Mitchell How To Thread - 302/303, 402/403, 306/307, 406/407

Tiderider · Last edited by Tiderider on Fri Jul 17, 2009 7:59 pm; edited 4 times in total

Home made crosswind for 302/303 & 402/403

This is the easiest way I know to make a reliable crosswind that is totally reversible. I'm not going thru the process of opening the reel as I'm sure most folks can figure that part out.

Tools required:
3/32" drill bit
Drill
An extra outer planetary gear p/n 81332 with the pins removed for a drilling jig.

Here's how the two planetary gears are originally positioned in the reel

But instead of pinning the outer planetary gear to the reel frame I'm going to pin it to the main gear.

You really need to secure the main gear in a way so it will be stable enough to drill. In this case I just drilled a hole thru my work bench the same size as the main gears shaft, I think it was around 3/8".
Anyway you then want to install the jig and the inner planetary gear into the main gear. Rotate the planetary gears until the small inner gear's pin is located at it's furthest orbit. This is not difficult to find but is critical so take your time until the gears are properly positioned. In the picture they are in the correct position to start drilling.

Once you are satisfied it is time to drill the two 3/32" holes thru the main gear. With one hand I hold the two gears in place to keep them from shifting and then slowly drill straight thru the two holes in the jig. The main gear is aluminum so it'll cut very easy.

Here's what you should see after drilling and removing the jig and the small planetary gear.

If you're doing this job I probably don't have to tell you it's time to clean all the aluminum shavings out of the gear teeth.

Once everything is clean and smooth simply pin the outer planetary gear into it's new home and position the inner planetary gear in it's proper position.

You can put a light coat of grease on the planetary gears to help keep them stuck together for reassembly.

If for whatever reason you want to go back to the original planetary wind simply re-pin the outer planetary back into the reel frame.

Tiderider · Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 8:56 am Post subject:

302/303 & 402/403
Removing the drag clicker / Original drag stack assembly:

First off by removing the drag clicker it will make it a bit more difficult to spin the spool off the main shaft when line goes under the spool. You can still remove the spool but you'll need to fully tighten the drag and then turn the spool counter clockwise. When the drag clicker is in place the spool can be spun off the shaft without changing the drag setting. This is really no big deal as long as you fully loosen the drag when spinning the spool back on the reel.

Now here is the typical stock drag washer order from bottom of spool on the left to the top on the right.

Here's the actual two washers which make the click

If you notice Mitchell has kind of already given you the extra washer to replace the clicker washer, it will be right between the hat and the drag spring on an unmodified spool. I simply swap out the clicker washer with the "extra" washer. (I have made the swap in the picture).

I don't put the clicker washer back on top of the top hat but if you wish you can. I usually just leave it out.
Make sure you put this top hat washer with the raised collar pointing down, the big coiled drag spring will ride on the flat side of the top hat.

I put a light coat of reel grease on each washer and it will run fairly smooth with a medium drag, but for a heavy drag more mods like Penn washers, leather or teflon will help to smooth it out.
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Calvin · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject:

This is how you put a crosswind cam in a Mitchell 302, 303, 402, or 403.

The only thing I did not do was grease the parts before insertion. You must grease the parts! In that reel below I plan on degreasing the entire thing and then putting fresh grease on everything. You can buy crosswind cams from The Fisher-Man on Ebay or from MitchellParts.com. This is the alternative, easier way, but will cost you a few bucks, to do what Obie did above.

Start out with a basic 302 reel.

Take the handle off by firmly holding the spool with one hand and turning the handle towards you with the other hand. (303 same way)

Remove the 4 small screws that hold the side plate on.

My screwdriver is pointing at the small, inner planetary gear.

My screwdriver is pointing at the outer planetary gear.

Remove the outer planetary gear. Use your fingernail or the tip of the screwdriver to pry it out, being careful not to damage anything. You want to lightly do this. No force!

Another shot of the outer planetary gear being removed.

Remove the small inner planetary gear with your fingers.

Another shot of small inner planetary gear after removal. You will notice the little stub sticking out on the gear. That stub was resting in the crosswind block. Any other way is incorrect.

A shot of the crosswind cam before being placed on the main gear frame.

The crosswind cam is now pinned to the main gear frame. The small pin sticking up off the main gear frame will go into the middle hole slot of the crosswind cam.

Another shot of the crosswind cam after it has been pinned to the main gear frame.

When putting the sideplate back on it is vital that the small stub sticking out from the crosswind cam be lined up with the narrowed slot of the crosswind block. You can move the main gear / crosswind cam with your finger to align it.

Another shot of the alignment before putting the plate back on.

The plate is now back on.

Put the handle back on. This is what you have left - inner & outer planetary gears. Put in small baggie for safe keeping.

As stated above, I did not do any greasing to this reel yet. I plan on degreasing and then putting fresh grease on everything.
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Jigslinger · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:52 pm Post subject: 302/303/402/403 Drag Upgrade

This is for upgrading the drag of a 302, 402, 303, or 403.

