Bail assembly help!

[joeterra]

Hey guys,

I took apart this old reel to learn and clean how everything works and can’t figure out to put the bail assembly back together. How do I install this little metal piece back into place? Thanks in advance!

[2na]

Joe,
I admire your courage to learn. I used to be intimated by these reels...thought they were like fine Swiss watches. Came to find out they're usually just simple mechanical devices. I learned alot by doing what you did on cheap old stuff that my wife found at yard sales.
I'm not familiar with that particular reel but checkout: alantani.com. It's an excellent website for "reel heads" that may have a video or schematic to help you.
Please don't be intimated by one challenge. I think you'll find, with a little practice, and some simple tools, you'll grow the confidence to tackle almost any reel. Very few have parts that FLY OUT when you're not expecting.
KEEP TRYING
Jon

[frugalfisherman]

I'll take a guess and say the round bar goes in the center hole. Then the other end compresses the spring. Then you have to keep it compressed while you put the cover back. The spring snaps the bail back. Only a guess.