Restoring an old rod

[bigdoug03]

My grandma passed recently. As the family was going through her house we found some of grandpa's fishing gear and since I'm the fisherman in the family it was passed on to me.

I never new grandpa as he passed when I was a toddler, but he was clearly a crappie fisherman. The tackle box was nothing but split shot weights, slip bobbers, aberdeen hooks, and the fuzziest maribou jigs I've ever seen.

The tackle is not really usable, but his old rod looks to be in good shape. I'd really like to restore and use it this summer. After a good cleaning and oiling the reel is smooth as can be. I swear it feels like it's brand new. The rod has some issues though, the wraps around one of the rod guides are coming loose. There was some ancient electrical tape keeping them on, but I'd like to fix it right.

Any advise on how to fix the rod guide? I'm also curious if anyone can identify what the rod is made of. It's two piece 6' long, and extremely, extremely limber. I've never seen a rod this limber, I can touch the rod tip to the butt of the rod no problem.

Advise on the reel is welcome too. I know to oil it occasionally and only use monofilament but that's about it.

[DockShootinJack]

I would think the rod would most likely be fiberglass. Some more photos of it would help. Especially the handle section

Btw. Nice looking reel

[Fishfishwish]

The rod is likely fiberglass. I have no good words on repair since I've never done that sort of work, other than putting on a new top guide.

I would recommend disassembling and thoroughly cleaning the reel. Soap, water and a tooth brush should do. Maybe some WD40 will be needed to get off dried up grease. Oil any bearings (probably only one on the pinion gear or maybe no bearings at all, only bushings), and use some quality fishing reel grease on the gears and other moving parts. A little goes a long way, so don't load the thing up with grease, at least not for fresh water fishing. Below is a link on doing maintenance on a South Bend reel very similar to yours. It may be that they are nearly identical inside. Try to find the schematic on line, so you know what you are getting into. Good luck.

South Bend 750 vintage fishing reel how to take apart and service - YouTube

[Ketchn]

not sure on the guides , they used to be tied up real slick back in the day and coated with "something" . might take a bit of work to actually wrap them back up like original .

[hdhntr]

Personally I would put it up on the wall as a remembrance of your grandpa and not touch a thing. Newer rods are better anyway. I inherited some rods and a box full o tackle from my BIL the rocket scientist who we had to put in memory care and I won't need weights, hooks, maribu jigs or old plugs for rest of my life. Knew he kinda sorta liked fishing but we never did it together.

[SuperDave336]

Personally I would put it up on the wall as a remembrance of your grandpa and not touch a thing.

That is what I would probably do. Keep it like he used it.

[grizwilson]

There are probably folks local who can clean up and wrap the guides. If it were me I would brass brush and dremel them clean, and wrap. Not real hard, the biggest pain is applying the epoxy and keeping it turned so you do not get a glob that messes up the rod. I built a rod turner out of an old microwave turn table motor and PVC. Here are a couple links for help,
Rod Building Classes (mudhole.com)
Rod Repair - YouTube
That said, I am sure Mark at Welcome to RDP FlyRods; Custom Fly Rods, Blank Rods, Reels and More will treat you right but shipping is an issue, he is near Mt. Vernon, MO. Hope this is of help

[skeetbum]

I’ll defer to fish,fish,wish on the reel work. He’s more adept at that than me and a lot of others are. But I can speak of the guides and wrapping issues as I’ve built a few in recent months. But it will never be grandpas rod again. The threads and coatings are all different than they were at that time. There may be someone that can redo it as it was first done but I’m not aware of anyone right now. If I can help, don’t be afraid to ask.

I would replace the guides with lightweight all stainless guides and wrap with just a few trim bands to dress it up. I would then us the new two part flex coat to seal and bond the windings and guides and it would be good for the rest of your life if cared for moderately. I’m guessing 4 guides and a tip. Any pitting in the old guides acts like sandpaper to your line. Your call, again, let me know if I can help.

[DockShootinJack]

I built a rod years ago. Back then the entire rod was flex coated not just the wrappings. I coated the rod and spun it by hand to keep it leveled out. I said that to say this. It can be done without a motorized rod turner.

[grizwilson]

I coated the rod and spun it by hand to keep it leveled out. I said that to say this. It can be done without a motorized rod turner.[/QUOTE]
Agreed, and I have got a call with a fishing report or went to get a beer and lost focus, then had to sand out the glob and start over.....why I built the turner