Im still using one as a primary. I and everyone else has birdneted it even being careful. It doesent happen on dry land because there is no water to float it over the drum. I wish the shaft was longer so I could insert a tethered cotter pin in it to remove the drum underwater. It would seem the tolerance between the drum and frame could be tighter and avoid all this. Im thinking of epoxying a piece of metal to the bottom of the frame right over the drum with feeler guage tolerances. There would have to be 2, one at the front and one the back but it would seem to work. Now why isnt the tolerances tighter to the drum from the factory? I like the reel for a primary but prefer a lower profile handle[sidewinder] to swim with. Any Mcgyvers out there with similar ideas for old reel improvement?