Novice question for Penn 8500SS

[coores14]

okay, there's probably a very simple answer to this. I was just given an old Penn 8500SS. It isn't in horrible shape, just some chipping on the handle and I had to buy a new drag knob. well, today I put the new knob on and was playing around a bit with it when I noticed that the drag was making no sound. I mean, none of the click noise that would normally get any fisherman excited when a fish hits. Is this an indication of a drag not working properly? or would it purely be the clicker that might be bad, leaving the reel in fine working order otherwise?
forgive me, for while I'm an experienced fisherman, I'm not experienced with reel mechanics. I can take 'em apart and apply lube and what not, but that's about it!

[coores14]

okay, well, i figured it out. like i thought, very simple. i asked the question before i took anything apart. all it was was the spring mechanism on the backside of the spool. the screw was so tight that it wasn't allowing the click tongue to move any. i soaked it with wd-40 for a minute, removed it, cleaned it, and put it back in. now the reel "clicks" like i expect it to.
only problem i see now, however, is that if i tighten the screw all the way down, it again freezes that tongue in place. in order for there to be movement, i have to loosen the screw enough that i can see it spin a bit each time the tongue moves. i've gotta believe that over time it will back all the way out and things might come to a grinding halt at the most inopportune time! is there something that i need to do in order to seat that screw down tight enough yet still allow the spring and click tongue to do its thing?

[Marlinmate]

try lubing the click tongue on the top and bottom with some Penn grease or equivalent. This tongue should be "free floating" with nothing hindering it's movement.

Also, clean the screw of all piting/corrosion so that the click tongue rides smoothly on the screw.

Maybe some medium strength loctite product on the screw to keep it from backing out?

Handles are still available for this reel if you need me to bring one down??

[coores14]

haven't had the question up for more than twenty minutes and who answers first? my brother.
yeah, i was thinking maybe a little grease on the top and bottom of tongue might free it up more. i'll have to check the schematic again, but i think there is also a washer of some type that goes under the tongue. on my reel, it is all one piece, perhaps corrosion holding it together.
i also considered some loctite, will look into it.
they have some power handles for the reel at pennparts, but for 23 bucks plus shipping, i'm okay with the handle it has. shoot, the new drag knob was almost 10 bucks and then nearly 8 for shipping. for a little knob. oh well.... at least it looks better now.