Zebco 33's - The old, The new, and The...Broken?

[@billyhancock7851]

You do know that it has a warranty, and I do believe that it is a full year warranty, I really would have liked to have seen you test it.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Hey there, Yes, I probably could’ve sent it back under the warranty, might even been able to take it back to where I bought it but honestly it just wasn’t worth it. I’m sorry you didn’t get to see it used but having it break so quickly really was a bummer.. The very first video I ever made on KZbin, I used the lesser version of the same reel and it worked great.. really sad that the higher line reel broke before I could get it out of the house.. Maybe I’ll try again at some point.. 🤔

[@sempergumbie]

Thanks for sharing, no ball bearings and it looked pretty smooth!

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

The old ones are Much more dependable, that’s for sure. At least I usually get to cast the old ones before they have a problem. 🙄

[@williamswindle5445]

I caught more bass, bream, and catfish on a 33 in the 70s and 80s than any rig I own. My grandson fishes with a 33 now and loves it.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

I Hey there! I agree, I’ve owned hundreds of older 33’s and have bought totally locked up 33’s from flea markets and yard sales and have been able to take them home and get them working but I’ve never had one right out of the package breakdown before I could even cast it.. I know all companies make lower line equipment but the Gold Series isn’t supposed to be that. In a way, I’m glad it happened and another it’s extremely disappointing that it did.. To me, it’s trying to reinvent the wheel. Over engineered with the “plastic” basket and metal needle bearings. If that reel was used quite frequently and hadn’t broke right there on the spot, how long would it have taken before it gave up the ghost?🤔 Who knows, but ever since the mid 70s into the 80s we’ve found ourselves in the middle of a “disposable” dilemma. Nothing is made to last because they need you to buy more. Even if that means you don’t come back to that company, whatever it may be, they got you to buy “once” and that keeps them a float. But that’s a very “temporary” answer to a company with a long history of products that made millions of people happy. As you can tell, this one hurt me.😄.. Sorry for the long reply. Thanks for watching and commenting!! Willie

[@Boswd]

lemons happened to the original 33s as well..... To be fair you should have swapped out for s new one and see if the same thing happened... EVERY PRODUCT will have it's share of lemons come off the production line.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

@@Boswd This is true.. I should’ve at least took it back. Really what kept me from doing it was how it was made. Its design is almost begging to come apart. The plastic basket and roller bearing set up just isn’t a good idea.. but that’s the first Zebco I’ve ever had break before even getting it on the rod..

[@ddselvig]

Every once in a while I, too, buy a lemon instead of a peach. Stuff happens I guess.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

It’s sad.. it honestly hurt my feelings. Trying to reinvent the wheel and make something temporary but yet making a “better” temporary version just doesn’t make sense to me. Look at of the 33’s you find at flea markets and yard sales that are 30+ years old that are able to be cleaned up, repaired, and fished with later that day, well, I don’t see today’s versions carrying on that tradition. Give me the 30+ year old one any day.😂

[@oldmanoldtruck]

Green and red reels over there looking all Christmas like. 🤣Great video sir. I don't think I've ever fished with anything beside a Zebco 33.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

It’s Christmas all year round when you shop at flea markets and outlets!! 🎅🏼 😂 This was one of those bittersweet episodes.. you hate to she your hero’s fall… 😞 Thanks for watching Phil!! Willie

[@bobsmoot2392]

To remove front cone of newer real, you should always push the button to make the ceramic pins retract, out of the way. That explains the timing of breakage.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Howdy Bob, Yes, even the older reels have that same cap removal method. I’ve had a few the were total locked up, and couldn’t get the pin to recess… After taking apart the Zebco gold, there was a plastic type basket that held the roller bearings that had broken and wouldn’t hold the bearings in place. Every time you would try to retrieve, it would roll the bearings out of the basket, they’d get stuck on the outside of the basket and lock up. Maybe it’s just a weird coincidence or maybe it’s a bad design.. either way, I won’t own another one. Thanks for watching and the info!! Willie

[@BigBRebooted]

I love your thumbnail! Great video!

