HELP! Son's AMS Reel

[ishoot4thrills]

My 11 year old son's AMS Retriever reel isn't working well at all.     It's the 310R model. I got it used and it's never really worked right since we got it. We have two of them and his brother's reel works great. The problem is, you can barely get the handle to turn when reeling in line, even when there's nothing at all attached to the other end. I took it all apart and I couldn't find much wrong with it, but it was my first time at it so I may have missed seeing something. Anyway, I done some online searching and found a rebuild kit for the AMS reels for around $25.00 or so.

Has anyone had the same trouble as us with their AMS reel? If so, have you tried the rebuild kit and did it work?

I need to fix this fast because he's getting frustrated with it and losing interest fast. I tried fixing him up with a simple spool type reel that you wrap with your hand and the line kept getting tangled up and twisting so that ain't working out either.  

Thanks for any and all comments.

[Guru]

Try this bud....

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-iyVee_TLQ&feature=player_embedded#at=45

[Carpmaster]

AMS is a great company, with great customer support...  Before you get too irritated give them a call!

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks Curt! That looks like it will work. I will try doing what that guy said to do later today. Hopefully it will do the trick.  

[Hawkeye]

Great info, Curt!  Thanks for passing it along.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I have one of the first reels they came out with and after 15 years its working fine.

The only times I had issues was when  a piece broke on the reel. I called the company, drove over to their headquarters and replaced the part for 2 bucks.

The other time I had issue, the line was old and "stiff" I replaced the line and it works well now.

Sounds as if the video that Curt Posted will do the trick though.

Good Luck!

[JimL]

That's too cool.  It is neet to have almost 35000 people you can ask for help when you need it.

[LoweBow]

Call AMS and let them know the trouble you are having.
I've had to do the "rebuild kit" on one before as it was doing the same thing you described.
Better than new now.