Penn Take Down Today

[thetackletrap]

I finally decided today to take down the Penn 30's and redo them. I got all the parts soking and breaking down the salt and old grease. Tomorrow I'll be scrubing them down and then regreasing what needs to be greased and put back together.

While the parts are soaking I resurface the drag plates and instal the new ones that finaly needed to be replaced. Also I go and put in new screws where the other ones have been used to much and the heads are rounding out. There is nothing worse then trying to take out a 5 year old screw when the slot for the driver is opened up and then you have salt holding the screw tight. I don't like drilling and tapping that much!!

Oh boy now the little reels to go. Can't wait. Then putting all the line back on, anyone for hire? LOL At least it isn't in the middle of the season and I need the reels done by tomorrow.

[MakoMike]

TT,
Try srpaying them with corrosion block and let them sit for a while before you take them apart. Its also, IMHO a good idea to use corrosion block grease on the inside.

[Graceland]

Did you get the new lubed carbon fiber drags? Also you should be able to remedy your screw problem by replacing them all with the new torx head that Penn uses on their VSW series.

[thetackletrap]

I'm gonna use the old style screw heads because that is what I have for now until they run out, then I'll go with the new style. The drags in the 30's were all good so I'm using the same ones again. I just wanted to clean up the plates for some extra insurance.

MMike is that spray water proof? I plan on using a water proof lithium grease for the gears. I've used it before and it held up great for me. This is a prime example of why to wash your reels on the last trip. I was in a rush and did not wash the 30's. The 50's that got washed well came apart just fine and did not have the green salt buildup.

[MakoMike]

TT,
I don't think the corrosion block spray is waterproof, but it works like magic.The grease may be waterproof, I don't know.

[RUGGERDUDE]

Man Trap, you are quite the well rounded angler! How often do you teardown your reels for servicing? I have some Penn 50's and 30's. I would love to be able maintain them properly without depending on someone else. Keep the posts coming Bro' I'm learning something everyday!
Will

[thetackletrap]

Thanks man, I take that with honor. But I have a long way to go to compete with some of these guys on this site. Actually my first experience taking apart a reel was a Lew Childre bait caster when I was around 15 years old. Well.......that reel still doesn't work right, but I keep it for memmories.

What I'm getting at is that I just dove into it. I just take it apart and put it back together the same way. If its a new reel design it just takes longer to do it.

If you are gonna take them apart I suggest putting each piece on a table in order that you take them apart. I try to keep all the handle and side plates in one area. The other half of the reel plates I put in another pile. The last thing I do is keep the gears in order they came off. The fun part is when you knock the piles over and you just put them back from scratch. Good luck man and give it a try.

[RUGGERDUDE]

Thanks, I'll let you know how it goes. Any idea what these new drags are all about? Is it worth it to use a set of these, instead of the previous drag style? How often do you tear them down?
Will

[Graceland]

The new drags are sort of a copy of the Shimano LRS. Upgrades your 30 to 50 class drag, and your 50 to 80 class drags. Also, just like the Shimano they are lubricated composites vice the old HT-100's. You will also be able to get free spool with a much higher set strike.

[RUGGERDUDE]

Thanks Duane, Is it worth it to "upgrade"?