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

mrbig1225 · 03-02-2008, 03:54 PM

I’m looking at the pictures of the “broken Fin-nor” and I’m kind of curious of how the reel was broken. Looking at the reel and breaking down my own fin-nor I know now how it was broken….. A typical case of reel abuse, the part the guy failed to mention has nothing to do with the drag on the reel what so ever…. It is the reel handle that broke… and for that to break you have to apply a ridiculous amount of pressure to the handle while the bail was in a position where it could not be turned easily. Example if I am fighting a fish I would normally pull the rod tip up and reel in the slack as I drop the rod tip… I would never crank against a fighting fish…. That appears to have happened here. I do not contest that fin-nor may have had a problem with some of their reels but if we are going to give an item bad press then we should do it rightfully…. My only complaint with the reel is the weight. I have used this reel for Tuna, Wahoo… and the big others…once again you will need a arm for 0S95… as the weight of the others are pretty much in line with the staple. I think for the price, this reel offers performance at a unbeatable price. That my 2 cents

ksong · 03-02-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbig1225

It is the reel handle that broke… and for that to break you have to apply a ridiculous amount of pressure to the handle while the bail was in a position where it could not be turned easily. Example if I am fighting a fish I would normally pull the rod tip up and reel in the slack as I drop the rod tip… I would never crank against a fighting fish…. That appears to have happened here.

If handle can be broken while fighting fish whether cranking againt a fighting fish or not, it is a serious problem. Fin Nor should redesign the handle if it true.

mrbig1225 · 03-02-2008, 08:46 PM

If that is the case then… all reel manufactures should build better reels… I have found diawa, shimanos and all others with similar problems… what do you say about that…. They need repairs to right?

Deep_Sea_Gull · 03-02-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbig1225

I’m looking at the pictures of the “broken Fin-nor” and I’m kind of curious of how the reel was broken. Looking at the reel and breaking down my own fin-nor I know now how it was broken….. A typical case of reel abuse, the part the guy failed to mention has nothing to do with the drag on the reel what so ever…. It is the reel handle that broke… and for that to break you have to apply a ridiculous amount of pressure to the handle while the bail was in a position where it could not be turned easily. Example if I am fighting a fish I would normally pull the rod tip up and reel in the slack as I drop the rod tip… I would never crank against a fighting fish…. That appears to have happened here. I do not contest that fin-nor may have had a problem with some of their reels but if we are going to give an item bad press then we should do it rightfully…. My only complaint with the reel is the weight. I have used this reel for Tuna, Wahoo… and the big others…once again you will need a arm for 0S95… as the weight of the others are pretty much in line with the staple. I think for the price, this reel offers performance at a unbeatable price. That my 2 cents

Welcome to the forum. We will all read your first post....

Snagged · 03-02-2008, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrbig1225

I’m looking at the pictures of the “broken Fin-nor” and I’m kind of curious of how the reel was broken. Looking at the reel and breaking down my own fin-nor I know now how it was broken….. A typical case of reel abuse, the part the guy failed to mention has nothing to do with the drag on the reel what so ever…. It is the reel handle that broke… and for that to break you have to apply a ridiculous amount of pressure to the handle while the bail was in a position where it could not be turned easily. Example if I am fighting a fish I would normally pull the rod tip up and reel in the slack as I drop the rod tip… I would never crank against a fighting fish…. That appears to have happened here. I do not contest that fin-nor may have had a problem with some of their reels but if we are going to give an item bad press then we should do it rightfully…. My only complaint with the reel is the weight. I have used this reel for Tuna, Wahoo… and the big others…once again you will need a arm for 0S95… as the weight of the others are pretty much in line with the staple. I think for the price, this reel offers performance at a unbeatable price. That my 2 cents

Look again.
It's cheap construction and shoddy workmanship.
The gears are distorted and that indicates a failure to properly temper, once that happens the stress causes catastrophic failure as seen.