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I do my 402s like Kingfshr showed in the photo, I use teflon penn 155 washers
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The first and last drag disks are merely acting as spacers as you have it shown. If you can tighten down the drag without them or use the old Mitchell disks there these don't need to be HT100's

If you want to use use 5 HT disks move the top one down to the bottom and insert an extra brass washer with the internal flats between the now two bottom disks.

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Actually I left out a soft washer and one keyed to the shaft that go in first. Didn't see em still in the spool. So I actually use six HT's and 5 hard washers. Just can't live with metal to metal.
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Okay that makes sense, but still the top soft washer is a spacer and the metal to metal there would actually present no problem what so ever.

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Sometimes if the drag stack isn't tall enough the big drag knob will rub on the spool which is not a good thing.
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Lately I've been using Penn HT100 washers staggered thru the drag pack. The last one's I received were made to fit a Penn 706 and they worked perfect. What's worked best for me is just put a HT100 in between every metal drag washer until you run out of room, you'll not need all the original drag washers but you need room to put the collared spacer back on top of the stack but upside down. Don't grease those HT100 discs as they'll gum up.

306/307/406/407 Crosswind Cam Installation

After opening the reel up, you'll see a silver piece that looks like a link from a bicycle chain. You have to remove it.

That allows you to pull the shaft out.

After removing the shaft, pull the piece the "link" was snapped into out.

Then pull the planomatic gear,

and the inner gear.

Snap the new crosswind gear into place with the pin up. It will be a little tight.

Grease the new cam. The slot in the black part fits over the pin. Put it back in place and slide the shaft back in place lining up the holes.

Snap the "link" back into place.

Check it to make sure it's working, a little grease, and that's it.

Close it back up.
_________________
Rob

Calvin · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

Fixing up a Mitchell 302, 303, 402, and 403. I decided to organize all these notes and sources in 1 spot for any would be newcomers that would like to fix up these reels. These notes are nothing new to all the old Mitchell veterans. But for the beginner they can be very handy. I know this first hand - ask Obie how many questions I have asked him. Once "fixed up" these reels are pier approved for King Mackerel & Cobia fishing.

Buying the reel. Search Ebay for Mitchell 302, Mitchell 402, Mitchell 303, and Mitchell 403. If Ebay is not your cup of tea look in your local classifieds, fishing forums, yard sales, pawn shops, Craigslist, etc.

After you have aquired the reel you can customize it with the following parts:

Crosswind Cam (fits 302, 303, 402, and 403) Part# 81342

302 or 402 Manual Pickup

303 or 403 Manual Pickup

Optional High Speed Handle part# 81436 (fits 302 & 402)

Optional High Speed Handle for the 303 & 403, part# 81437

Individual parts of interest:

Machined Manual Pick Up Roller - This is the exact same roller on the manual pickup kits above and will fit on any of the following reels - 302, 303, 306, 307, 396PUM, 403, 406, 407, and 498. (Part# 81425). The Fisher-Man on Ebay usually has these in stock although some times they are not listed in his store for sale. Send him an email and ask. Note - this is a sleeve roller, not ball bearing.

Mitchell 302 Manual Pickup Mount Otherwise known as the 302 arm, what the roller mounts to. (Part #81421)

Mitchell 303 Manual Pickup Mount - Otherwise known as the 303 arm, what the roller mounts to. (Part #81422)

Mitchell 302 drive gear (Part # 81333)

Mitchell 303 drive gear (Part # 81334)

402 drive gear is part # 81427. 403 drive gear is part # 81428.

Any place you see a part number listed you can go to MitchellParts.com and search for that part number to see if they have it.

Reference guide: http://imageevent.com/jimfordham
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*http://www.myspace.com/lopcalvin*
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Last edited by Calvin on Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:38 am; edited 2 times in total

Calvin · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:29 pm Post subject:

Fixing up a Mitchell 306, 406, 307, and 407. I decided to organize all these notes and sources in 1 spot for any would be newcomers that would like to fix up and customize these reels. These notes are nothing new to all the old Mitchell veterans. But for the beginner they can be very handy. I know this first hand - ask Obie how many questions I have asked him. Once "fixed up" these reels are pier approved for King Mackerel fishing.

Buying the reel. Search Ebay for Mitchell 306, Mitchell 406, Mitchell 307, or Mitchell 407. If Ebay is not your cup of tea look in your local classifieds, fishing forums, yard sales, pawn shops, Craigslist, etc.

After you have aquired the reel you can customize it with the following parts:

Crosswind cam for 306/307 Part # 81592

Crosswind cam for 406/407 Part # 81582

The manual pickup kit for any of these reels (306, 307, 406, and 407) consists of only 2 parts - the roller and the arm, otherwise known as the manual pickup mount. As of late the right hand arms, part number 81593 for the 306 & 406, have been hard to come by and as a result the manual pickup kits for 306 & 406 are not being sold. That could change at any time if these sellers come across more parts or have more machined.

