The present invention is a splitting line guide that includes two guide mechanisms that are connected to one another via a driver unit that is connected to a worm shaft. In a first casting position, when a free spool clutch is depressed, the driver unit rotates forwardly. The two guide mechanisms are in turn disconnected from the driver unit. This decreases resistance on the line during casting to increase casting distance and reduce the risk of backlash during casting. When a user is ready to return the line guide to its position where the line guide mechanisms are near each other to help with spooling line, he or she may simply begin cranking a reel. This causes the driver unit to rotate rearwardly. The driver unit may then re-engage the guide mechanisms such that they are arranged closely to one another so that line can evenly be distributed on the spool without any large build up of line in any one spot on the spool.

A level winding mechanism for a dual-bearing reel includes a worm shaft, a guide member and a slide member. The guide member has a tubular shape and is disposed radially outside of the worm shaft. The slide member has a first through hole and an accommodation recess. The first through hole enables the guide member to penetrate therethrough. The accommodation recess is formed on the inner surface of the first through hole. The slide member is configured to slide along the guide member.

A torque limiting device includes a shaft member that is rotatable by torque, a first cam portion, a second cam portion and an urging member. The first cam portion is rotatably mounted to the shaft member. The second cam portion is mounted to the shaft member so as to be unitarily rotatable therewith and be movable along an axial direction of the shaft member. The second cam portion is configured to enable torque transmission between the first cam portion and the second cam portion when engaged with the first cam portion so as to be unitarily rotatable therewith. Additionally, the second cam portion is configured to disable torque transmission between the first cam portion and the second cam portion when disengaged and separated away from the first cam portion along the axial direction. The urging member urges the second cam portion toward the first cam portion.

A level winding mechanism for a dual-hearing reel is equipped with a worm shaft including intersecting spiral grooves and an engagement pin, and a torque limiting mechanism. The engagement pin engages the spiral grooves. The torque limiting mechanism limits the rotational drive force which rotates the worm shaft. At least a portion of the worm shaft is made of synthetic resin.

The present invention is a splitting line guide that includes two guide mechanisms that are connected to one another via a driver unit that is connected to a worm shaft. In a first casting position, when a free spool clutch is depressed, the driver unit rotates forwardly. The two guide mechanisms are in turn disconnected from the driver unit. This decreases resistance on the line during casting to increase casting distance and reduce the risk of backlash during casting. When a user is ready to return the line guide to its position where the line guide mechanisms are near each other to help with spooling line, he or she may simply begin cranking a reel. This causes the driver unit to rotate rearwardly. The driver unit may then re-engage the guide mechanisms such that they are arranged closely to one another so that line can evenly be distributed on the spool without any large build up of line in any one spot on the spool.

A gear mounting structure includes a worm shaft, a gear, and an elastic member. The worm shaft includes a shaft body, on the outer surface of which is formed intersecting spiral grooves, and a gear locking portion with a non-circular cross section, on at least a portion of the outer surface of which is formed a curved surface portion and a planar portion. The gear includes a gear body, on the outer surface of which are formed teeth, and to which the handle rotation is transmitted, and a boss portion protruding from the gear body and having an engagement portion engaging the gear locking portion. The elastic member is mounted so as to abut the outer surface of the boss portion of the gear, and at least a portion of the curved surface portion of the gear locking portion.

A dual-bearing reel having a level winding mechanism includes a first main body that rotatably supports one end of a spool and rotates the spool, a second main body including a gear that rotates in conjunction with rotation of the spool, a worm shaft that has the gear attached thereto and rotates together with the gear, a level wind pipe through which the worm shaft passes, and a level winder. The level wind pipe has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the gear. The second main body includes a gear housing portion for housing the gear. The gear housing portion has an opening that is larger than the gear to allow the level wind pipe to enter the opening. The dual-bearing reel also has a gap filling portion that fills a gap between the level wind pipe and an inner wall surface of the opening.

A reciprocating mechanism includes a first supporting member, a second supporting member, and a biasing member. The worm shaft includes a shaft portion, a first shaft supporting portion having a spherical portion formed in a convex spherical shape at a distal end, and a second shaft supporting portion. The first supporting member includes a first bottom portion abutting the spherical portion. The second supporting member includes a second bottom portion abutting a distal end of the second shaft supporting portion. The biasing member biases at least one of the first supporting member and the second supporting member in an axial direction.

A dual-bearing reel having a level winding mechanism includes a first main body that rotatably supports one end of a spool and rotates the spool, a second main body including a gear that rotates in conjunction with rotation of the spool, a worm shaft that has the gear attached thereto and rotates together with the gear, a level wind pipe through which the worm shaft passes, and a level winder. The level wind pipe has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the gear. The second main body includes a gear housing portion for housing the gear. The gear housing portion has an opening that is larger than the gear to allow the level wind pipe to enter the opening. The dual-bearing reel also has a gap filling portion that fills a gap between the level wind pipe and an inner wall surface of the opening.

A dual-bearing reel is attachable to a fishing rod and releases a fishing line forward. The dual-bearing reel includes a reel unit, a spool for winding the fishing line, a handle and a level wind mechanism. The spool is rotatably disposed in the reel unit. The handle is rotatably disposed on a lateral part of the reel unit. The level wind mechanism uniformly winds the fishing line onto the spool. The level wind mechanism includes a worm shaft, a guide member and a slide member. The worm shaft includes a helical groove. The guide member is disposed on an outer peripheral side of the worm shaft, and includes an opening and at least one water drain. The opening extends in a lengthwise direction of the worm shaft. The slide member slides along the guide member while engaged with the helical groove.