Issues with 70VS

[junior26]

Hi All,

I am having issues getting freespool on a new 70VS that I just purchased for this season. I have stripped, greased and lubed the reel for the season and cannot achieve any free spool when the drag is set at about 25lbs or more at strike. I have taken it apart a few times and can't find any problems with parts rubbing the wrong way, etc...
Since I find 25lbs unacceptable for this reel I was hoping for any suggestions I may be missing before I consider sending this in to be looked at.

Thanks,

Kevin

[John from Madison CT]

Sportfisherman is very lucky to have Penn's own Tom Blecker active on this site. I'm sure he'll answer you shortly.

[knock down]

Contact Alan Tani , I know he can help you !!!

[alantani]

kevin, here's the post on the 50 vsx

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=232.0 and the link to the

schematic for the later model 70 vs

http://store.scottsbt.com/category1....0&ClearCache=1

they are a little tricky. you have to make sure that you get every washer in order. mix anything up and it won't work right. i would start there first. alan

[junior26]

Thanks all, I'll rip her back down and try again.

[junior26]

Well I pulled her out, broke her down and put back together and I get free spool without issue. I pulled out about 20yrds at the "1" setting to try and warm it up and still am getting free spool.

Set the drag at 32lbs for strike which is about where I want it. Tested the drag here a few times and when put back in free spool and turn the handle it is spinning the spool but it stops with the slightest touch. I am getting about 37 at full.

So is this about normal for this reel? When I originally lost free spool at 25lbs a few days ago it was after spooling it with about 900yrds, testing the drag settings at strike until I was at about 35lbs and then backing off the drag knob until free spool came back right under 25lbs strike.

So final questions. Is a 5lb increase from strike to full normal or would this indicate that something still may be wrong? What is the preferred method of heating up the drag to consider the findings an accurate drag setting?

[alantani]

it all depends on the cam. when you get to these maximum settings, just a few thousanths of an inch can change your drag pressures by pounds. it will change over time because of wear, as well. usually the tolerances are "loose" enough that you can compensate, but wear to the cam is one reason that lever drag reels loose drag range over time. changing the bellevilles (or their configuration) is the quickest way to change your drag range. penn may have a bellsville set that will do exactly that. otherwise, you will have to get some bellevilles that fit and play around with different configurations. alan

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=48.0

[junior26]

Alan,

Thanks for the lesson. I'll likely just live with it for now and see how it works out. If I'm still not happy with it after the season I'll probably pm you and send it out to see if you can get better results. On avg what does it usually cost to have a bearing sleeve made?

[alantani]

if i can use my stock brass tubing, it's $10. your reel has a bearing sleeve already, though. alan

[John from Madison CT]

Alan: That was a great explanation of how drag pressure is created. I never really understood it, but you just made it very simple.