In lieu of rigid bars, a tillage reel utilizes a number of elongated flexible elements such as lengths of link chain that are spaced circumferentially around the reel and extend axially thereof. The backing ring assembly has an annular body affixed to the fillet of the journal and a locking ring for further affixing the annular body into position on the journal. The casing has a lid which can be removed, after placement and flush fitting of the flooring to the casing, for insertion of the floor elements. A cylindrical housing is incorporated with this demountable design to provide ease of use and economy of production. The elements or particles may have a self-tessellating geometry to facilitate formation of a single or multi-layer barrier or cover and be made or coated with a material that resists fuel wetting and degradation, such as a highly fluorinated polymer including polytetrafluoroethylene. The rods are coupled at one end to a fixed base that is coupled to a rotor hub, and at the other end to a tuning weight.