Okuma Epix 30 FAILURE - UPDATE 1-26-02

Of course the handle self destructed I ws half way expecting that but was not expecting the anti-reverse switch to fail. This was after I had a fish on. I'm disappointed in this of course and hopefully it will be an easy fix.

[ 01-26-2002: Message edited by: Mr. Mojo Risin' ]

Is this the 7 bearing or the 10 bearing OKUMA I have been hearing about?

How much mileage did you get out of it before the
explosion?

Fishing is my religion

FJ...out.

Very little use and that's why I'm po'ed about it. At least i landed the fish.

I have an AV30 and AV40. I have not had any problems yet. My AV30 carried me through some serious chum action on Hood Canal and on the Green River without fail. I must have caught at least 50 chums with the AV30. Not to bad for a $30 reel (SPORTCO price).

Stew,
I agree with you the Epix has been a complete disappointment...I now have Avernger handles on my epix reels...they aren't the same color but they don't break on every fish. Had 5 handles break in one day...all with fish on.

Gill

First day out with my Epix, I had a whopper Salmon at barrier dam on my line and the little button in the handle goes flying out! Man it totally messed me up and I lost the fish. I took it back to Sportco and they exchanged the handle right there. Once you have the reel for awhile, call Epix and they will ship you out a new handle. They know there has been plenty of problems. I do like the action on reel and it does spin the smoothest out of all my reels.

Steve

I finally went into Bob's in Longview in early fall to buy the Epix 30. I was disappointed they were out of them. The sales guy told me to try the AV 'Avenger' 30 Okuma spinning reel they still had stock of. I don't put a lot of faith in what a salesman says, but I looked it over and cranked it several times - very smooth, and what do I have to lose for 30+ dollars. I have used it plenty, without any probs at all. So it sounds like I got lucky, getting a less problematic reel cheaply? More time will tell. But I still recommend the Shamano Symetry for a high quality and performance spinning reel for under a hundred bucks.

RT

The Handle seams to be the problem,I've fished mine as long as anyone else and I've had zero problems with it...I might be the only one

As soon as handles started going to $hit i called Okuma and got a spare,I carry it just haven't had to need to change it ...Yet
with my luck the next sceamin steelie I hook up with might change that ......I hope not.

I still think this is a great bargin.....Os

I also have an efx 30, Okuma, and I love it, after the handle went south, I reverse engineered the handle system, and milled a small flat where the pin goes into the drive of the handle, reamed it .0005 under @ .1245 and press fit a .125 machine pin, into the reamed hole, the handle will no longer collapse (who uses this feature anyway?) but the handle is rock solid, and I have caught quite a few fish on the reel since then, both Salmon, and Steelhead, and zero problems, its a smooth reel and holds more line than a shimano 2000 series, but not as big and clunky, as a 4000 series, if shimano made a 3000 I would by it, until then, the Okuma works great.

Fuzzy

Silent Approach Jigs

Here is the latest about my reel. Okuma fixed it and replaced the handle along with other failed parts FREE OF CHARGE!!!! Way to go Okuma!

Will Okuma send a new handle "no questions asked"? If so, Im on the horn. Just picked one up for $28 at the show the other day, played 5 big colored up silvers on it with no problems. I really like the reel, although I dont own many spin casting set ups.
Tight Lines

Yes they will. Hopefully the handle and other issues are fixed on my reel but even if it fails again I have to congratulate Okuma on their customer service and reapir.