Old Ibbotson Horrocks Mohawk No.1106 Reel

[IsaacYampolsky]

Hey guys. I saw this guy selling old fishing stuff on a street corner in Northeast Philadelphia. I saw this decided to buy it, because it looked cool. It cost me 20 dollars. When I bought it, I noticed that it lacked that typical clicking that you see in a fly reel, and it seems like the drag system doesn't really do anything. I was looking for the nozzle to adjust the drag, and all I could really find on it that could be adjusted was that little knob on the side(it's super tiny). It was also pretty creaky. I was kinda tinkering with it on my way home, and I somehow I got it to start clicking when reeled. I kept playing with it, and then it stopped clicking. So, I took it inside, took it apart, cleaned it, and lubricated the compartments. It stopped creaking, but the clicking never came back. Does anyone have any experience with these reels? Is this thing broken? I can send a picture of the inside if you want.

 

[TimMurphy]

Hey guys. I saw this guy selling old fishing stuff on a street corner in Northeast Philadelphia. I saw this decided to buy it, because it looked cool. It cost me 20 dollars. When I bought it, I noticed that it lacked that typical clicking that you see in a fly reel, and it seems like the drag system doesn't really do anything. I was looking for the nozzle to adjust the drag, and all I could really find on it that could be adjusted was that little knob on the side(it's super tiny). It was also pretty creaky. I was kinda tinkering with it on my way home, and I somehow I got it to start clicking when reeled. I kept playing with it, and then it stopped clicking. So, I took it inside, took it apart, cleaned it, and lubricated the compartments. It stopped creaking, but the clicking never came back. Does anyone have any experience with these reels? Is this thing broken? I can send a picture of the inside if you want.

Dear Isaac,

What did you use to lubricate the reel, and how much of it did you use?

It's an older reel and doesn't have a drag like even a Pflueger. Are all the pawls and springs that engage them in place and not overly greased?

You can silence a Hardy reel if you put enough grease in it! 😉

Take it apart again and check how the parts fit together. Maybe clean a little grease away and try it again?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[TimMurphy]

Hey guys. I saw this guy selling old fishing stuff on a street corner in Northeast Philadelphia. I saw this decided to buy it, because it looked cool. It cost me 20 dollars. When I bought it, I noticed that it lacked that typical clicking that you see in a fly reel, and it seems like the drag system doesn't really do anything. I was looking for the nozzle to adjust the drag, and all I could really find on it that could be adjusted was that little knob on the side(it's super tiny). It was also pretty creaky. I was kinda tinkering with it on my way home, and I somehow I got it to start clicking when reeled. I kept playing with it, and then it stopped clicking. So, I took it inside, took it apart, cleaned it, and lubricated the compartments. It stopped creaking, but the clicking never came back. Does anyone have any experience with these reels? Is this thing broken? I can send a picture of the inside if you want.

Dear Isaac,

I want to add a few more comments.

First, that looks like a nice score for $ 20.00.

Second, and more important. Back in the day when that reel was popular many fly reels were bi-directional in retrieve. Most casters back then casted right-handed and put the rod in their left hand to play a fish. I have English JW Young reels that work as reels in both directions, but the clicker is definitely stronger when reeled with the right hand.

Maybe your reel is like mine?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[IsaacYampolsky]

Dear Isaac,

I want to add a few more comments.

First, that looks like a nice score for $ 20.00.

Second, and more important. Back in the day when that reel was popular many fly reels were bi-directional in retrieve. Most casters back then casted right-handed and put the rod in their left hand to play a fish. I have English JW Young reels that work as reels in both directions, but the clicker is definitely stronger when reeled with the right hand.

Maybe your reel is like mine?

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Hey sir, thank you so much for all your advice.

Is it a good find? I din't really know anything about it when I got it. I looked online and saw the company went out of business in 1978. I looked online, it doesn't seem super expensive, but I've always wanted a metal reel with my fly rod. When I got a nice, quality reel for my ultralight spinning rod, I felt so cool. That being said, this one looks to be a in a lot better condition than some others.

I didn't use a ton of grease, but maybe I used too much. I'll take another look at it soon and check. I'll definitely open it up again and just ensure that everything is in place. I'm not really sure what to look for, though. So, maybe I'll open it up and post a pic here? Maybe you could help me diagnose it?

Also, are you saying that some old reels from the time had no drag system? That's very interesting. It's also interesting to hear that bit about the fly fisherman casting right handed, and fighting the fish in their left hand. That would make sense to enable to be reeled both ways, as they switched hands.

Thanks so much again for your advice, sir. I'll make sure to post back here with an update after I open it up again.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I bet if you open it there's a single pawl attached to the round silver button and a big U shaped spring that goes from rivet to rivet around it spindle.

The round silver button probably slides in and out, or "on" and "off," and the drag is the simplest click check in the world with no adjustment and no difference on in or out because of the pawl is the same in both directions.