Optional High Speed Handle for the 303 or 307, part# 81437}

Optional High Speed Handle for the 302 or 306, part# 81436

Individual parts of interest:

Machined Manual Pick Up sleeve type Roller - This is the exact same roller on the manual pickup kits above and will fit on any of the following reels - 302, 303, 306, 307, 396PUM, 403, 406, 407, and 498. (Part# 81425). The Fisher-Man on Ebay usually has these in stock although some times they are not listed in his store for sale. Send him an email and ask. Note - this is a sleeve roller, not ball bearing.

Right hand arm for 306 & 406, otherwise known as manual pickup mount Part #81593

Left hand arm for 307 & 407, otherwise known as manual pickup mount Part # 81594

Drive gear (306 - Part# 81562) (307 - Part# 81563)

Drive gear (406 - Part# 81597) (407 - Part# 81598) - Both parts are out of stock as of this posting, keep checking back.

Any place you see a Mitchell part number listed and you can't find it on Ebay, you can go to MitchellParts.com and search.

Reference guide: http://imageevent.com/jimfordham
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Calvin Martin
*http://www.myspace.com/lopcalvin*
*LordsofPain.net - WWE Wrestling News & Results*

FishAddict · King Mackerel Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 172

I just dug into re-doing my drag on my 302 that I've had since forever. I picked up some teflon washers that seem great. I was putting it back together like was suggested above, but when you look at how these parts line up, the small side of raised "hat" does not have anything to nestle into now since the clicker spring has been removed. Has anyone tried turning the "hat" around and let the extended part nestle into the drag spring?

Tiderider · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:42 pm Post subject:

Yep, turn it upside down and it will work great,
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FishAddict · King Mackerel Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 172

Thanks, that is what seemed to make the most sense. It is pretty smooth, I think I'm going to like that, but I will sort of miss the noise. I put a little grease in there, is that overkill?

Justin · Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject:

I have a 402 I'm upgrading. I was wondering if these are the right size HT-100 washers: http://store.scottsbt.com/6-115-D...HT-100-5-Required-P19220C187.aspx

If so I'll need 5 of them right?

Thanks
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blaminack · Billfish Joined: 12 Jul 2009 Posts: 752

Yes those are the ones. Get a couple extras. They may come in handy and it would be better to have them on hand rather than have to wait for them to come in. Half Hitch carries them, btw.
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Master of the obvious...

cheesegrits · Hardtail Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 19

Found my grandfather's 306 when we cleaned out their house. Why are these reels worth fixing?It was still attached to a 8' fiberglass 2 piece Shakespere rod. Were they all made in France? To change to the manual pickup exactly which parts do I need and does it leave a gap where the old bail was? Thanks for any response! I am so glad I found this site!

FishAddict · King Mackerel Joined: 11 Jul 2009 Posts: 172

I understand that all of the vintage Mitchells were made in France. If you see one that was not, I'd pass on it. Some guys still use the 306's, I still use my 302's.

jaceboat · Cobia Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 270 Location: pensacola

its worth fixin up. all mitchells except a few at the end were made in france. the manual is a whole new arm so it wont leave a gap but finding a manual for a 306 is pretty hard.
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RIP TC you will always be remembered.

Calvin · Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: old 306

Justin · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject:

Is it safe to take the bail trip mechanism out of the rotor after you install the manual pickup? Sorry for all the questions but this is my first experience with 402/302's.
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Calvin · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:58 pm Post subject:

cheesegrits · Hardtail Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 19

Back to my 306. I have called and looked everywhere for a manual pickup for my reel to no avail. What does this thing look like and how hard would it be to have some machined. Are they chromed steel or what? Is the roller bigger or shaped a certain way? Everybody I have talked to has just laughed when I told them what I was looking for! Does anyone have one I could use as a pattern, I have friends that are machinists.

kaferhaus · Hardtail Joined: 12 Oct 2009 Posts: 22 Location: mobile

That's one fine looking 306, I'd hold onto it.

I'm not in the "manual pickup camp" and other than a very slight casting distance advantage see no use for them at all. I tried one a few years ago and found it damned inconvenient... and given some line slack you can easily get off the pickup.

There's a reason the mfgs went to full bails... people wanted them.

I like the crosswind cam modification but even it really isn't necessary.

Tiderider · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:50 am Post subject:

Tiderider · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 10:52 am Post subject:

Calvin · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:36 am Post subject:

Jigslinger · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the link Calvin. Nice addition to this thread!
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Rob

cheesegrits · Hardtail Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 19

Thanks for the pics and help!

I just got an email from the fisherman and he it will be about 60 days before he gets any more made. I guess in the meantime I can degease and clean and install a crosswind.

stvtackett · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: 306

nb&twil · Billfish Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 566

Calvin · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: 306

nb&twil · Billfish Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 566

i'm just so cheap. it costs 5 bucks to ship the 5 dollar piece. i guess i could just get a couple of other parts and combine shipping...

inshorefisherman · Bonito Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 75

somebody needs the fisherman to make some ballbearing rollers made