats got issues as well...


Thats what bothers me about VS, is all the small things. Its like owning a car. Where youve got to pay a big sticker price upfront & pay an annual cost ontop of it. And it may not always function when you need it. I would feel at the mercy of my reel.

& THE MAINTENANCE COST IS GOING UP OCT. 1 from 36 to $50...

If you pressure them they might cover shipping out, but repair and shipping back wouldn't cost anything since it would be under warranty.

You're going to encounter issues with any reel if you use it enough.

Do a search for Saltiga, especially tlapinski's posts. How's having all the bearings replaced sound? I refuse to believe Saltigas are sealed if that sort of work is needed.

I still feel Van Staals are the least prone to issues and require the least maintenance during the season of any reel you might use in the surf.

[ChiefLinesider]

Originally Posted by Pete_G

You're going to encounter issues with any reel if you use it enough.

Do a search for Saltiga, especially tlapinski's posts. How's having all the bearings replaced sound? I refuse to believe Saltigas are sealed if that sort of work is needed.

I still feel Van Staals are the least prone to issues and require the least maintenance during the season of any reel you might use in the surf.

Saltiga sounds good in some situations, but VS still seems to come out on top, less frills. And i guess even if its another $50 a year. I will just have to buy two less lures a year. Worst situation I could sell it, They seem to still bring high dollar amounts, even the older ones. So I would be pretty much renting a reel for $50 a year...yeah.... Its getting to be that time of night...

[vanstaal]

well I have the 300 and I did have a problem with it it was binding up so I called them and told them what was going on I sent it out over night on a Mon.got it back on Wed Am @ 915 Haven't had no problems since
I swear by them. when sending it back for repairs they don't call unless it its over 200.00