Old Zebco 33

I grabbed an old fishing pole off my parent’s back porch (covered) a few months ago. It’s got a zebco 33 from the 90s on it. Still works, but needs a good cleaning and fresh lube. I sprayed the gears with WD40. Tomorrow I’ll have access to an ultrasonic. I’m debating between cleaning it in water or ethanol. I’m not trying to do a fancy restoration, just want to make it functional. Any advice?

Use something besides WD-40. Those old 33s were tough but I bought a new one for my nephew last year and it was junk.

I know the new stuff is crap.

I've worn out some honey holes with that old joker. A 33 ain't rocket science........just lube it and go.

An ultrasonic with plain parts cleaner is what I use on all of my reels. Every one of my reels work better than they do new because I mod the piss out of them lol

WD 40 then add vasoline to the gears and it will work for 30 more years.lol

Thing I noticed messing around with my wife’s Zebcos is they have a slow gear ratio. You ain’t bringing nothing in fast with em.

All set.

Easy cleaning with a strong solvent. You dont want to mess up the stickers on it.

Nice old reel! I grew up on those. Don’t forget to flip on the bait clicker if you really want to catch fish. 🤣

Found this one at my Grandpa's. He passed about 30 years ago. Never been opened.

Thats sweet right there Oltimer!

My first Zebco was a 202 & little pistol grip rod. It came from the green stamp store on Quintard in Anniston. Man that was like having 2 Christmas in the same year!

I have several of the ol 33's, even have my first zebco 600.

That's all we used 30-40 years ago fishing for flounder on Dauphin Island. I still have a dozen of them.

Have a buddy that still uses a few for inshore fishing

I remember zebco 33 hawgs was the bees knees for catfishing when i was a kid!

Yep

Now y'all got me bidding on ebay trying to re-live my childhood.

That's gotta be worth some big $ to a collector. I still fish with a couple 33's. They are great for panfishing with light baits but the retrieve ratio is really slow.

A quick eBay search shows used ones going for $25-$105.

Whatchy do is..an pay close attention…take it..an set it right in front of the pad of the firs good size dozer you come across..let it get rolled over 2 or 3 times..then..swing a 20lb sledge at it..just to make sure its ded…then go buy you almost anything else..preferrably a good quality spinnin reel or castin reel..thats how you care for a zebco

Correction. Cleaning revealed a date; 1989.

Zebcos are great for bedded crappie. The slow gear ratio crawls a very small bait perfectly at the right speed, which is SLOW. Can’t give away all my secrets though.

I have this Zebco Spinner Model 33 in my collection. Believe it dates to late 50's; works like new.

Caught many a bass out of my paw paws pond in front of his house using those. That’s all he ever used. I still
Think of him now every time I see one. Good memories

My first was one of the "El-Cheapo" BLACK Plastic Cased Zebco at about age 5....(I'm 64). Then about age 8 got a Mitchell 300 Open Face......Still have/use it along with my late Dad's!!

My grandfather claims to have purchased the first zebco 33 in Baldwin county in the mid 50’s. He said his buddies laughed at him until they saw how it worked.

Yup good reel still

Still have mine my Grandpa got me as my 1rst reel . It was also the 1rst reel he bought my son . They to me are the perfect beginner reel for ponds and creeks . Makes me want to put some new line on mine and give the Baitcaster a rest one day soon . By the way I still have 3 of my Grandpas 33's and to Omega Ones . He was a Zebco man . Prize possessions !

Had a good evening before the storms got too close. Got the Zebco cleaned up. Took it to the Mary Carters Paint Store in Cullman and they replaced a couple parts, lubed it, and put line on for $5. Same Mary Carters from the Hank Jr. song (I’ve got Rights). Anyways, Hayden caught the first fish on the combo in 25 years. I got one too. Good times!