Mitchell Avocet II reel repair

Question
I bought a Mitchell AvocetII s4000f two years ago and out of the box it worked fine for about 5 casts then the bail quit flipping back over after casting and then retreving, it seems as if their is no spring action on the bail although the spring and rod are there. I quit using it because I have other reels, put now would like to get this one fixed. can you recommend some place to get it fixed, no one around here can help me. I know its a farily cheap reel but it is a good reel and it's spinning action is smooth. I'm a walleye, panfish, bass, northern, and catfish fisherman. I fish the freshwater lakes and streams and rivers in
the midwest but have fished Alaska and Canada as well. thank you in advance Bill

Answer
Bill I am not familiar with that particular reel but I have used a number of different reels and most of the bails operate about the same.  Try the following if your reel is made this way.  Open the bail and check if you feel spring pressure against opening the bail.  If so maybe the little piece that moves the trigger holding the bail open is damaged or not connecting with the trigger.  If this is the case the reel bail will not close as you begin reeling.  If you cannot see whether the trigger is being operated or not unscrew the screw holding the bail and bail spring carefully not letting it spring out.  The spring may be broken or the catch that holds the bottom end of the spring may be damaged or perhaps the spring end is not through the little hole which holds it.  My guess is that the spring is not being loaded when the bail is opened or is not being released when the reel is cranked.  Dirt in any part of the bail system can cause failure.  If you can find nothing else wrong try washing the  whole thing under running water then make sure it is clean.  After washing it out and dried put a little reel grease on the spring and oil all friction points.  If this does not apply to your reel about the only other thing I can think of is to contact the manufacturer and see if they have some way to repair it.

I hope this has been of some help.  I am using what knowledge I have gained from other models of reels and it may be completely incorrect but I have done my best to help you.

Jack L. Gaither             (JackfromSeminole)

Lake Seminole, Georgia