Author Topic: Old Zebcos (Read 928 times)

Dalton Bros. · « **on:** September 10, 2003, 06:03:14 AM »

I came across this old Zebco in my dads tackle box that hasn't been opened in 40 yrs.. I'm pretty sure of it's age cause I'm 67 and my dad bought it for me when I was a kid. Just for the heck of it, I put some fresh 10 lb. test on it, with a lead weight, took it out in the back yard and gave it a few casts. Each time the lure (weight) landed behind me or off to the side at a distance of 10 feet or so.
Now I remember the line we used to use was that heavy black stuff and I guess my question would be, do you think the roters on those old reels aren't tuned fine enough to use the newer lines like Trilene?
Thank you for any thoughts on this.

1911crazy · « **Reply #1 on:** September 11, 2003, 04:11:23 PM »

I used Zebco's back in the early sixties that came with 10lb mono line. I think the model #202 black plastic reels. They only lasted one season we used them every where fresh and saltwater too. They were great on short stiff rods you could cast the whole spool of line off the reel with one ounce sinkers saltwater. The crazy stuff we did when we were kids. Catching flatfish with zebco's. Every year I bought a new zebco 202.
BigBill

I have a few newer ones even a UL smaller zebco its great on panfish and crappies on a short UL baitcasting rod of course.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2003, 04:07:28 PM »

I suspect the reel you have is a model 22 which was the predecessor of the model 33. If so it should have plastic piece your thumb goes on and a push down metal piece that releases it. To use you put your thumb on the plastic and hold it, the push down on the release lever. Now cast and release at the right time.

If it is the reel I think it is and you decide to not use it I'd sure be interested it one as it is what I learned to fish with and don't have one laying around any more. Wore them all out and tossed them aside years ago.

GB

Dalton Bros. · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2003, 05:55:32 AM »

:x I can't find any model # on the reel, the only ID on the thing is the word Zebco stamped on the front at the bottom. To cast, you push a button on the top while holding your thumb on the curved metal spinning disk located in a window at the rear and top of the reel. On your forward arm motion, you take your thumb off of the disk, which is part of the spinner or roter inside the reel, allowing it to spin thus allowing the line to go out.
To reel in, you push the handel in which engages the gear to allow you reel in the line.
I went over the rim of the inside rotor which the line slides over, with some fine emery to smooth out any nicks that may be there.

Skipper · « **Reply #4 on:** September 22, 2003, 08:48:42 AM »

Just curious? What sort of rod is the reel on?

Skipper

Dalton Bros. · « **Reply #5 on:** September 22, 2003, 09:52:31 AM »

I tried it on two reels. One is a Olympic - 5255 - FG 5.5' / 1.65m and I have no idea what the other one is. It's probably as old as the reel is and around 6 ft. long.
I took it to a sporting goods store and the guy in the fishing dept. admitted he had never seen a Zebco that old, but he took the cover off exposing the rotor and the back off to check out the gears and said he didn't see why it wouldn't work.

?

Skipper · « **Reply #6 on:** September 22, 2003, 12:07:42 PM »

The reason I asked that was this, sometimes the action of a rod can cause you to miscast. If the weight of the lure and the action of the rod aren't compatible, the rod can load at an odd arc in the cast making it difficult. Too light of an action with too heavy of a lure would be the most common, but it could work the other way as well. The simplicity of a Zebco system should allow it to cast with most any line. The newer mono should cast even better just simply because of friction on the rotor caused by the old style braid.

Skipper

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** September 22, 2003, 05:25:46 PM »

Sure sounds like the Model 22 to me. It is different than any other reel ever made in how to cast it. Takes a bit of getting used to. When I tried to change from the Model 22 to the Model 33 I thought I'd never make the transistion.

If you think you'd be interested in selling it at a reasonable price I'd like to discuss it with you. I'd prefer you PM me as I really don't remember to check this forum very often. I leave it to Skip to run as I'm not a bass fisherman, just bream and catfish mostly. If you post it here I might or might not see it.

Thanks.

GB