Mitchell 330 classic fishing reel with auto trip bail how to take apart and service

This video shows how to service the Mitchell 330 #fishing #reel that has the auto-trip bail feature as a unique extension of the Mitchell 300 line.
I have been servicing fishing reels for over 20 years and am sharing my experiences here. If you enjoy the video, please like it and subscribe to see more.
Questions? Comments? I reply to all.
Thank you for watching - Dennis
email [e-mail]
www.2ndchancetackle.com
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[@sirchan9524]

So I just came across this little gem of DIY reel cleaning. I found 8 of these little Mitchell 330's cleaning out my in-laws basement, two of which are the otomatic variety. They all work but I'm certain none have been cleaned in the past 50 years. After getting a few supplies I'll be taking one apart to learn your cleaning steps. Looks easy enough. Thanks!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Great to hear. Best wishes on the overhauls - Dennis

[@kimholland9316]

You've done that a few times. I love old Mitchell reels. The sheer number that are still in use bears testament to the quality engineering used.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Well said. Quality and dependability endure and that is why they last and last - Dennis

[@garrettlauzon1656]

Those little shims behind the pinion gear are definitely easy to lose, I've had a few occasions where I've nearly lost them. I'd also like to mention that this also pretty much applies to the Mitchell 440/441 reels so that any viewers that have one of those knows that this video is also a good reference for how to work on those. Great content as always Dennis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for the additional info Garrett. Best wishes - Dennis

[@gonesideways6621]

I was able to repair my old Mitchell 330 after watching your video, bought it second hand in early seventies and never used it because of bail problems, it works like a new reel now thanks for your videos.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Great to hear! Thank you for the feedback. Best wishes for great fishing with your reel - Dennis

[@steveburch5113]

Help Dennis... There are 4 comments and NO likes. What is Wrong with you people! Jeeez.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for your support Steve - Best wishes - Dennis

[@manuelc.thepromise5290]

Thank you Dennis. At the end of the day, I can always catch your videos. Great job.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I appreciate that! Thank you - Dennis

[@christopherjenkins2373]

The Mitchell Ottomatic is a great little reel. I have one of these. You don’t want to work on that bail unless you absolutely have to. There is a different baffle plate you can get for these that make that auto-bail function a lot better. It has 5 little hole in it to make it more reliable. You have to get used to this reel to get proficient at fishing with it as it is not as easy as it looks. I’ve had a lot of fun with mine and it has worked very well. This is a very fine reel that has excellent engineering behind it. Great video Dennis.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks Chris

[@stuartwebster829]

Hello Dennis.best wishes to you and your loved ones.Another very interesting video,this reel reminds me of the “finger dab” bail release mechanism that was a feature of the Mitchell Match reel which was extremely popular in the UK,particularly when used in competition angling.The Match had a bit of a cult following in the 70’s and 80’s and had a high gear ratio so not only was it saving time but it was used mainly on running water,so line could be paid out easily while a float trotted down the river.Main competitor was Abu who produced a legendary closed face reel for similar purposes.I still have a few old examples but they rarely go fishing nowadays unfortunately. All the best from England. Keep well Stuart

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thank you Stuart. I am not familiar with the Match. I will need to look into that one - Best wishes and thanks for the note - Dennis

[@johnnywitt1290]

Dennis I have one if these! The bail would not work. After taking apart I found that the trip assembly was broken from the plate . It has four studs that stuck up through the plate that holes it in place, only one was intact. I got a small screw and drilled a hole through one if the broken stud locations. I files the screw down to the right length and install it. Bail trip is now working correctly. This reel is for my collection so probably will not be used but is something to talk about. Have many 300s, 302s, 308s and a couple of other old Mitchell reels. Thank you for your videos. I have learned a lot. One question, do you know where I can get some of the screws for the side plates? Many of mine have bad heads on them and need to be replaced.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for the note. I do not have a steady source for the Mitchell parts. Check Ebay and other sites. Many folks take apart their broken reels and sell the usable pieces - Dennis

[@matthewraymond3996]

