Had a client call me today. A rod that I refurbished for him a few years ago is fraying his line. I used the batson/forecast zirconium ring guides on this casting rod at the time. I don't use em anymore. Anyway, he said that he can hear the line coming through the guides and he can see the line being frayed. He can also feel it. He has spooled up brand new line and can still notice it. Any ideas on what could be causing this?

Cracked ring, wipe around it with a cotton ball and see where it catches

Greg,

You might ask the client if he has recently switched from Mono to Braided line. If so, it is likely that there is nothing wrong with the guides. i.e. braids will result in sound from the guides and may also seem that they are fraying, when in fact, they really aren't.

However, as the other post suggested = a test with a q tip to detect any cracks or bad spots in the guide is in order. It is quite possible that one of the guides has broken, cracked, or possibly the ceramic is completly gone. Test, check and see.
Replace the bad guide or guides.

Perhaps, it is necessary to sell the client another refurb job with different guides.

Take care
Roger

Another thing I have seen people do that ruin guides is when they hook there lures or hooks on the guide ring and not on the brace.

cracked rings sometimes are not easy to see, i had to check three times before i found it. never thought about the q tip, thats why i read this site, i learn every day

Roger, great idea on the q-tip! That really makes sense. I have had guides get "dirty". when dirty water deposits, anything that may leave a deposit on the guides. I just clean them with reel magic. It helps clean them up. But if there is a small crack, I would sure use Rogers idea. That is the tip of the month, for sure!

Kyle Robinson