Well I was putting new line on it today and somehow I broke the drag. I tested it to see if it would still work but if you cast it out you can't even reel it in. Guess I have to get a new one.

Good thing Zebcos don't cost that much.

that is the reason i dont buy zebco 202 or 404's anymore. i like getting a little better reel. seems to last longer for me.

they're like bic lighters; use them then throw away.

I beg to differ. Everyday I see Zebco reels that are priceless. They are an old Zebco 66 and an old Zebco 33 displayed prominently on shelves in my home office beside several vintage Garcia, Daiwa and Shimano reels. The Zebco 66 I received for Christmas, 1958 from my grandfather with the more expensive Zebco 33 following on my next birthday. Many hundreds of memories were forever archived in my mind with those magic reels, while I was growing up. I finished school, went to war, came home, went to work and raised my own family. Both my sons used the old 66 and the old 33 to learn to fish, before progressing to more difficult casting reels. Three grandsons and three grand daughters were next in line to learn the mysteries and wonder of fishing on those old reels and they have now progressed to casting reels. The old 66 and 33, like an old Timex watch ad "Take a lickin and keep on tickin." They now sit patiently, as operational as the day they were new (albeit, like their owner a little battered and bruised), waiting to teach the joy of fishing to great grandchildren. Now, it never fails when a son comes to visit or to go fishing, he doesn't reverently pickup one of the reels from the shelf and say "Dad, remember when we........"

yea but the 202 and 404 are junk, the old 33 were real quality. it was one of my first reels.

oldputy,
You're fortunate to have some of the "originals" that were "built to last". The new ones have plastic parts and are just like stated above, "throw aways". I loved my old 33, but buy one today and you'll be lucky to have ONE good season before its plastic parts give up!

Them old 202's ROCK! I cut my teeth on one!

I have several 202's from my kids to grandkids..
I'm always repairing one from parts of another..
Best reels for youngsters who are a little rough
or careless on equipment

The early 202's and 404's were tanks. I still have an excellent little 1963 that I use each week and a 1960 that's still in it's "ZeeBee" box. For what they were designed to do, you just can't top the early ones period. It's the brand new overseas ones that are 100% disposable junk.

As old metal Zebco goes, my personal favorite is my stainless "Super 22". It has a real honest to God THUMB drag like the the 11's and the first spin casters did.
Looking back I wish more stuff nowdays was made like the old Zebco reels were. Simple, tough and dependable.

ZEBCO ZERO HOUR BOMB COMPANY?

Yep, at first they were the Zero Hour Bomb company out of Tulsa and then they changed it to "Zebco" a little later.

Flatcats, i gave away, one of those old aluminum/round ball type of reels about a year ago? Someone told me, it was an early 50's? I just wanted someone to adopt it?

well I was looking at wal-mart an the 404s are 10bucks. thinking about geting the 33.

The 33's are great reels


[img]http://www.globalfisher.com/phpbb/album_pic.php?pic_id=1181[/img]
[img]http://www.globalfisher.com/phpbb/album_pic.php?pic_id=1180[/img]

Anyone care to differ?

Chad

Warren, save your money. The "new" zebco's are made in China, and they are worthless. I have several recent reels I got for the kids, and man they are not worth it. I was so dissappointed in them, I tried to call the Zebco 800 #, and it rings off the wall. Its like calling a closed factory, were no one works. I would get a BPS catalog, and get something there. At least, if you can exchange it for something else. I did not mean to RIP zebco, but that new "chinese" stuff is total junk. Have a good day!