Here's a question from the Volume 4 - Issue #5 issue of RodMaker magazine:
"Do you know or perhaps know of someone who would know what the
average number of reel seat failures (due only to them coming loose)
is on any company's mass produced rods?
Example company A builds 1000 rods, Model Z. How many of average
would be found over about 2 years to have a loose reel seat?
The reason I ask is that two shops I do repairs for buy from a local
manufacturer. I keep telling them that the number of reel seats I
have to replace or re-install is far too high for the number they are
selling.
For all the reading I have done I don't think I ever found any
article that has facts or statistics on mass produced rod failures. "
John . . .Penellas Park, FL
Most of the commercial rod makers claim an actural parts or
workmanship defect rate of less than 2%. That is certainly
believable. Were it much higher, it is doubtful they could
remain in business for very long. If that number too high?
Perhaps, but the cost to reduce the defect rate to zero might
be higher than the cost of replacing 2% of their current
production! It is unfortunate, but in order to be in business
and remain competitive, companies are faced with some hard
decisions.
Sure, they could all carefully fit brick/foam arbors to the
rod blank and carefully prepare and adhere the reel seat with
the same kind of attention to detail that you do. Maybe
that would eliminate any loose seats, but the additional time
and labor involved might well push them over the top in terms
of being competitive with their competition. This isn't a
defense of shoddy workmanship by any means, just one explanation
of why that 2% failure rate would be hard to eliminate. The
current seat mounting techniques used by most of the industry
is by no means perfect, but in the majority of cases it does
suffice.
And in the meantime, your repair business benefits each time
a seat comes loose! ~ Tom Kirkman
Publishers note:
If you have any tips or techniques, send them
along! Help out your fellow rodmakers!
~ Publisher, FAOL
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