SpecialK · 03-02-2008, 09:32 PM

Bottom line on this reel is that if the main gear broke before something else, something is definately wrong. Whether it just be a defective batch or not, this should not be a common occurance with any reel.
If I were to ever consider buying a Fin-Nor, which I won't, I would ask the retailer to disassemble the reel to make sure the gear does not look like the one in the pictures...

mrbig1225 · 03-02-2008, 10:49 PM

Simply put I have owned my Fin-nor OS95 since its release... I have taken the reel offshore and it has performed beautifully…. For the price/performance it’s pretty hard to beat… 2nd you don’t see many ppl using spinning reels on groupers…. But at any rate I wouldn’t suggest you use any reel in way that the gentleman that has used his. Once again I’m not going to say they do not have a problem… but I would never crank a reel against any huge hard fighting fish, isn’t that what the rod is for??? I mean come on that’s fishing 101…. But then again I see ppl locking the drags on their reels and complain when a 100lb YFT tuna breaks there equipment…. But I guess even the diawa saltiga, Shimano Stella, and the Accurate all have their faults to right?

mrbig1225 · 03-02-2008, 10:55 PM

Thanks for the 1st post reply... Im sure you where attempting to be sarcastic.... but correct me if i am wrong... isnt this is what a forum is for, and when was your 1st post? food for thought

seahunter · 03-03-2008, 12:38 AM

shanker wrote:
I had the drags tight enough so that a 36" Amberjack couldnt take any line…..

So that means the line,spool,drag and rotor are the only things under load..correct.

Then you started cranking the handle under load and the gear broke known as skull dragging..
Not too many reels can skull drag fish that big..sounds like user error..

mrbig1225 · 03-03-2008, 01:02 AM

Thank you sea hunter... Im glad to know that im not the only sane fisherman here...lol but honestly speaking u summed it up nicely...

03-02-2008, 03:54 PM	#31 (permalink)
mrbig1225 Junior member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Re: Im not so sure I’m looking at the pictures of the “broken Fin-nor” and I’m kind of curious of how the reel was broken. Looking at the reel and breaking down my own fin-nor I know now how it was broken….. A typical case of reel abuse, the part the guy failed to mention has nothing to do with the drag on the reel what so ever…. It is the reel handle that broke… and for that to break you have to apply a ridiculous amount of pressure to the handle while the bail was in a position where it could not be turned easily. Example if I am fighting a fish I would normally pull the rod tip up and reel in the slack as I drop the rod tip… I would never crank against a fighting fish…. That appears to have happened here. I do not contest that fin-nor may have had a problem with some of their reels but if we are going to give an item bad press then we should do it rightfully…. My only complaint with the reel is the weight. I have used this reel for Tuna, Wahoo… and the big others…once again you will need a arm for 0S95… as the weight of the others are pretty much in line with the staple. I think for the price, this reel offers performance at a unbeatable price. That my 2 cents

03-02-2008, 08:46 PM	#33 (permalink)
mrbig1225 Junior member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Re: If that is the case then… all reel manufactures should build better reels… I have found diawa, shimanos and all others with similar problems… what do you say about that…. They need repairs to right?

03-02-2008, 10:55 PM	#38 (permalink)
mrbig1225 Junior member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Deep Sea Gull Thanks for the 1st post reply... Im sure you where attempting to be sarcastic.... but correct me if i am wrong... isnt this is what a forum is for, and when was your 1st post? food for thought

03-03-2008, 01:02 AM	#40 (permalink)
mrbig1225 Junior member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Thank you sea hunter... Im glad to know that im not the only sane fisherman here...lol but honestly speaking u summed it up nicely... Last edited by mrbig1225 : 03-03-2008 at 01:26 AM.

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03-02-2008, 09:32 PM	#36 (permalink)
SpecialK Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 293	Bottom line on this reel is that if the main gear broke before something else, something is definately wrong. Whether it just be a defective batch or not, this should not be a common occurance with any reel. If I were to ever consider buying a Fin-Nor, which I won't, I would ask the retailer to disassemble the reel to make sure the gear does not look like the one in the pictures...

03-02-2008, 10:49 PM	#37 (permalink)
mrbig1225 Junior member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 10	Simply put I have owned my Fin-nor OS95 since its release... I have taken the reel offshore and it has performed beautifully…. For the price/performance it’s pretty hard to beat… 2nd you don’t see many ppl using spinning reels on groupers…. But at any rate I wouldn’t suggest you use any reel in way that the gentleman that has used his. Once again I’m not going to say they do not have a problem… but I would never crank a reel against any huge hard fighting fish, isn’t that what the rod is for??? I mean come on that’s fishing 101…. But then again I see ppl locking the drags on their reels and complain when a 100lb YFT tuna breaks there equipment…. But I guess even the diawa saltiga, Shimano Stella, and the Accurate all have their faults to right?

03-03-2008, 12:38 AM	#39 (permalink)
seahunter Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 30	shanker wrote: I had the drags tight enough so that a 36" Amberjack couldnt take any line….. So that means the line,spool,drag and rotor are the only things under load..correct. Then you started cranking the handle under load and the gear broke known as skull dragging.. Not too many reels can skull drag fish that big..sounds like user error..

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