Product Description
Mitchell 81012 Shim – Precision Tuning for Head & Drive Alignment
The Mitchell 81012 Shims are critical precision components used to adjust the tolerances between the rotating head (rotor) and the main drive gear. In the world of vintage Mitchell maintenance, these shims are the "secret" to removing handle play, eliminating gear grind, and ensuring that the rotor spins with zero lateral movement.
Over decades of use, the brass or alloy shims in a Mitchell reel can compress or wear down, leading to "gear slop." Using the 81012 shim set allows you to restore the factory-spec "tightness" and smoothness of the reel's internal drive train.
Product Specifications
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Part Number: 81012
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Component Type: Adjustment Shims / Spacers
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Material: High-grade Brass or Stainless Steel (Micro-gauged)
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Function: Adjusts the "shimming" or depth of the pinion gear and main drive gear to ensure perfect gear meshing.
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Origin: Genuine Mitchell Engineering (France)
When to Use These Shims
You likely need the 81012 shims if your reel exhibits any of the following symptoms:
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Back-and-Forth Play: The handle has excessive "slop" before the gears engage.
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Rotor Wobble: The rotating head feels loose on the main body.
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Gear Noise: A "growling" or "grinding" sound caused by gears being too tight or too far apart.
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Binding: The reel becomes difficult to turn at a specific point in the rotation.
Compatible Models
The 81012 shims are the universal standard for the planetary gear systems found in the following Mitchell series:
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Mitchell 300 / 301 (Classic series)
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Mitchell 300A / 301A
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Mitchell 300C / 301C (Ball-bearing variants)
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Mitchell 330 / 331 (Otomatic series)
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Mitchell 400 / 410 / 440 (High-speed and Match series)
Technical Application & Lubrication
Shimming a Mitchell is a delicate process of trial and error. You add or remove shims from the drive gear shaft or the pinion gear seat until the gear mesh is perfect.
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Installation Tip: When adding shims, always re-assemble the side plate and tighten the screws fully before testing. A reel may feel smooth when the side plate is loose, but bind once the screws are tightened.
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Lubrication: During the shimming process, apply Deuthlon Reel Grease to the gear teeth. Its "Dust-Shield" properties ensure that even with tight tolerances, the metal-on-metal friction is minimized.
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Pivot Points: Use a drop of Deuthlon Reel Oil on the shim surfaces themselves. This prevents the shims from sticking together or creating drag against the housing.
Why Choose Genuine Mitchell 81012?
Mitchell gears are cut with specific angles that require micro-adjustments. The Mitchell 81012 shims are manufactured to the exact inner and outer diameters required to fit over the drive gear boss without interfering with the housing. Using generic washers can lead to internal scoring or uneven wear on the main gear teeth.
