wrote:
Im on my second extension cord reel of the this style:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

Have a Home Depot version and this craftsman version. But both have
been marginally effective. In both cases a) they seem to stall on auto
rewind half way and require repeated tugging and repulling out to get
going again and b) they never quite pull the entire cord back in
without getting hung up (always leave a couple feet).

Is there such thing as one that really wors? ;^)

Yes there is but they are a lot more than the two you bought.
http://tinyurl.com/mauwv

You might try taking one of them apart and lubing everything up and/or
tightening the spring one revolution. Wear glasses and gloves if you
attempt this, the spring is much more wiley than a that of a lawn mower.