You can't get parts for some of the 251's or at least you couldn't a few years back. I have two of them, and I agree, great steelhead reel, and they were cheap, cheap, cheap. I have one that dates from the early 80's that still works OK, and one from the late 80's that is my main steelhead reel. But it's getting tired, for sure. When I tried to get new drag washers from Ollie's, I was told that they were not available.
_________________________
Hm-m-m-m-m