shimano tld 15 rebuild
the shimano tld 15's were the first lever drag reels that i started working on. it seems like ages ago, but it was really just a few short years. in that time, i've learned a tremendous amount about lever drag reels. what were going to do is put in heavier belleville pressure washers to increase the drag range, clean out the bearings to increase freespool time and decrease the risk of corrosion, and install a greased carbon fiber drag washer. here's the schematic....
http://fish.shimano.com/media/fishing/SAC/techdocs/en/Conventional/TLD_15_ARB_v1_m56577569830570243.pdf
here's a brand new tld 15 spooled up with 65 pound braid.
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remove the preprogram dial (key #9), the lever shaft body (key #11) and "O" ring (key #10), and drag control lever (key #12). Note that there is no spring.
![]()
remove the lever quadrant (key #191) and screws (key #19, 20 and 21).
![]()
there are 5 side plate bolts (key #24) to remove.
![]()
separate out the frame, spool and side plate.
![]()
add a little grease to the click pawl (key # 231) and click spring (key #57)>
![]()
install the rod clamp. grease the bolts first.
![]()
remove the cooling shield (key #186), drag plate assembly and drag washer (key #68).
![]()
remove the click gear (key #48), screws (key #49) and cross pin B (key # 50).
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here's the main shaft (key #200) with all washers, springs and bearings in place.
![]()
and here it is disassembled.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0867.JPG
i've cleaned out and relubed the bearings (key #42 and 170) with corrosion x. if you have an older reel with shielded bearings, take the time now to pry out the shields and throw them away.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0868.JPG
i've reassembled the left side of the main shaft using the heavier pre-load springs (belleville's) from the shimano tld 20/30 two speed, part #TT-0040A. to accomodate the extra width of the new belleville washers, i've removed one of the thrust washers on the end, spacer A (key #47).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0869.JPG
install the click gear (key #48) and screws (key #49).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0870.JPG
grease the inside of the spool and new carbon fiber drag washer. you have your choice of either the penn #6-25 or the avet jx drag washer.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0872.JPG
and remove all the excess grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0874.JPG
install the bearings (key #170) and pressure release spring (key #202), the drag plate assembly and cooling shield (key #186).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0875.JPG
install cross pin B (key #50).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0881.JPG
slide the spool assembly back into the frame. now, this is important. if the spool does not slide back and forth easily inside the frame, pull the spool out again and rotate the main shaft (key #100) 180 degrees and slide it back in. this works!
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0882.JPG
install the pinion gear (key #198) and set the spool and frame assembly aside.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0883.JPG
here's a shot of the right main side plate bearing. we need to pull this out and pack it with heavy grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0884.JPG
remove the handle lock (key #2) and screw (key #1).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0885.JPG
remove the handle nut (key #3) and handle (key #206).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0886.JPG
remove the gear shaft shield (key #5) and thrust washer (key #6), and line everything up.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0887.JPG
let the main gear (key #197) drop straight out.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0888.JPG
pull the right main side plate bearing (key #28) and pack it with grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0889.JPG
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0890.JPG
install the bearing, lube and install the main gear.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0891.JPG
push the dog (key #26) back until the main gear drops into position.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0892.JPG
install the gear shaft thrust washer (key #6) and gear shaft shield (key #5).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0893.JPG
install the handle (key #206) and handle nut (key #3).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0894.JPG
install the handle lock (key #2) and screw (key #1).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0895.JPG
install the right side plate assembly and screws (key #24).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0896.JPG
install the lever quadrant (key #191) and screws (key #19, 20, and 21).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0897.JPG
install the drag control lever (key #12) in the free position.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0898.JPG
install the lever shaft body (key #11) and add a little grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0899.JPG
install the pre-program dial (key #9) and you're done!