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Thanks, it was too good to pass up! 😂

[@harryhoward3064]

Not just a lemon, but a very rotten one! I would find my receipt and send them back to Zebco for replacement and hope for a better result. They can't all be that bad (can they???) Sorry Willy, but s*** does happen; it's just too bad it because we have happily fished with Zebco 33's for years. Still, all-in-all a good video. Thanks for posting it.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Hey there! I actually thought that when that reel broke, I’d just end the video and do something else but I think people need to see the bad and the good. This isn’t reality TV, it’s reality “ON TV”… 🤭…I don’t believe they’re ALL that bad but after that happening and getting to see what’s inside, I won’t own another, that’s for sure. I’ll take the old 1958 version all day long. Thanks for watching!! Willie

[@jimamccracken5783]

Willie I have 6 Zebco 33s different years and they all work well reason being PRE 1985 models. Zebco has been like CASE KINIVES going down hill. Yes some case knives are junk too. I understand Zebco has went thru numerous ownerships. In the past few years somewhere they Zebco has lost Quality Control. A reel that breaks right befor our very eyes should have never been designed or built. Do they want to lose business sure appears so. Enjoyed the video and by the way I am lookig for a Black 33 to go with my Shakespere Fiberglass rod which built in the Late 50s early 60s. It is a Wondercast.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Hey there! Yes Sir, I definitely did not see that coming. I was really planning on taking both of them down to the lake and shaking them down.. it was just freak circumstance that it happened that way. It legitimately changed the direction of the the episode right there on the spot. Part of me was ready to end the video and another part said, no, keep going, this kinda thing needs to be seen as well. I find Zebco 33s from that era quite frequently, I’ve given many away just because I find them, fix them, use them, then send them off.. sounds like you have a cool fishin’ rod for it to go on. I’m trying to remover what I’ve got left🤔.. I’ll have to look around. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it!! Willie

[@jasonlopez4855]

That looks like later 70's mine has the gold 33 on all 3 of mine from my grandfather and dad's reel still perfect condition just thinking about the ones I have. I got a new one and my son's and his wife never had a problem 🧐

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

I definitely find the old ones to be more dependable😁. I’ve had bad reels before but they usually let me at least get one cast in before it breaks, lol. I’ve had the lesser version of Zebco and never had an issue but for whatever reason, this one had a problem .. just bad timing. It’s like anything else I guess, some people will have good experiences and some people won’t.. I usually never give a review on anything because it’s really just an opinion and everyone deserves to have theirs.. sadly, the Zebco Gold just didn’t work for me.. Thanks for watching!! Willie

[@edroberts-f5m]

Willie, They cut corners, and why do they waste money? The old one was made of steel. Now it is plastic JUNK!!

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

That’s right Ed, I’ll take the old one any day of the week.. 🤠

[@adamclark2245]

I bought a few to make it easier for my kids when they were a little younger. Everything recent i bought has stood up quality wise i original bought them a few 212s from a yard sale and they were junk everything was plastic EVERYTHING! If they had a better gear ratio of hey would be fine to use fact is they can be difficult to use with certain styles of presentation and type of fish

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

I’ve owned hundreds of Zebco reels and probably have 10 or 12 right now from all different time frames, some were definitely better than others but I’ve never had one literally break in front of me before I could even fish with it. That just flabbergasted me. Then getting to tear it apart and see how it’s put together kinda finished me off. I’ll stick with the old ones from now on. 😂. Thanks for watching!! 🤠 Willie

[@christinerogers5331]

"Made in China" translates into "Piece of JUNK"! Thanks, Willie, at least we all know not to purchase one of those, at least it didn't fail while trying to land a fish! Take care and be safe, anxiously awaiting your next video!

[@edroberts-f5m]

Willie, You are losing it, my Friend

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

🤠Hey Ed, You can’t lose something you’ve never had!! 😂

[@firsttimecastingadventures]

Well that sucks Willie you never got to use the thing send it back to China

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Learned my lesson, I’ll stick with the old ones😂.

[@olafvidar9315]

That was the anti reverse clutch. Supposed to be dry, not greased. Anyway, it's garbage.

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

@@olafvidar9315 This one made sense to built by the “Zero Hour Bomb Company”… it blew up before it even made it to a rod.. The bearings are the only thing worth keeping..

[@denniscorson8997]

if you buy a car and it is a lemon, you take it back. .....just saying. been fishing zebco ,,, as a 10 year old. i`m 75 now...take it bake.....

[@TheGraytOutdoors]

Hey there, Oh I understand.. I’ve even bought some lemon cars in my day.. please don’t misunderstand, I love Zebco. I’ve used them more than any reel I’ve ever owned but the Zebco reels that “you and I” know are not what today’s are. After opening that one up and trying several time to fix the issue it was a lost cause and I had very little money in it. $18 to be exact.. they were on sale (I see why) and where I bought it was further away than I was willing to burn the gas up to go.. But I have had a couple comments saying exactly what you said, so maybe I’ll pick out another Zebco of some kind and do another video to get my confidence in newer Zebcos back.. I’m feeling motivated again.. 😃 Thanks for watching and commenting!! I very much appreciate it, Willie

[@denniscorson8997]

@@TheGraytOutdoors thanks for the answ.