Yeah it sounds like air but that should have purged out by now. Maybe not.
try making the handle longer. that way you will have finer control. the longer the handle the further you have to move it to shift the spool. simpler fix for now . Just another thought.

I know a lot about a lot of things BUT I still have a lot to learn.
Life is what you make of it. So, why not make a working machine to make it easier.