(Read comments on bearings) Zebco 33 75th Anniversary -- Service and Hot Rod -- Young Martin's Reels

[@jaydee5156]

Nice to see. I want one of these as a keepsake. I have a vintage reel collection that includes some 33s from the late '50s to late '60s.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

It’s definitely not a quality of those reels but it will still catch fish just fine.

[@tommodesitt4699]

As always, fun video Rick!

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Tommy, as usual I had fun doing it.

[@Shankdaddy16]

I like this design much more than the recent generations of 33, this looks more like the 80-90s Zebcos. I hope they improve the quality, I would like to get one soon.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

I don’t like the looks of the later models or the snap on rear cover but the performance of they doesn’t seem too bad. I can’t remember if I made a video those or not. My major problem with the 80-90s 33s are the deteriorating rubber and line brakes on the spinner head. I know you can glue on a plumbing o-ring but they should have at least made improved spinner heads available for purchase. I’ve had over a hundred of those reels come across my bench and every one had that problem. Some appeared to be good but a soon as I tried to wipe off the dirt, they crumbled. I won’t even work on one any more.

[@Shankdaddy16]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 Yeah it’s really unfortunate about the line brakes, I’m kind of surprised no one has created a 3D printed replacement yet. I’ve found a Danco #19 o-ring (1-1/4” OD, 1” ID, 1/8” thick) works but I’m still testing it against not using one at all. I have been using them without the brake when possible even though it pinches the line between two metal surfaces. From my research and observation, the Johnson Century 100 and Zebco 700 Hoss also pressed the spinner cone directly against a metal cover so maybe the line getting pinched isn’t that big of a deal after all? Of course if it doesn’t work any longer that’s going to be a huge issue so this only applies to the reels that’s still function without a line brake. I have also noticed many plastic bodied Zebcos press the spinner cone directly against the cover as well although I assume this is because the plastic body would theoretically pinch the line less.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

My biggest issue with them is that I was servicing them for a friend to resale on EBay. He wanted them to be all original and in good shape to keep his eBay rating high. It just wasn’t possible with those reels. I finally had to stop working on them for him. Now he just sells them as parts reels.

[@Boswd]

The 33 Platinum is extremely well made and right now Amazon is selling them for $29, snagged one the other day. Very impressive 33 indeed

[@Boswd]

so if my math is correct it has 3 bearings? 2 plus 1 for the clutch? If so I think this is based on the 33 Gold ? Interesting choice to model for the 75th Anniversary it's a fine reel but i would have thought they would have used the 33 Platinum as the their 75th Anniversary special. Oh I ordered one anyway for nastalgia and I do love the look of it. I love the 33's we have 3 currently in the rotation, the Standard one bearing, the Black which as 4 bearings and the Platinum with 5 bearsing Love them all, especially the Black and Plat. They cast and reel in verry nice esepcially for the price. Not sure if I will keep the 75th on display or pop it on a reel. Anywho nice video love these tear downs.

[@mikeballard862]

Maybe the first super tuned 75th reel? Thanks for the inside view. Mixed feelings about this one, but as you said, it is just a commemorative.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Mike, I was hoping for a little bit more too. It looks nice but there isn’t much nice to say about the construction. At least it comes apart and goes together easily.

[@rhodesdalemaryland563]

So, It is exactly like a current 33, but with old style looks and a clutch. Oh and the handle is huge.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Pretty much.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

I wanted to get this reel, and still might but it’s definitely not all that impressive.. a typical 33.. you did make it better with the addition to the two bearings.. I have a broken 33 gold that I believe has the same bearings.. seems like Walmart is the only place I can find the reel ($29.99) but nothing actually in store.. oh well. Thanks for the video!! Definitely good to get that first look inside. Willie

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

I was told the only way to buy one was at Walmart’s on-line store. That’s how I got this one. I would not recommend this reel for use. It’s fishable but I don’t believe it would have a long life on a rod.

[@ShellcackerFisherman]

The only thing I like about that fishing reel is the crank handle

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

I’m glad that you pointed that out. I was having trouble finding nice things to say about it.

