Never had any problems with the reel until Sat. Picked it up and the anti reverse is not working. Sometimes when I reel the bait up it will just free spool back down when I let go of the handle. Thumb bar engages and disengages perfect. What is the deal?

Anti Reverse Roller Bearing is out. If you had it serviced improperly then they could have greased it which will cause it to fail or it is just worn out. It does not get grease.

it is ruined... I will send you a prepaid shipping label so i can "recycle" it for you...

naa, like CTS said... your one way is out. Cheap fix.

What a great guy helping out his fellow fishermen.

When was the last time it was serviced?

Like Coast Tackle Service said, I would replace the anti reverse bearing and give the reel a good cleaning.

If you are not comfortable doing it yourself I would send it to the Tackle Smith. I have sent him a couple of reels and they came back better than new(smoother than when I bought them)

I don't know which reel you have but the AR Bearing is really pretty simple to change.

Remove you handle, Star Drag wheel,drag spring washers and friction washer and you can see the AR Bearing in the sideplate. Carefully remove the cover and do not disturb anything inside the reel. Hold the cover in your hand and take a socket that is the right size (I have a nut driver that I use for most reels it is 13MM (I think, heck I used to know but it fits most) and push the bearing out from the inside. Take the new bearing and grease only the frame where the bearing goes back in (DO NOT GREASE THE BEARING ON THE INSIDE)and insert it till it stops. The tube looking thing with the tabs on it is the Inner tube (it acts as a Race). It should probably be changed in the process. Sit it into the slots on the slotted washer on top of the main gear and slide the cover back on and tighten it down. Then replace your spring washers with alternate cup install as () or )( it does not really matter, put on your friction washer and then your star drag but first grease the inside of the star drag and the shaft threads, then your handle washer, handle and nut/Cover.