I have a 500lc which needs some work on the drag lever,and automatic retrieve. I'm from south dakota and no one knows anything about shimano conventional reel wondering if I can get someone on here to fix it or if you guys know anyone that workings on conventional shimanos

What is it doing? That is not a lever drag so I am wondering what you are talking about. That is a Standard Tekota Star Drag with a Line Counter. Give me some symptoms and I will go a little further.

First it is NOT an automatic retrieve. You have to engage the pinion with the Clutch lever.

Second, The drag issues are nill unless you have over tightened that drag and flatened the drag spring washers or snapped some of the Dartanium drag washers (They are brittle as a potatoe chip.

If you cannot engage the Clutch lever manually then you have a problem with the bridge set up most likely the pinion gear has seized to the Shaft of the spool and will not slide up and down to engage or disengage.

the clutch is automatic. This was initially the issue I was having with the reel took it apart and fixed the auto clutch. when i put it together i dropped the pin the goes in the handle for the star style drag. I believe this is the clicker for the drag. It reels very rough the tighter you make the drag when drag is loose it is fine.

I know that the clutch has to be manually engaged on large tekota's but the 600 and smaller are auto clutches.

What did you do with the bearing thrust washer? That is why you cannot reel the thing. There is a seal on the shaft bearing then you have a very thin and small bearing washer that goes on before the drag spring washers. When you tighten down on the drag you are putting the bearing in a bind without that washer. There is a trick to get the clicker pin in but not having it will not interfere with performance or drag settings. It is just an audible click and that is all.

The order of the drag discs was mixed up. Still haven't been able to get the the auto clutch to function properly.

Sorry about that I don't get many line counter reels down here even with the big fish trolling that is done off shore.

All of the lc's are Auto Clutch. Sorry.

1.Your Clutch Pawl is either bent or worn?
2.The Yoke is installed upside down?
3.Did you remove the ratchet Gear? Did you put it back right side up?
4. Check the Clutch Cam and the Clutch Spring for proper orientation and for wear or Broken or missing Spring.

Hope this helps. The only way that system is not working is answered by one of the above questions or comments. Nothing else. My guess the Clutch pawl is worn or your gear is upside down.

probably is the clutch pawl being worn. it also seems there is a pin in the case on the back side of the pawl that is also worn. The pawl itself is also loose in the "plate" that engages the gears. That spring in the main body is a PITA to deal with. I guess the next question is where is the best place to get parts?

Call Shimano Directly. You will need the part numbers. I do not have those parts as I do not service very many LC reels down here. I have the regular Tekota parts.

The Parts Schematic is here for your reel...

http://fish.shimano.com/media/fishing/techdocs/en/TEK500lc_v1_m56577569830498843.pdf

YOu can call them directly at:

877-577-0600

Remember they are in California and their hours are 0500-1700 Pacific Time.