[@warpedweirdo]

You added bearings - but are they ABEC-7 full ceramic? Next up: backup anti-reverse because, why not? Given the main gear has AR teeth on the back side, maybe Zebco utilized old frames for this reel too, and maybe old AR parts will fit and function. Then carbon drag washers because, like, you want drag to be smoother than a - better not say it; KZbin might not like that old slogan. Maybe you can get ProGear to manufacture a stainless main gear too. And Accurate or Tiburon (are they still in business?) to manufacture a frame CNC'd from a solid block of aluminum. And how about a monster winch handle, sourced from an old boat trailer's winch? By the time you're done, a few $$$$ later, you'll have a reel you'll be proud of and confident in for catching the bluegill of a lifetime!

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

You’d still need to add some welded loops for the spool release button. Then add ring to the front cover hole to eliminate the sharp edge. There’s not enough length on the center shaft of the case to put in better drag washers so you would need to extend that when you made the new case. Of course extending that means you need a longer axle shaft. The list just keeps going. The added bearings are overkill for a reel like this. I mostly did it just because I usually won’t replace bushing with bearings. It was kind of a running theme I had going with Chris Jenkins. He tried to replace every bushing with bearings and I don’t. These plastic bushings are just so cheesy looking that I couldn’t help myself. I actually prefer good bronze bushings to bearings every time. I’ve never found a bad bronze bushing but I’ve had to change out plenty of bad bearings in reels. Some of them were less than a year old. Let’s face it, most people don’t want to go fishing, then come home and take their reels apart to clean and service them. Salt water can destroy a bearing just a day or so. To this day I’ve never installed an ABEC-7 full ceramic bearing in any reel. I don’t work on reels that are worthy of that kind of expense. Most reels I work on are old abandoned reels from the bottom of the line that their owners have determined are no longer serviceable.

[@warpedweirdo]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 I wholeheartedly agree! I've never had a bushing go bad (other than the one I sandblasted, duh...) but I have had a reel where every single ball bearing went bad after a single ocean fishing trip on a party boat. I suspect a deckhand sprayed / soaked the reel while spraying down the decks with sea water on the return to port. Reel was totaled because cost to replace all the bearings exceeded the price I paid for the reel. I see zero reason to put full-ceramic bearings in a reel. Sure, they won't corrode; but that doesn't mean maintenance is no longer required. Get salt water in the bearing, let the water evaporate, and you're left with salt crystals in the bearing; not good. Ceramics are brittle too. Imagine dropping one of those expensive bearings on the floor, and the thing breaking into pieces! Beyond that, I wonder if they're up to the shock loads they might get if they're supporting a spool filled with braid.

[@htbc615]

Sorry but I ordered the bearings you suggested however they are the wrong size. Im trying to find the correct size now.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Sorry about that. Which measurement didn’t fit?

[@htbc615]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 the bearing on the front center shaft outside diameter to big. It will not enter. Also the other bearing on the other side of the handle will go in but to tight to turn the handle afterwards. Great video otherwise.

[@nevets68]

Where is the 75th anniversary reel made? I assume China.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Yes, it is made in China.

[@nevets68]

@@youngmartinsreels5314 I'll pass then. I'll look on ebay ,etc for a made in the usa one. Thanks for the reply.

[@hytekrednekbama4400]

I prefer the older reels. Most modern spincast reels are mostly junk and very cheaply made.

[@hytekrednekbama4400]

I have 2 I like from years ago, an old red abumatic and a Diawa silvercast, I think thats the correct names. Both are very nice to use and very reliable. I mostly use high end baitcasters now, but I keep the old spincast reels ready for kids, some women, and occasionally myself. Buying one of these older reels in good condition will serve you much better than modern spincast junk.

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

@@hytekrednekbama4400 I agree that most reels today that are priced below $75 are pretty much junk. Of course most reels in the 60s that were priced below $15 were pretty much junk too.

[@floydmayes4924]

Zebco has always been junk!

[@youngmartinsreels5314]

Some people would disagree with you on that. There are some very loyal Zebco folks out there. I personally think they are a fairly decent reel for the price point. If it hadn’t been for Zebco, a lot of folks would never have been able to afford to go fishing. The first reel I ever used was a Zebco 202. From there, I moved on to a Johnson Century. I’ve still never had any high dollar reels but I figure I don’t really need one. Back in the 1960s, a wealthy friend went fishing with our family. He had over $200 worth or high dollar rods and reels. The whole day we all caught fish except him. At the end of the day, he threw his gear into Lake Cumberland and blamed his bad luck on poor quality rods and reels. We had done fine with our Zebcos and Johnson’s. The moral of the story is you use what you can to get the job done.