Fin Nor OFS95 - The Breaking Point

shanker

Alright guys, I opened up my Busted Fin Nor OFS95, the main gear broke, all the way around where it mounds to the reel handle.

I have taken some really good High-Res pics but left my Digi-Cam pic at work, I will get it tomorow.

The gear broke because it is CAST! NOT MACHINED! Fin-Nor needs to correct this issue ASAP, if they are expecting people to fish these reels with heavy drags, the gears need to be able to support the drag capabilities as well.

-Patrick

shanker · 06-08-2007, 09:56 PM

Here is a pic I took from the review thread and illustrated where mine broke at.

-Patrick

shanker · 06-08-2007, 09:57 PM

if the gear illustrated was a machined stainless part, I dont think it would have failed.

I think the way this reel was made so cheap was to use 100% cast aluminum parts, which as we all know are very weak as opposed to a CNC Milled piece.

Here are some pics of my Reel Failure. Fin-Nor sent me my repaired reel back, I hope it holds as I really like this reel.

Spinning Reel · 06-09-2007, 06:48 AM

You should send them the pictures, did you?

Ragman · 06-09-2007, 09:51 AM

The cast parts are what keeps the price at the magical $200 mark!

I could be wrong, but if they were to replace the cast parts with machined-from-billet parts, the cost of the reel would substantially increase.

lite-liner · 06-10-2007, 06:53 PM

Looks like I made the right descision after all. please tell us what you were
hooked up to/ how much drag, etc. when the failure occured
that main gear looks like stainless in the photo. what led you to beleive it was a cast part?
-Brian

shanker · 06-10-2007, 09:21 PM

I had the drags tight enough so that a 36" Amberjack couldnt take any line. I'll post pics tomorow, its definately a cast piece, i can tell by how pourus the metal inside the gear was where it snapped

Uncle Russ · 06-11-2007, 07:57 AM

I am surprised with such porous gears, that the reel weighs as much as it does.

Maybe their P.R. could be that they designed it that way so it would float. They probably make them from melted-down car keys. Did you notice any fragments with "VW" or "Yugo" stamped in them? Since they are casting the parts anyway, maybe they should use lead--the reels would not be noticably heavier and the ductility of the material would prevent cracking.

Russ

Spinning Reel · 06-11-2007, 08:38 AM

The material must be hard, both the drive gear and the pinion, because the teeth of the DG and P didn't break while the DG body did in stead.

The force applied on the handle must have been significant although there is a design flaw: apparently those holes weakened the DG body.

papio · 06-11-2007, 11:02 AM

I got my Fin-Nor OFS65 when it came on market. I learned the only way to upgrade/improve this line of reels is to give it away to the kids down the street. I even gave them a few bucks to get it out of my hands.

Brand new never used once....what a waste....

06-08-2007, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
shanker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 175	if the gear illustrated was a machined stainless part, I dont think it would have failed. I think the way this reel was made so cheap was to use 100% cast aluminum parts, which as we all know are very weak as opposed to a CNC Milled piece. Here are some pics of my Reel Failure. Fin-Nor sent me my repaired reel back, I hope it holds as I really like this reel. Last edited by shanker : 07-18-2007 at 08:50 AM.

06-09-2007, 09:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Ragman Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 924	The cast parts are what keeps the price at the magical $200 mark! I could be wrong, but if they were to replace the cast parts with machined-from-billet parts, the cost of the reel would substantially increase. __________________ Tom www.oceantackle.net *Go Hard or Go Home!*

06-11-2007, 07:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
Uncle Russ Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 877	I am surprised with such porous gears, that the reel weighs as much as it does. Maybe their P.R. could be that they designed it that way so it would float. They probably make them from melted-down car keys. Did you notice any fragments with "VW" or "Yugo" stamped in them? Since they are casting the parts anyway, maybe they should use lead--the reels would not be noticably heavier and the ductility of the material would prevent cracking. Russ __________________ "Tschirhart: Helluva deal. You bait the hooks--I catch the fish!--Grimm." Last edited by Uncle Russ : 06-11-2007 at 08:00 AM.

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06-09-2007, 06:48 AM	#4 (permalink)
Spinning Reel Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30	You should send them the pictures, did you?

06-10-2007, 06:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
lite-liner Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: little elm, tx., USA Posts: 446	Looks like I made the right descision after all. please tell us what you were hooked up to/ how much drag, etc. when the failure occured that main gear looks like stainless in the photo. what led you to beleive it was a cast part? -Brian

06-10-2007, 09:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
shanker Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 175	I had the drags tight enough so that a 36" Amberjack couldnt take any line. I'll post pics tomorow, its definately a cast piece, i can tell by how pourus the metal inside the gear was where it snapped

06-11-2007, 08:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Spinning Reel Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 30	The material must be hard, both the drive gear and the pinion, because the teeth of the DG and P didn't break while the DG body did in stead. The force applied on the handle must have been significant although there is a design flaw: apparently those holes weakened the DG body.

06-11-2007, 11:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
papio Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio, Tx. V Posts: 162	I got my Fin-Nor OFS65 when it came on market. I learned the only way to upgrade/improve this line of reels is to give it away to the kids down the street. I even gave them a few bucks to get it out of my hands. Brand new never used once....what a waste....

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