My Tibor was in dire need for replacement parts before Oman.  Instead of doing the rebuild I decided to take the kit along, hoping it would go the distance.  It did,  but the change needed to happen.

This is the first bearing swap ive done, and I managed to find a perfect puller.

The corrosion is still there, but I’m managing it.  In a year or so I’m going to replace the frame portion.

I’m starting to enjoy these rebuilds.

corrosion

corrosion close up

in kit form

bearing pulled

new bearing pushed in

new bearing in

parts that had to be scrapped/reaplaced

wear on handle – replaced by gorilla handle

good as new!

good as new!

Ill admit I’ve been pretty critical on these reels in the past.  But I continue to use them.  Its when you start rebuilding them you realise the brilliance in the design.  I love that every single part can be removed and replaced.  There are things that let them down, mainly one little thing, the bearing.  Somehow, its still the reel I grab first.  It has that character that a drag test or reel shootout can’t measure, and I love it for that.

I just went through my old emails, trying to figure out when I bought it.  11 November 2009 was the exact day.  Since then its probably been fished harder and abused more than any other Riptide out there.

Keep in mind there is a lifetime warranty, but it means sending the whole reel back.  I went through this once or twice, and the shipping alone (never mind the nightmare customs put me through) cost me as much as a new reel, only to have the same pesky drag bearing fail on the first trip out.  If theres a Tibor speed building comp at some stage, your money should be on me.

But by far the biggest bonus…. It has some sort of invisible permit attracting force field.