Hey everyone! I finally ordered supplies from Mudhole to start building again. I have two questions regarding the CRB Special IM6 5'6" rod kit.

The reel seat is a 17mm, not a usual 16mm. I am wanting to replace the foregrip with a tapered rubber winding check, and I ordered 16mm in various ID sizes. The 7mm fits, but it doesn't look right. I have a basic 17mm vinyl winding check that cleans up the odd look, so I'm thinking I will do that. Haso anyone done something like this? And would I just use 5 minute epoxy to secure it with the reel seat?

The next question is the spline. It seems as though there is a spline/resistance point on both sides of the blank, straight across from each other. I checked it with and without rear grip on it. Anyone experience this before?

Not sure I understand the winding check issue, if it looks right, do it, and yes, 5 min epoxy is fine. I seldom use winding checks, but used to use the vinyls. what I would do was to set them with the epoxy as you propose, then when finishing the decorative winding that is right in front of them, finish the check also. Never had an issue doing that, and they almost disappear in the epoxy filet.

RE the spline, yes, I've seen that. Many builders ignore the spline and build on the straightest side when viewed from above. Or you can build on either one of the splines, or even off the splines if you want. You'll get a lot of opinions on that subject.

I researched the spline and I guess it's not as uncommon as I thought. I figured out the winding check issue, as well. Can I post a picture to this thread or do I need to go to the picture gallery?

Picture gallery. Hit the "photos" button above.

Well I was wrong :/

The secondary winding check won't stay in place even when I tried to glue it. It's not a big gap so I'm thinking I can just do a thread wrap to cover the tapered winding check up to the front of the reel seat. I am posting a picture in the gallery, any ideas would be great! Thanks everyone for all the help so far!

There is a rubber plug that Pacific Bay supplies to insert into the end of the nylon type seats, both in size 16 and 18. You can easily bore a hole in it to fit the blank and then simply wrap right up to it. It's a much neater and more trim looking solution than what you have now, although you can make what you have work by simply wrapping a band of thread to the fore of the reel seat and sliding the winding hosel over the top of the thread.

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I get it now, Miles. Don't the Batson decorative winding checks, the Fuji ones, and the ones on Mudhole all fit a size 16 seat and can be ordered in specific sizes for the blank?

You can try a wrap of thread under that check to see if it tighens it up If A is too small then try D

Bill - willierods.com