That's old-timey simple reels. But as you said it looks pretty and your fingers can do most of the work, anyways.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

Tim & Gfen are spot on; when I get a chance I'll check my notes on the Mohawk. I don't own one, but since I collect and fish vintage tackle, I have seen a few. IIRC its a single action stamped trout reel; a basic model for 'day to day' flyfishing, for any fish under 20", its fine. Not enough horsepower probably for steelhead, bigger bass, pike, carp.

They go for $15-$100 on ebay, depending on condition, box with manual, etc. For one in working order that someone intends to fish, you paid a fair price for what I see there.

I'll try to find a post a catalog page for when it was new

1st thing I do with old reels like that, after stripping off the old line, is take them apart and soak in a 50-50 white vinegar/warm water bath for 30min. I use an old tooth brush to carefully brush off gummed up grease. Sometimes a little paint flakes off, but that happens on stuff over 70 yrs old. Next, I repeat the process with warm water and a little dish detergent. Lay all parts on a towel/air dry. Once the parts are thoroughly dry, and I feel the guts are in ok working order (springs, pawls, gears, cams etc) I grease the spindles and gear with a small amount of hot sauce, lightly oil other parts, re-assmble, line-up and go fishing.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

From the 1949 Horrocks-Ibbotson catalog; pretty sure they made these multiple years, though:

 

[IsaacYampolsky]

Hey guys, I saw another reel for sale on etsy, and opened mine up to compare it. It doesn't look like anything is broken. However, it does look like mine is missing a cork cover for the arbor. The button looking thing does nothing, maybe it's stuck? It can be turned, but that doesn't do much. I tried wiping away some of the grease, but now it seems a little creakier. I'll definitely try the cleaning technique that CinnamonJoe suggested. I'll post pictures of the inside. If anyone notices anything wrong with it, feel free to let me know. I might just be ovethinking it.

 

[Bamboozle]

The pawl is disengaged (off).

The silver button on the side need to be pushed TOWARDS the spindle hole. That will push the pawl so it is engaged by the spring and clicks on the teeth on the spool.

IF you can't push the button, try a little oil underneath but it SHOULD slide.

Good luck!!!

 

[IsaacYampolsky]

The pawl is disengaged (off).

The silver button on the side need to be pushed TOWARDS the spindle hole. That will push the pawl so it is engaged by the spring and clicks on the teeth on the spool.

View attachment 1641246105

IF you can't push the button, try a little oil underneath but it SHOULD slide.

View attachment 1641246107

Good luck!!!

Dude, your freaking legend! THANK YOU SO MUCH! IT ACTUALLY WORKS! I owe you big time! You guys all are the best!

 

[Bamboozle]

Enjoy your new reel!!!

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

This is how it starts. One day you're going to open a cabinet and sort through about two dozen Medalists looking for that 1492 you swore had a 4wt line on it and won't be allowed to log into Ebay unsupervised by your spouse.

Sorry.

 

[JeffK]

Old practice is oil on axles and grease on gears. In any case, don't need much - only a drop or two. Too much lubrication can gum up the reel.

 

[CinnamonJoe]

This is how it starts. One day you're going to open a cabinet and sort through about two dozen Medalists looking for that 1492 you swore had a 4wt line on it and won't be allowed to log into Ebay unsupervised by your spouse.

Sorry.

💯

 

[Bamboozle]

...Back in the day when that reel was popular many fly reels were bi-directional in retrieve. Most casters back then casted right-handed and put the rod in their left hand to play a fish. I have English JW Young reels that work as reels in both directions, but the clicker is definitely stronger when reeled with the right hand...

Tim Murphy 🙂

Tim, et al.;

"V" shaped check springs (or pawl springs) in older (think pre 1953 Mark II Check) Hardy & Young reels were most often oriented to favor right hand retrieve or right hand wind. There are some left hand wind versions out there, but they are rare and expensive. Older, larger reels & better reels often had two check springs and pawls but BOTH were oriented to one hand or the other.

In reels with one or two check springs that are handed, the retrieve handle direction is towards the POINT of the spring(s). Line-out or drag is towards the OPEN end of the spring, Pawl flipping really does nothing because you are working against the tension of the open end of the spring or the line-out direction.

If the reel is older & handed with two springs, BOTH will be in the pointing in the same direction. You can disengage one pawl (turn it 90 degrees so the curved side is NOT against the spring) to soften the click and the line-out or drag, however these reels are NOT reversible like today's two pawl reels because of the spring orientation.

In modern versions of click/pawl reels that ARE reversible, they have two springs but you will notice the two springs are installed OPPOSITE to each other so the reversing process involves disengaging the pawl on one spring or the other which in effect softens the retrieve depending on the direction of the spring.

