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Reelcraft Hose Reel Problems?

Durka

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Mar 20, 2014
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341
Location
Howell, MI
Recently acquired a RC hose real. After the install, I noticed the recoil (I believe it's the recoil) making a thumping sound with both, paying out hose and retracting. More so when retracting. It thumps with each rotation. No other problem so far, just that thump sound. It doesn't bother me enough to bring back to the factory UNLESS, I'm doing more damage by ignoring it and continued use.

I've searched and read numerous threads about hose reals on this site and come across a problem of this nature...Yet.

I've also searched problem solving @ the Reelcraft site... No luck.

I installed the hose myself, under Reelcrafts direction, -so I think that's right.

I'm using two hose reels now and have used others in the past. I don't recall the thumping but, -this reel is little heavy duty and perhaps it's a normal occurrence ?

Not sure what does the GJ guys think?

Some Pics, -

View media item 39856
View media item 39855
View media item 39854
 
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C96

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Nov 30, 2013
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They sure are pretty when new….Lol
I have an older Reelcraft; the only noise it makes is the ratcheting sound which is normal. My HF reel is the same way, just the ratchet sound.
Not sure what the thumping noise is your referring too.

Anyway you can post the sound it makes?
YouTube video or whatever?

Oh, nice job with the black iron, only way to go :thumbup:
 

C96

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Great job on the video, was able to view and hear just fine.

Yea, it does sound like the recoil spring is expanding while it rolls up and bumping against the side of the housing for some reason.

Maybe some sort of guide plate internally for the spring mechanism out of alignment, or missing altogether?

I’ve never had one apart, so I can’t advise you, sorry. Maybe Google recoil spring replacement and get an exploded view of the inside.

If you have the time, just take it apart. I’m sure the issue will be obvious.

Hell, maybe its normal? :headscrat
 

cooljoe57

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Jan 7, 2014
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Location
Arizona
Does the hose go back in, recoil, smoothly and by it self or does it seem to slow down and not want to retract all the way at the end?
 
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Durka

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Mar 20, 2014
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341
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Howell, MI
It slows right down at the end. Doesn't really bind, well at times it will slow with 25' (50' hose) left then it will pick back up again until it's almost wound completely and slow once more.

I can adjust spring tension be adding or removing turns once the hose is wound. Maybe I should tighten a little more. It says not to over tighten; you can damage the spring mechanism. It's currently a little loose if anything. Perhaps I should tighten it further (?)
 

cooljoe57

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Jan 7, 2014
Messages
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Location
Arizona
When we sell them at work we wind them up with the hose attached all the way in, and then give it another 3-5 turns. Then stretch them out and test it. It should want to pull its self in pretty tightly all the way up to the end.
Also a tip is when your done using it don't let the hose go all the way back in to the ball stop, stop it and latch it on the catch. This keeps extra stress off the spring.
 
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Durka

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Howell, MI
Great job on the video, was able to view and hear just fine.
Maybe Google recoil spring replacement and get an exploded view of the inside.

If you have the time, just take it apart. I’m sure the issue will be obvious.

Hell, maybe its normal? :headscrat

Thanks, it was my first YouTube upload :thumbup:

Yea I have an Exploded view. (Btw, did you hear it right at the end of the vid ? It thumps numerous times and vibrates two 3/4" sheets of plywood doubled together and screwed to the stud wall.)

Anyways, the exploded view shows like this, -

View media item 39871View media item 39870
I have the reel that's highlighted ^^^

It shows a spring case studs, but other than that it just looks like a normal recoil. If I can't figure anything else out, maybe I'll call Reelcraft before dissembling. There isn't a informational about spring replacement.... Only,- not to do it :dunno:
 
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Durka

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Mar 20, 2014
Messages
341
Location
Howell, MI
When we sell them at work we wind them up with the hose attached all the way in, and then give it another 3-5 turns. Then stretch them out and test it. It should want to pull its self in pretty tightly all the way up to the end.
Also a tip is when your done using it don't let the hose go all the way back in to the ball stop, stop it and latch it on the catch. This keeps extra stress off the spring.

Great and thanks for the tip.

I haven't attempted adding more turns to it yet, - yea I'll give that a shot in the morning.

Thanks!
 
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Durka

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Howell, MI
Well, I gave it another 3 wraps, then gave it another shot. It seemed better, but still thumped with each rotation but,- smoothed up a little recoiling (speed wise). It didn't slow down at the 25' point or at just about full rewind. Plus it didn't thump like crazy once the hose was almost completely rewound.

Tried another two wraps. Seemed a little better again, but now there's a little more tension at the end (total payout).

So I'm not sure, -maybe it is normal. In the literature, Reelcraft stresses not to over tighten the spring, you may damage it. So I may have been a little light on the wraps (from the get go) for that reason.

I guess I'll call the factory, customer service and see what they say Monday morning. Seems like something isn't quite right, but if they say it's normal, then I can live with it I suppose.
 

Mr. Brooks

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Dec 11, 2012
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My money is on the spring not ring locked into place but instead catching every once in a while. If you bought new, you paid good money, I'd call RC and see how they can assist.
 
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Durka

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Howell, MI
Yes, I purchased it new, -a few months back. In fact I had to wait a few days for them to build this one. It wasn't a cheap hose reel.
Thought I threw the box it was shipped in out already; nope, -still have it luckily. - In case they want it back :thumbup:

I'll call them and update the thread after.

Thanks!
 
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Durka

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Howell, MI
That would be great, - yea, I don't really want to mess around with shipping it back, if I don't have to.
I'll take it apart, -Hell, I like doing that anyway. If it's a rather easy fix ...No problem. :thumbup:
 
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Durka

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Howell, MI
Update, - All you guys were right in one way or the other. Long story short, it was the recoil spring. The outer band was half off. Oh, and C96 was 110% correct with this quote, -
If you have the time, just take it apart. I’m sure the issue will be obvious.
IT SURE WAS! I popped the cover to take a peek and that spring was fighting to get out. I threw and old blanket on top of the thing , then hi-tailed it!

The spring became wedged eventually, between the housing and the reel. I left a few of housing the nuts on,- loose. Thought most of it was out... NOPE! The recoil took up 15 square feet of ground space before it was done. Right then C96's post came to mind, -yet again! ;)

Anyway, wound it back up, (that was fun, I wanna do it again!) and that's were I'm at. I did take some pics after I finished. There's a little damage to the spring, but it may be alright.

View media item 40081
_____________________________________

The recoil is bent in two spots, you can see the reveal in this pic

View media item 40080
 
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C96

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Nov 30, 2013
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Hey Durka, glad to see you found the problem.
Let us know when it’s all back together and how it works :beer:
 
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Durka

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Location
Howell, MI
Hey Durka, glad to see you found the problem.
Let us know when it’s all back together and how it works :beer:

Yea, it's not fixed yet, -same thing happened. However I do know it's the recoil now. No identification on the spring, so I can't tell if it's the correct one.

Called Reelcraft CS. The girl transferred me to the tech on call (what she said) and I got an answering machine. No return call yet today. I'll try again in the morning. Will see what they wanna do.

Went over everything on the reel 3 times. It's put together correctly and not missing any parts, according to the diagram.

I'll post back after I talk to the tech.
 

dschmit

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Sep 6, 2011
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Location
Nebraska
Bringing this post back from the dead, but did you get it fixed? I have one doing the same thing.
 
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