My Tibor was in dire need for replacement parts before Oman.  Instead of doing the rebuild I decided to take the kit along, hoping it would go the distance.  It did,  but the change needed to happen.

This is the first bearing swap ive done, and I managed to find a perfect puller.

The corrosion is still there, but I’m managing it.  In a year or so I’m going to replace the frame portion.

I’m starting to enjoy these rebuilds.

Ill admit I’ve been pretty critical on these reels in the past.  But I continue to use them.  Its when you start rebuilding them you realise the brilliance in the design.  I love that every single part can be removed and replaced.  There are things that let them down, mainly one little thing, the bearing.  Somehow, its still the reel I grab first.  It has that character that a drag test or reel shootout can’t measure, and I love it for that.

I just went through my old emails, trying to figure out when I bought it.  11 November 2009 was the exact day.  Since then its probably been fished harder and abused more than any other Riptide out there.

Keep in mind there is a lifetime warranty, but it means sending the whole reel back.  I went through this once or twice, and the shipping alone (never mind the nightmare customs put me through) cost me as much as a new reel, only to have the same pesky drag bearing fail on the first trip out.  If theres a Tibor speed building comp at some stage, your money should be on me.

But by far the biggest bonus…. It has some sort of invisible permit attracting force field.