Increase or decrease the spring tension on your Reelcraft hose or cord reel to improve retraction performance.
When to Adjust Spring Tension
Adjust spring tension if:
- The reel won’t fully retract the hose or cord.
- It pulls back too slowly or with too little force.
- You’ve changed the hose or cord length or weight.
How to Increase Spring Tension
Increasing spring tension helps the reel pull the hose or cord in more firmly. Adding wraps of hose or cord will increase the spring tension. You can also watch our Reelcraft how-to video for step-by-step visual instructions on adjusting the spring tension for single pedestal reels.
Steps:
- Pull out 10 ft (3 m) of hose or cord.
- Feed the hose/cord back up through the roller bracket assembly until you can form a loop over the spool.
- Add 1-3 wraps around the reel spool until desired tension is achieved.
- Check tension and repeat until the desired retraction strength.
⚠️ Tip: Do not exceed the reel’s spring capacity — too much tension can damage the reel.
Special Note for Dual Pedestal Reels
You will need to remove the bumper and control handle then feed the end of the hose through the roller bracket assembly to add or remove wraps of hose from the reel. You can also watch our Reelcraft how-to video for step-by-step visual instructions on adjusting the spring tension for single pedestal reels.
How to Decrease Spring Tension
Reducing spring tension can make it easier to pull out longer hoses or cords.
Steps:
- Remove wraps from the reel spool, one at a time.
- After each wrap is removed, test retraction to make sure the tension is right.
Quick Tips
- Always test after small adjustments — one wrap can make a big difference.
- If your reel still doesn’t retract properly after tension adjustment, check the guide arm position, U-bolt placement, or contact Reelcraft support.
- Watch our Reelcraft how-to videos for additional help on maintaining and servicing your reel.