I have 6 of these Zebco Cardinal reels - 3 6s and 3 7s. They are considered the saltwater version. You can get the correct screw and new springs on EBay. I’ve restored a number of these. The parts aren’t cheap but neither are the reels in good condition. Sometimes it’s better to get one with problems and repair it than to buy one in very good condition. I collect and restore vintage surf spinning reels made before 1980. I have 250+ reels right now and they are all I use. All these Zebco Cardinals have double springs. My Penn 704Z and 706Z both have springs on both sides. These Zebco Cardinal reels can be a challenge to work on until you learn how. On the 6 and 7 the bail stop mechanism with those two springs can be a bit difficult. I like your channel. I enjoy watching folks work on vintage reels like I do. -- Chris (PS. I hate C-clips!)
Chris, it looks like I’m way behind on learning about the Cardinal reels. Just curious, have you ever had a problem with the line getting trapped under the spool? The Cardinal was certainly one of my most challenging reels so far to figure out. Once it was done it was a nice reel.
@@youngmartinsreels5314 The bail stop mechanism on the Cardinal 4 would lend itself to more problems like line getting under the spool. Also it is very easy to have the wrong size spool on these reels between the 3 and 4 size and especially between the 6 and 7 size. The 6 and 7 have completely different bail stop mechanisms. To some degree all cup rotors can have this problem like you mention. You didn’t get this on older reels that have that “pipe cleaner” wrap around the inside diameter of the spool. I have a number of reels like that.
1 shim, 2 shims, 3 shims yikes! I grew up when the French were making some wonderful spinners and Dad would service his regularly. He was a patient man but once in awhile we would hear a strong "another gall- darn shim" from him! He had another more robust term, that Mom didn't like hearing, for those bail springs! Loved your video.
You would think that if they could make those shims that precise that they could make the gears and housings equally precise. 😀 I’m glad you liked the video.
Hi ... Zeb Cardinal 4 used for many decades. Love the sound of it. I do need the complete bail assembly (lost it when cleaning) somehow. The bail, 2 springs, and the 2 plastic ends attached to the bail. A long shot for sure but hope you could source that. Much obliged.
Rick, if you ever get to work on a 6 or 7 size of this reel you’ll find two springs on a totally different bail locking mechanism. It is a royal pain in the butt! I’m sorry but I got quite amused watching this as I’ve done 6 of these reels. You have much more patience and a better sense of humor than I do. Isn’t the drag setup just extraordinary! I never took out the AR spring and arm. I found these reels to be totally amazing as well as incredibly smooth. The 7 in particular turned out to be a far better than average surf reel for smaller species. I wouldn’t want to fight a shark or big ray however. The handles are just too small. - Chris
I have a few springs that found their way onto the "black hole" that is my shop floor never to be seen again. Gotta make one of those little pin hook tools. did you have to heat that pin before you bent it? I have one of these reels coming that is purported to work well, but we'll see. Your video will make the disassembly/reassembly much easier. At least I'm prepared for the springs and this reel has a bunch of 'em.
Barney, I did not heat the pin before bending. However, if you heat it first, it will be easier to bend and much more pliable to get exactly like you want it. Also, it’s less likely to break. I have found that picking a set of rare earth magnets and attaching them to a board side by side makes a nice tool for finding springs. I think maybe I should create a video about that. Good luck with your new reel.
@@youngmartinsreels5314 one of the spools had a plastic ring to prevent the line going behind the spool but it didn't work, this was with 3 pound breaking strain line which is what the reel was designed for, very frustrating.
I haven’t worked on a Zebco Cardinal 66 before, but from working on other reels, it’s most likely a broken part. Without available parts it’s going to be very difficult to repair.
Just found another video I thought you might like, using a modern anti-reverse bearing in an old Cardinal reel so it is instant anti-reverse and silent. Not sure how well it works compared to the original bearing, with no way to switch the anti-reverse off, but it is a fun project. No mention of what bearing he's used. th-cam.com/video/SScAQmwmxUA/w-d-xo.html
Anthony, Interesting mod. I’m not a huge fan of an anti reverse with no over-ride. I turn mine on and off pretty often. That’s one of my major issues with the old Penn salt water bait casters. I need my over-ride. It is nice to see creative people making things work the way they want them to.
@@youngmartinsreels5314 I wonder with that anti=reverse bearing in place, does the drag even let line out, or does the anti-reverse bearing just keep kicking in and locking up?
@@youngmartinsreels5314 I got a note back from the anti-reverse mod poster and the bearing replaced is on the gear shaft, so apparently the drag does work normally.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I was driving from North Carolina to Alabama today. Looking at his video I was pretty sure he machined out the case for an anti-reverse bearing on the main gear. Since that’s where it is installed, the drag would work fine as he said.
![เป็นไปได้ไหม - WanMai [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_6lZ6b3_7Vo/mqdefault.jpg)
Beautiful reel they were built to last and I can c why
I have 6 of these Zebco Cardinal reels - 3 6s and 3 7s. They are considered the saltwater version. You can get the correct screw and new springs on EBay. I’ve restored a number of these. The parts aren’t cheap but neither are the reels in good condition. Sometimes it’s better to get one with problems and repair it than to buy one in very good condition. I collect and restore vintage surf spinning reels made before 1980. I have 250+ reels right now and they are all I use. All these Zebco Cardinals have double springs. My Penn 704Z and 706Z both have springs on both sides. These Zebco Cardinal reels can be a challenge to work on until you learn how. On the 6 and 7 the bail stop mechanism with those two springs can be a bit difficult. I like your channel. I enjoy watching folks work on vintage reels like I do. -- Chris (PS. I hate C-clips!)