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0900.JPG
these modifications accomplish several things. first, it eliminates the risk of drag failure from the canvas drag that comes stock in this reel and all the other single speed shimano lever drag reels. a sticky drag washer is the leading cause of structural damage to any reel. second, cleaning out the bearings will improve freespool and the castability of this reel, as well as decrease the risk of corrosion if the bearings have shields. open bearings are now found in all shimano reels for a good reason. and lastly, the increased drag range means that this reels can be loaded with 65 pound spectra and topshots of 30, 40 or 50# mono. all this in a 3/0 sized package! this reel benched out a 15 pounds of drag at strike before loss of free spool, and had a freespool time of 35 seconds at that 15 pound strike setting. not to shabby! i predict that this reel will kill lots of fish!
http://fish.shimano.com/media/fishing/SAC/techdocs/en/Conventional/TLD_15_ARB_v1_m56577569830570243.pdf
here's a brand new tld 15 spooled up with 65 pound braid.
remove the preprogram dial (key #9), the lever shaft body (key #11) and "O" ring (key #10), and drag control lever (key #12). Note that there is no spring.
remove the lever quadrant (key #191) and screws (key #19, 20 and 21).
there are 5 side plate bolts (key #24) to remove.
separate out the frame, spool and side plate.
add a little grease to the click pawl (key # 231) and click spring (key #57)>
install the rod clamp. grease the bolts first.
remove the cooling shield (key #186), drag plate assembly and drag washer (key #68).
remove the click gear (key #48), screws (key #49) and cross pin B (key # 50).
here's the main shaft (key #200) with all washers, springs and bearings in place.
and here it is disassembled.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0867.JPG
i've cleaned out and relubed the bearings (key #42 and 170) with corrosion x. if you have an older reel with shielded bearings, take the time now to pry out the shields and throw them away.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0868.JPG
i've reassembled the left side of the main shaft using the heavier pre-load springs (belleville's) from the shimano tld 20/30 two speed, part #TT-0040A. to accomodate the extra width of the new belleville washers, i've removed one of the thrust washers on the end, spacer A (key #47).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0869.JPG
install the click gear (key #48) and screws (key #49).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0870.JPG
grease the inside of the spool and new carbon fiber drag washer. you have your choice of either the penn #6-25 or the avet jx drag washer.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0872.JPG
and remove all the excess grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0874.JPG
install the bearings (key #170) and pressure release spring (key #202), the drag plate assembly and cooling shield (key #186).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0875.JPG
install cross pin B (key #50).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0881.JPG
slide the spool assembly back into the frame. now, this is important. if the spool does not slide back and forth easily inside the frame, pull the spool out again and rotate the main shaft (key #100) 180 degrees and slide it back in. this works!
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0882.JPG
install the pinion gear (key #198) and set the spool and frame assembly aside.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0883.JPG
here's a shot of the right main side plate bearing. we need to pull this out and pack it with heavy grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0884.JPG
remove the handle lock (key #2) and screw (key #1).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0885.JPG
remove the handle nut (key #3) and handle (key #206).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0886.JPG
remove the gear shaft shield (key #5) and thrust washer (key #6), and line everything up.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0887.JPG
let the main gear (key #197) drop straight out.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0888.JPG
pull the right main side plate bearing (key #28) and pack it with grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0889.JPG
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0890.JPG
install the bearing, lube and install the main gear.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0891.JPG
push the dog (key #26) back until the main gear drops into position.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0892.JPG
install the gear shaft thrust washer (key #6) and gear shaft shield (key #5).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0893.JPG
install the handle (key #206) and handle nut (key #3).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0894.JPG
install the handle lock (key #2) and screw (key #1).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0895.JPG
install the right side plate assembly and screws (key #24).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0896.JPG
install the lever quadrant (key #191) and screws (key #19, 20, and 21).
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0897.JPG
install the drag control lever (key #12) in the free position.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0898.JPG
install the lever shaft body (key #11) and add a little grease.
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0899.JPG
install the pre-program dial (key #9) and you're done!
http://www.yourfishpictures.com/data/500/medium/104_0900.JPG
these modifications accomplish several things. first, it eliminates the risk of drag failure from the canvas drag that comes stock in this reel and all the other single speed shimano lever drag reels. a sticky drag washer is the leading cause of structural damage to any reel. second, cleaning out the bearings will improve freespool and the castability of this reel, as well as decrease the risk of corrosion if the bearings have shields. open bearings are now found in all shimano reels for a good reason. and lastly, the increased drag range means that this reels can be loaded with 65 pound spectra and topshots of 30, 40 or 50# mono. all this in a 3/0 sized package! this reel benched out a 15 pounds of drag at strike before loss of free spool, and had a freespool time of 35 seconds at that 15 pound strike setting. not to shabby! i predict that this reel will kill lots of fish!
10
