25,26,and 27 monofil reels

[txangler81]

I am thinking about buying some monofil reels are they worth it. I know they can be hot-rodded a little so what kind of drag force, and what pound test of line could I expect to run on the different models.

Thanks

[Alto Mare]

I would say 8lb max and 20lb line. There isn't much improvements you could to the drags.

[Ron Jones]

Not to argue with Sal, heaven knows that's a losing proposition, but at home tonight I am seriously considering grinding a steel 155 main gear (what the monofil uses) to a hex shape and fill it with 1.4mm CF sheet. This reel has a Newell kit and aluminum spool and a stainless gear sleeve. I am cetain that with 3 disks I can get 15 or more pounds of drag. I am doing this solely as an experiment as their is no reason for a 100 sized reel to fish that much drag.

I believe these reels can have everything done to them that a surfaster can, they just have smaller main gears. I think the little monofil would be a great 20/25# reel and the bigger ones could go up to 30ish if you use braid.
Ron

[Porthos]

1. new HT100 washers (3+1)
2. Tiburon 146 frame (for a Penn 27)
3. 29L-100 spool (for a Penn 27)
4. 24-56 power handle
5. Cal's drag grease (drag stack) & Yamaha marine grease (everywhere else)
6. 12 38-8 Screws (Tib's frame holes for the stand are same depth as the post holes)
7. 98-155AT Stainless steel gear sleeve
8. 13-200 pinion

Here's the end result: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=8805.0

[SoCalAngler]

Before you buy anything wait and open up the reels to see what you have first. I bought a $10 garage sale reel and when I opened it up I found a Newell spool and steel gears, nice. I added some greased Carbontex drags and some new bars do to corrosion of the old bars.....Thanks Sal. I also added a new reel foot because of corrosion. There was some on top of the foot under the spool, you couldn't really see it but I knew it was there.

I use the reel sparingly on a old Sabre rod when I feel like going retro, so no frame for me. I was thinking about changing out the handle but then the reel looses some of that old school style. I only use 15-20 lb test on the reel anyway so I chose form over function and kept that retro look.

The reel cleaned up nicely with only a few parts changed, mainly for looks.

[txangler81]

are there any aluminum spools for these reels

[doradoben]

The surfmaster aluminum spools fit. Porthos listed the number for the narrow (29L-100). They are not discontinued, 29L-150 & 29L-200 are the others. So you can still get new ones from PennParts or  maybe search for used on the big auction site.