Chris, it looks like I’m way behind on learning about the Cardinal reels. Just curious, have you ever had a problem with the line getting trapped under the spool? The Cardinal was certainly one of my most challenging reels so far to figure out. Once it was done it was a nice reel.
@@youngmartinsreels5314 The bail stop mechanism on the Cardinal 4 would lend itself to more problems like line getting under the spool. Also it is very easy to have the wrong size spool on these reels between the 3 and 4 size and especially between the 6 and 7 size. The 6 and 7 have completely different bail stop mechanisms. To some degree all cup rotors can have this problem like you mention. You didn’t get this on older reels that have that “pipe cleaner” wrap around the inside diameter of the spool. I have a number of reels like that.
1 shim, 2 shims, 3 shims yikes! I grew up when the French were making some wonderful spinners and Dad would service his regularly. He was a patient man but once in awhile we would hear a strong "another gall- darn shim" from him! He had another more robust term, that Mom didn't like hearing, for those bail springs! Loved your video.
You would think that if they could make those shims that precise that they could make the gears and housings equally precise. 😀
I’m glad you liked the video.
Thanks for the video I have one of those beautiful reels 👍
Shawn, they are very nice reels. I still haven’t had the chance to fish mine yet.
Hi ... Zeb Cardinal 4 used for many decades. Love the sound of it. I do need the complete bail assembly (lost it when cleaning) somehow. The bail, 2 springs, and the 2 plastic ends attached to the bail. A long shot for sure but hope you could source that. Much obliged.
Rick, if you ever get to work on a 6 or 7 size of this reel you’ll find two springs on a totally different bail locking mechanism. It is a royal pain in the butt! I’m sorry but I got quite amused watching this as I’ve done 6 of these reels. You have much more patience and a better sense of humor than I do. Isn’t the drag setup just extraordinary! I never took out the AR spring and arm. I found these reels to be totally amazing as well as incredibly smooth. The 7 in particular turned out to be a far better than average surf reel for smaller species. I wouldn’t want to fight a shark or big ray however. The handles are just too small. - Chris
So far, the 6 and 7 size Cardinals have avoided me but maybe one day I'll get a shot at one.
I have a few springs that found their way onto the "black hole" that is my shop floor never to be seen again. Gotta make one of those little pin hook tools. did you have to heat that pin before you bent it? I have one of these reels coming that is purported to work well, but we'll see. Your video will make the disassembly/reassembly much easier. At least I'm prepared for the springs and this reel has a bunch of 'em.
Barney, I did not heat the pin before bending. However, if you heat it first, it will be easier to bend and much more pliable to get exactly like you want it. Also, it’s less likely to break. I have found that picking a set of rare earth magnets and attaching them to a board side by side makes a nice tool for finding springs. I think maybe I should create a video about that. Good luck with your new reel.
Very nice video compliments! I have a curiosity to ask you, what product do you use to clean the mechanics at the end?
The primary product that I use for cleaning fishing reels is WD-40.
Yes, it's hard to imagine at first that the structure of the pressure relief system will be taken out from the side.😂
Brass and stainless gears nice they do not make reels like that anymore
I had one of these, super smooth and fast retrieve but the line constantly went behind the spool, on reflection not a very good reel.
I wonder if something was wrong with it. Most people I’ve talked to absolutely loved theirs. Do you remember what line you were using?
@@youngmartinsreels5314 one of the spools had a plastic ring to prevent the line going behind the spool but it didn't work, this was with 3 pound breaking strain line which is what the reel was designed for, very frustrating.
Hi Martin i have a zebco cardinal 66 the spool does not go up and down can this be fixed
I haven’t worked on a Zebco Cardinal 66 before, but from working on other reels, it’s most likely a broken part. Without available parts it’s going to be very difficult to repair.
Thank you
Just found another video I thought you might like, using a modern anti-reverse bearing in an old Cardinal reel so it is instant anti-reverse and silent. Not sure how well it works compared to the original bearing, with no way to switch the anti-reverse off, but it is a fun project. No mention of what bearing he's used. th-cam.com/video/SScAQmwmxUA/w-d-xo.html
Anthony, Interesting mod. I’m not a huge fan of an anti reverse with no over-ride. I turn mine on and off pretty often. That’s one of my major issues with the old Penn salt water bait casters. I need my over-ride. It is nice to see creative people making things work the way they want them to.
@@youngmartinsreels5314 I wonder with that anti=reverse bearing in place, does the drag even let line out, or does the anti-reverse bearing just keep kicking in and locking up?
@@youngmartinsreels5314 I got a note back from the anti-reverse mod poster and the bearing replaced is on the gear shaft, so apparently the drag does work normally.
Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I was driving from North Carolina to Alabama today. Looking at his video I was pretty sure he machined out the case for an anti-reverse bearing on the main gear. Since that’s where it is installed, the drag would work fine as he said.