Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

ChuckE · Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:15 pm Post subject: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

I made some modifications to my duck bill spool pin pliers. I thought I'd share them with forum, since other members may be encountering some of the same 'annoyances' that I was while using them:

1. Sometimes the spool shaft and pin would want to turn slightly or slip, while pushing the pin out. When it did, there was a chance that the pin could be bent and it would be more difficult to remove the pin. So I added a dimple to the inside of the bill that pushes the pin out of the shaft. I just drilled a 1/16" hole about 1/16" deep in the bill, by using the original hole in the other bill as a guide.

2. Sometimes a spool pin would frequently bind in the hole that the pin moves through, as you pushed it out of the shaft. So I enlarged the size of the hole to 1/8". Now there is plenty of room for the pin to slide through the bill of the pliers, and getting it aligned 'just right' isn't as critical.

3. Some of the recent Daiwa reels have grooves that run almost the entire length of the spool pin, which makes them difficult to remove after you push one side flat with the spool shaft. So, I drilled another hole (~3/64") near an edge and all the way through both bills on the pliers. I took a spool pin and polished it so it was smoother and just a little smaller in diameter than a new pin. [This needed to be done since some spools have mating grooves inside the pin hole that could be damaged if the pin tack welded to the pliers is too big.] Then I tack welded the pin to the outside of the bill to permenantly hold it in position. Lastly, I increased the size of the hole on the opposite bill to 1/8".

To use the pliers, first push the pin flush with the spool, just like you did before they were modified. If the pin does not come out, then use the new tack welded pin to push the pin the rest of the way out -- most of the time you only need to move the pin an additional 1/8" or so before it is free. The new mods work great and sure eliminated a lot of fumbling and head scratching at my work bench.

Chuck

LOBINAKING · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

Hi ChuckE;

I just sent you a PM but i am not sure if you received it as it still appears in my Outbox.

Thanks.

ChuckE · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

Juan,
I sent a PM back....

Chuck

Gun Doc · Senior Angler Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 148

These are great, and thank you for sharing. I have not made a pair nor have I yet had ocassion to need a pair, but I'm sure I will someday. So, I hope the following question is received in the sprit in which it is ask. Do any of you think these custom made tools would work better if the beginning platform was a pair of parallel jaw pliers?

ChuckE · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

Doc,
I do think that they would be better if you started with parallel pliers. However, the only set of parallel pliers I've found (with jaws thin and wide enough jaws) locally started at 49.95 a pair -- and I just don't have the heart to get them and start drilling holes in em'. Laughing

Parallel pliers would eliminate some of the tendancy for the shaft to twist, and not driving/pressing the pin perpendicular to the shaft. Therefore, there would be less of a tendancy to bind and/or bend the pin.

The Duck Bills from Sears have been readily available around here, although a month ago they were out of stock at 3 local stores (Christmas shoppers?). They normally are fairly easy to find and run $9.99.

Someone on a previous post was waiting for the fishing season to end, and offered to make some pliers up, starting with parallel pliers. However, I don't think anyone has heard from him about them. If I remember correctly, he has a machine shop.

Chuck

LOBINAKING · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

Guys,

Would these pliers work? I may have found a place that can drill them for me but now i need to know which pair of pliers to buy. I was not able to find any duckbill pliers at the local Sears so i went on line and the only one's i found were these http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&pid=00945087000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Pliers&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

Thanks guys.

ChuckE · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

LOBINAKING,
I haven't seen any like that at the local Sears Stores around here. I can't tell how wide they are from the picture. I think they'd need to be at least 1/4" wide in the area of the bill. The location of the holes need to be close enough to the edge so you don't contact the spool or the bearing, yet wide enough so you can apply a little foce to the pin.

Chuck

zenbassr · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:49 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

ChuckE · Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

zenbassr and LOBINAKING,
The ones that zennbassr posted about are the ones that I use.

Chuck

LOBINAKING · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:25 am Post subject: Re: Spool Pin Removal Plier Mods

Thanks Guys, and they actually show them in stock at the Chula Vista location so i will pick up a couple today.

I'll let you know how they turn out, not sure if i should go all the way and make them as ChuckE's or like Reel Doc's. I think i'll start with Reel Doc's and if those turn out OK then maybe the next pair i'll go all the way and do them like ChuckE's.