Fishing Reel Service

I got this apart, and it’s not that the brass shaft is bent, but it’s worn. It’s also starting to round off at the “D” such that the handle’s not staying put.

Any how this appears to be a genuine American made Penn 10 “Mag”.

I have a proper set of tools for gunsmithing and so getting this apart was no trick at all. Getting it back together will be only a little more difficult. I used penetrating oil to clean everything but the glass cleaner takes any rust off the chrome. This reel didn’t have any rust to speak of. Just a spot & a lot of smut.

To make sure I would get things back in order I put a zip tie thru the clutch pack, gear, and thrust washer.

I also took a few photos and watched the obligatory YouTube video.

 

Friday bump

 

I was able to get new parts from Mystic in New Jersey for only $25 including tax & shipping.

I was pretty amazed at the parts availability for this reel. This design is probably 100 years old now.

 

My parts came Yesterday and my reel is back in action.

If you get frustrated easily, this is a job I would pay someone else to do. Even with an exploded diagram and the educational YouTube video, it is still a tricky business to overhaul this reel.

I only had to take it apart about four times until I got everything installed correctly and tuned up a bit.

It’s easy to get the clutch discs out of alignment assembling it, and also I had a part upside down. You can see it in the picture of part 3-10 above: a little lever that runs the ratchet. There’s another part that locates the pinion gear and I took the reel apart once to reverse that, as I thought it would make the reel a little smoother. It had a slight wear pattern in it. Also the part had a slight cupping from the stamping process.

After lots of cleaning and oiling and greasing and I am really happy with the way this works. The clicker is really loud though and I was thinking I might trim it down a little bit.

I have a “special” fishing rod I’m going to put it on, which is a 1972 Fenwick with all metal hardware & cork handles. Unfortunately it snapped. I’m going to get another Fenwick rod and do a transplant.

New carbon fiber Fenwicks are definitely nicer but they have plastic threads on the handle. This was my first fishing rod, and I am going to rescue it for sentimental reasons, and because it’s not plastic.

 

Bump — stop procrastinating, fishing season is upon us!

 

Thank you @Hook78, I ended up getting an Avet from him

 

Awesome! That whole site is full of great deals.

 

The lacing and threading didn't come out perfect, but it just needs to cure a few days. I have other rigs for fishing ready to go.

 

Reels serviced this week:
Penn International 50W
Penn International 50W 2 speed
Penn International 50TW
Penn International 50VSW 2 speed
Penn International 80W
Penn Squall 30LD
Daiwa BG 4000
Shimano Stradic 3000FI
Daiwa Fuego 2500SH
Daiwa Fuego 2000SH
Offshore Angler Seafire

 

Such great service deserves a free bump.

 

Thanks!

 

Bump

 

Any tricks or tools for spooling up new line?

I've always been jelly of the tackle shop tools. I see a few manual tools on Amazon and such that look interesting, but of course not sure how well they'd actually perform.

 

Basically what it comes down to is you either have a $500+ electric spooling machine or you don’t.

I personally have no issue with just laying a spool of line on the floor and reeling it right onto the rod/reel. If you have a spinning reel just make sure the line is coming off the spool counter clockwise so you don’t get twist. I wear a glove or hold a rag or paper towel and grip both the line and the rod with one hand. This ensures tension on the line so you don’t get a loose wrap on the spool. A wet rag is even better as line wraps on the spool best when wet.

The cheap plastic winding stations are pretty worthless. The one piece of gear that I’ve actually found useful is this one:

$34 Piscifun Fishing Line Winder Spooler Machine Spinning Reel Spool Spooling Station System Automatic Spools Holder

https://www.amazon.com/Piscifun-Fis...gid=pla-569747016360&ref=&adgrpid=62425943912

That’s about all the advice I have. If spooling a large reel, having a shop do it with a professional machine is totally worth it. Especially for a conventional with no level wind to control the lay.

 

Having a shop spool my reels yields better results and cost is about the same since I'm paying bulk spool prices and only pay for what I need.

 

Bump…who needs their reels brought back to like new condition?

 

I was just up on the Lost Coast at Usal beach for 2 weeks, fishing everyday for surf perch. Had some pretty good days catching redtails up to 16''. The pelicans were diving on schools of smelt late in the day and some days would be pretty close to shore. One day I saw a large fish come out of the water where the smelt were, so I grabbed by longer surf rod and the Penn SS Hook worked on. Tied on a large Hopkins and flung it out there, second cast and slam, fish on. 10 minutes later landed a 38'' King Salmon from the beach. Must say that old reel preformed flawlessly, drag was so smooth. Only had a 10# fluorocarbon leader too. So thanks Hook for making that 35+yr old Penn be better than new. Oh and fish was released.

 

Thats’s awesome! Sounds like a great time in a beautiful place. Remind me, did I send upgrade that reel with new carbontec drag washers?

 

yeah had those new washers. I was kinda worried because I had never used braid before till I respooled all those reels with some and unsure of my braid to fluoro connection. But the smooth drag didn't overly stress that knot.

 

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