On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 06:46:44 -0700 (PDT), riverman wrote:

In the vein of topic headings with double meanings....

I have a 4wt Stealth reel that I picked up in South Africa a handful
of years back. The drag mechanism was always problematic, so I took it
off and have been palming the reel, which works just fine and has
landed some very large fish (just ask Roger). However, I might want to
sell it, and a prospective owner will certainly want to know about the
little hole where the drag mechanism goes, so I am putting it back on.
However, the key piece of the mechanism is a tiny little left-hand
thread stainless screw that I seem to have lost...I have all the other
parts in pristine condition.

I've contacted the manufacturer, and he does not make this reel any
more, nor does he have any parts lying around and did not have (or was
unwilling to locate) records of who made this part for him. I've also
been to about a half-dozen hardware stores and I always get the same
frustrating conversation:
"Don't have that. What's it for?"
"Its a drag mechanism off a fly reel."
"Oh, go to a fishing shop, then."

As if a fishing shop will have a random left hand stainless screw
lying about (I've checked about 10 fishing shops, and they tell me to
go to a hardware store.

So my question: where does someone go to find a tiny little screw like
this? I am imagining a shop that sells electronic parts, or maybe a
manufacturer of screws. But this is all a bit mysterious to me. The
screw is probably about 1mm across, about 3mm long, and left hand
thread. I don't even know the thread size...I need a shop that can
help me sort all this out. Ideas?

--riverman

It's going to be pretty hard to find a screw unless you know what size it is.
Based on your general description, I'd look for a 1.4mm, 0-80, and 1-72 (all
should be pretty easy to find) and see if they look about right, diameter-wise.
If they do, then you'll need to find them LH thread. While the corner store
won't have them, a 'net search ought to turn them up. The other alternative is
to find someone with a really complete set of taps (or a gauge set) and size the
hole. And if they have the tap, likely as not, they'll have the die and can
make the screw. They also may be able to retap the hole and supply a screw of
that size. What they'll charge to do any of that is another matter. If is
aluminum and you can easily get to it with a standard tap, you can probably do
it yourself - just get a slightly larger screw and matching tap. I doubt that
Rolex will have such a large (in watchmaker's terms) screw, but a
watch/clockmaker (a repair shop, not a manufacturer) might. If you want to try,
start out with a "calendar gear screw" (it's LH). And even if that will work
and Rolex can supply it, you'd have to go through a dealer and I think the price
might, um, well, surprise you - it might be well over $50USD by the time you
have it sitting in front of you.

But here's the thing, IMO. You've got an odd-ball reel by what amounts to a
no-name company who can't supply parts on something that apparently isn't all
that old OR even give the specs. The only "Stealth" reel I'd ever heard of was
an Abu, so I Googled them. If this:

WXW.stealth.co.za (note munging on addy)

is the company, well, frankly, they seem like George's S. African cousins
(although I doubt they'll be carrying the Black *******...at least for very
long...). Anyhoo, I'd say either keep the reel and use it, considering it a
lesson learned, or, sell the thing with full disclosure, and again, consider it
lesson learned. Frankly, what's this thing worth on the market, even complete?
I mean, why spend $100USD in time and even $10USD in parts/work to fix a 50USD
reel that does work as-is, even if not quite as it left whatever low-bidding
factory made it?

TC,
R