Great reels. I have a few of them. 330’s 440’s etc. The otomatic bail does take some getting used to. In my experience it appears that that 330 has the bail wire off of a 440a. A 330 should just have a simple wire and a right angle bend into a socket on the non spring side. That one seems to be functioning OK, but I think the wire has been replaced.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Matthew - Thanks for the info. Best wishes - Dennis

[@gtrevino50]

Howdy! My dad taught me how to use a spinning reel on his Mitchell 300's and I've always loved them! I recently picked up a couple 330's because he saw one on KZbin and thought it was the neatest thing. The one I gave him runs as smooth as silk. The one I kept for myself has a slight catch as you rotate the handle. It run fine otherwise, but you definitely feel the "bump" as it cycles. I plan to work on it it this weekend to clean it up and hopefully resolve that little bump - any suggestions what to look for or expect when I open her up? Thanks for the video. I'm a new subscriber for sure!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

That may be difficult. I am thinking your issue is going to be with a chipped or word trip plate. They are hard to find. Best wishes - Dennis

[@gtrevino50]

@@2ndChanceTackle Got lucky! Took about 30 seconds after opening it up. Found a single tooth on the main gear was a bit rough and there was a teenie-tiny piece of grit or metal filing. The entire thing was packed with thick axle grease, so once I cleaned it up and cleaned that tooth or works like a champ! I'm extremely happy because this real is almost perfect condition - no rust, corrosion, or paint chips. Fixing to put it on a rod and walk to pond before it starts snowing this weekend.

[@ChrisSchwamb]

I picked one up yesterday at a local flea market for a whopping $1 with a non-functioning bail. I re-bent the bail wire which made it operate flawlessly. I then realized (what the heck?) it rotates counter clockwise for line retrieval. How many other spinners do this?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Left handed crank reels normally rotate counterclockwise and right handed reels normally rotate clockwise. Dennis

[@ChrisSchwamb]

@@2ndChanceTackle, my frame of reference has been mostly Penn spinners so that one surprised me when I noticed. As always, thanks for your tutorials!

[@stanar.stanarstanar1426]

Hello friend, I want to congratulate you for your video about the fishing machine. I have had the same machine since 1986. I got it as a gift from my uncle, so now I want to ask you something, you must know more about the fishing machine. How many meters of thread does it collect on the reel, if it is of the following thicknesses of fishing line, for example: from 0.18 mm., 0.20 mm., and 0.23 mm. If you know, I will ask you for an answer, if not, then I will ask one of your fans for this question. You can also point me to a website, where I can read about this question of mine. GREETING

[@2ndChanceTackle]

About 125 meters of line

[@agfishing4898]

Hi Dennis, any chance you could show the tear down and reassembly of that trip bail? (it was me who contacted you on Facebook with the same question, I'm stuck on a Mitchell 440a)

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I'm sorry, but that was a customer reel and I have returned it to them. I will add this to my list and try to do the next one to come in for service. - Dennis

[@conniebiehle7818]

I have a abu Garcia accubalance 200. I can’t figure out how to reassemble the anti reverse component. There is a crescent shaped piece, and I don’t know where it goes. Can you help me? I don’t really what to discard the reel because this dissemble was suppose to just clean and relive the reel Any help would be appreciated

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Best to check the schematic to see the orientation. You can see it in this link s7d5.scene7.com/is/content/purefishing/Abu%20Garcia/Schematics/ACCUBALANCEES200RD.pdf Dennis

[@conniebiehle7818]

@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks I did look at the schematic, but it doesn't show where the present shaped piece fits into the oscillating slider. Have you ever reassembled this reel?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I have not worked on that reel, but it's style is similar to many I have worked on. If you send a few pictures of the piece to my email [e-mail] I will see if I can help further - Dennis

[@timokyostila9433]

Mitchell 330 Is it normal, reels, a little, noisy operation (without) rear lock. Sorry, my bad english.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - it is normal. These reels do not have ball bearings, do the metal on metal makes them noisy as they rotate. Keep them well lubricated to lessen the wear and the noise - Dennis

[@roachcatcher266]

Great video but shame the important shots of reel are not in frame, like the tiny brass washer clip totally did not see it please can out about a foot so we can at least see what your on about.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Sorry for the poor quality of the vide - I will try to keep the image in frame - Dennis