I have a Lews Mach II Speed Spool spinning reel in size 100 which is difficult to initiate reeling like something out of alignment inside the reel. Once it starts reeling, it seems fine. I have had 6 lb Nanofil with 8 lb Seaguar Red Label leader to primarily used to fish a Ned Rig setup in rocky water. Over the last 3 years it has had about 1000 hang ups where I jerk and jerk until the Ned Rig pops free, the hook bends or the leader pops.

I also have (2) Quantum Accurist 10 spinning reels which both developed a wobble about a year after switching from 6 lb Trilene XL monofilament to Nanofil 6 lb. and PowerPro 2 lb. Braid. The wobble doesn’t occur when reeling in a 1/8 oz twister tail jig but can be felt slightly with a 1/4 oz twister tail jig. The wobble continued when I switched back to 6 lb. Trilene XL monofilament. The Quantum reels have not had many hang ups as they were primarily used for schooling Sandbass. They did catch hundreds of Sandbass before developing the wobble issue.

Is braid overpowering the small reel internals?
Has anyone else experienced similar issues?
I know it’s not cost effective it to take these reels to a professional to have them cleaned and/or have parts replaced.

close the bail manually, see if that helps...

I do close the bail manually. It’s habit now.

The reel should be fine unless you got the drag hammered down hard for like combat fishing. You rig something up for combat fishing I understand, I have several setup for fishing cattails and heavy timber, but I use my bigger more heavy built reels and on a heavy stick.

I have not tore down a Lews reel, but if you have been hammering that reel a lot you may something in it bent but not broken yet. You might have a look see inside it if your good at that sort of thing, if not find help on the teardown.

So I had nothing to lose by taking it apart. The insides look ok. I don’t see any cheap plastic gears or anything. As expected, it is not going back together. Anyone want a Lews Mach II Speed Spool MH2-100 for parts. The spool, spool cap, handle, and bail are in good condition. The 6 lb Nanofil is at the end of its useful life.
FREE. Pickup in Flower Mound.
All the parts are in a zip lock bag. I haven’t lost anything - yet.

Maybe I should set up a part-time gig as a fishing reel repairman. No job takes me more than 5 minutes. My skill set includes respooling line, adjusting the drag, swapping the handle from left to right side of reel and finally: identifying the reel as a “Parts Reel” after I strip some screws and lose some washers.

If you didn't find something bent or broke, was there any lube in it? Maybe it was just to dry inside the reel. I have always thought the Lews reels were made well.

It looked well made. There was grease on the gears. I think something was just lightly out of alignment. It was probably jerked 10,000 times trying to get a Ned Rig unhooked off the rocks. I always thought I would break the rod, not the reel. I did a lot of fishing during Covid.

The sad thing is, I have another one slightly larger - the 200 series with 10lb braid and I could feel the gears while reeling in a 13" Sandbass on Sunday morning. I had tightened down the drag to pull in a big one earlier that morning, it turned out to be a Soft-shell turtle. The reel later recovered and the gear sensation went away. I am not expecting it to last too long.

If you felt those gears like that once I would not expect it to be long for this earth either. I am just guessing here, but the sprag bearing would be what takes the beating like what you have explained. That is the bearing that gives us the instant anti-reverse.

If you wanted to try a rebuild it, you might r&r the sprag bearing, clean and lube and see what you have. If it was me, I know that is what I would do lol. I am a gearhead and my pointed head wouldn't let me just toss it in a box without trying. That being said, if you can get the sprag...

I am not motivated to open it up since I don’t have a good track record of “fixing” the internals of fishing reels. I have 3 other spinning reels in the 2500 size so I am not in a repair or replace situation. I plan on easing the drag back and see how it goes.