Some handed reels with single check spring or a double spring reel with one pawl disengaged do soften slightly just by flipping the pawl, but most often the feel is the same. Switching pawls from Young to Hardy pawls or vice versa can make a difference because of the pawl shape.

For the brave; bending or adjusting handed check springs and then re-tempering is an option to really make a difference, but there is a possibility of breaking a spring.

At that point your options are to use the spare spring if you have a two spring reel and don't want to engage two pawls, find a replacement spring of fabricate a new spring which isn't impossible, but not a simple task.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Bamboozle,

I agree with everything you wrote. Most of my experience is with JW Young single action reels and everyone that I have features dual springs and pawls. I've successfully reversed several reels from their native RHW to LHW, and they are perfectly usable that way. Some of them have a very modest lever or screw drag adjustment that allows for increased tension, but they do not even come even remotely close to the drag mechanism of a Pflueger Medalist with the reversible retrieve disc.

I'd like to pick up an Ocean City reel but after investigating it appears only the Model 76 or 77 are actually reversible. You can flip the line guard and the pawls on those from what I've seen.

If anyone knows more about them and wants to chime in, I am all ears. I refuse to use a RHW reel on a fly rod. I have no problem and actually prefer RHW conventional reels. Casting right and changing hands to retrieve seems natural with a level wind reel. It's not natural on a fly reel, for me at least.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

Dear Bamboozle,

I agree with everything you wrote. Most of my experience is with JW Young single action reels and everyone that I have features dual springs and pawls. I've successfully reversed several reels from their native RHW to LHW, and they are perfectly usable that way. Some of them have a very modest lever or screw drag adjustment that allows for increased tension, but they do not even come even remotely close to the drag mechanism of a Pflueger Medalist with the reversible retrieve disc.

I'd like to pick up an Ocean City reel but after investigating it appears only the Model 76 or 77 are actually reversible. You can flip the line guard and the pawls on those from what I've seen.

If anyone knows more about them and wants to chime in, I am all ears. I refuse to use a RHW reel on a fly rod. I have no problem and actually prefer RHW conventional reels. Casting right and changing hands to retrieve seems natural with a level wind reel. It's not natural on a fly reel, for me at least.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

When I was a kid ready to buy my first ever reel with lawn cutting money, I lusted for a Garcia/Mitchell 408 that were handed.

The clerk asked, and when I told him I was right handed he said, "You will cast with you right hand and wind with you left" which made total sense to me. I bought a LHW 408 which I still have and use on occasion and never looked back.

Every reel purchased since, fly or conventional is LHW save for a Penn Jigmaster that I had Penn convert from RHW to LHW and a two, double check fly reels; one an old 3-1/8" Hardy Uniqua I bought from Hoagy Carmichael many moons ago and a Young Pridex.

Neither have line guards and both wind just fine left hand.

If there is a particular Ocean City reel you want in LHW, tell me which one and I'll ask a friend who is a master at reels if it can be flipped with a tweak which he can do.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Bamboozle,

Looking at the Ocean City fly reels it looks like the models 76 and 77 have a reversible 2 screw line guard.

The more common models 35 and 36 seem to have a permanently fixed round line guard set up for RHW only.

Can you check with your buddy and let me know if I am missing anything with my findings?

Thanks,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Bamboozle]

Tim:

I didn't yet ask my buddy, but what I do know is the good news on the Ocean City 35 & 36 (known later as the 305 & 306) is they have the same check as the HI Mohawk that started this thread. That means the click will be pretty much the same LHW or RHW. The bad news is the round line guards are NOT reversible.

If it isn't a problem, you could fish it LHW with the line guard on the wrong side. That might illicit some, "hey, you have your reel on backwards" comments like I get from the mates on the boats when I use my LHW Penn Jigmaster.

If the comments bother you 😉 and IF you can get over the physical modification thing, the way the line guard is attached MAY make it possible to cut it off with a Dremel tool and get rid of it completely.

BTW - Is it the round line guard that floats your boat because the 76 & 77 are almost identical in specs and obviously have a reversible line guard.

If it isn't also the Philly & Ocean City thing, One Pfoot can install a round line guard on a Medalist. I had one installed on one my 1494's by the late Bill Franke, the guy that created the business and I added the other parts myself.

It makes for a very pretty and functional reel:

Speaking of round line guards, for a REALLY long time, I lusted for a Hardy Perfect but never could deal with the RHW thing and I couldn't afford the extremely rare older LHW reels on the secondary market.

My wait was over in the 1980's when Hardy introduced new LHW Perfects with ceramic line guards and I bought one from Hoagy Carmichael when they could be had for a little over $100 bucks.

Since that time they have re-introduced various Perfect & St. George versions but the price point is WAY up there.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

I bought an OC35 simply because it had a round guide, and have purchased a couple Medalists with original round guards since then.

Since they're all such small reels, I don't worry about the handedness and just deal with it.

There's something classy about it that modern reels will forever lack.