Messed up my Zebco 33

[crappie josh]

man they just dont make zebco's like they use to

[crappieseeker]

I grew up on them as well and like someone else mentioned, check flea markets and also yard sales. I use to see them at places like that.

[CatFan]

I wouldn't take a truckload of 33's anymore if they were free. They are just plain junk anymore. The line eats the spool in no time.

Nothing compared to what they used to be. I'd expect you'd have to get one more than 20 years old to be worth having.

[boatboy54]

thud: glad you posted i thought i might be the only one using spincst reels :p

Some time ago I got this old Zebco at a yard sale for $2. It's sure been a good reliable reel but it's always had a problem casting. It jerks and snags etc.
To tonite I decided I'd look into that.
Some-one in it's past life had snagged something, tightened up the drag, and yanked, jerked, and plunged until they bent the Reel a bit, but the big problem was the Snagged line marks in one place on the outer edge of the Reel.

So while I was tugging on the reel to see what held it in, suddenly it popped loose and way out in the dark of my barn I heard something go "tink" as it hit. Mad at myself for my ham handed attitude, I have to go on a hunt for Zebco 33 parts or stores or etc.

I made good use of the time, straightened the Reel, smoothed off the inside and got rid of all the 'catchy' scuffed parts.

Anybody have any help or suggestions of places?

[Fatman]

Contact TNTjigman he bought out a reel repair business and has lots of parts, and he's one of us!!!!!!!

The only good 33's out there are up through the 33 Classic. Everyone I've looked at after that one has had problems.

Fatman

[thudpucker]

My 33 only says "Rhino Tough" on it. Also printed on the label is "C" 1986 and some other company's name.

I made a spring out of a Ball point pen spring.
This one has a bent reel so when you crank the line in, any weight makes it strain a little.
I'll still use it though.

[jeepguyjames]

man good memories in a zebco 33, my grandpa fished w/one as long as I can remember, anything from catfish, walleye to crappie. one reel did it all for him, he passed away in jan 04 and the one thing my grandma gave me was his reel, its been retired and now hangs on my garage wall above one of my fishin shelfs, priceless reel to me.

[Team M&M]

I use spincast about 75% of the time. I use openface reels for catfishing, and ocean fishing but I never use baitcasters. Its not because I don't know how its just because I grew up on spincast and I find them much more enjoyable to fish with. I know about all the talk of baitcasters being more accurate but I say Poo on that. I can take my Zebco Omega and hit exactly where I want and it casts as far as I'd like.
I don't use Zebco exclusively but they do still make some good products. The new 33's are indeed cheaply made and not as reliable as the old one. However the 733 Hawg and the Omegas are superb reels and I've caught everything from small bream to 20lb stripers on them.

I have some old Johnson reels that are really good as well. Even Diawa has a couple good models.

[muddog]

All of my reels are underspin reels. I have Zebco,Diawa,Johnson and frugger reels. I changed from the openface to the spincast to get away from the little loop of line that comes on the spool when you are using light jigs.
My first underspin reel was a zebco and that stopped the loop,but I started to get line catch after I caught a fish, I started looking for a better underspin reel but they all had the same problem.I was just about to give up on these little reels when one day I was fishing with my brother who also uses underspin reels,and I noticed that he did not have this problem so I asked what was he doing differant.Bob was using flouricarbin line,
so I changed my line and now I have no problem with line catch.

[BamaBill]

Wow. Didn't know you could tear up a 33.