The Case of the Odd Penn 501

[EccentricRuss]

So, can anyway tell me what's odd about this narrow spool Penn 501???
 





russ

[alantani]

501 side plate on a 500 frame and spool? 

[EccentricRuss]

Alan,

Can't fool you!

I thought I ordered a 501, but I'm a newbie.  So this arrived and it took me a while to figure out what was going on.  I know that things like this happen a lot, but still struck a nerve.

Fortunately in this case, it's a boon right?  I mean I could have wanted a 500 with the greater capacity and received a 501 instead...

Russ

[Shark Hunter]

That looks like another fixer upper Russ. That spool look pretty rough. Goodwill again?

[handi2]

Hey Russ,

If you need any new old stock parts I should have them. Especially the shiny stuff and side plates.

Keith

[EccentricRuss]

Yes. From the same Goodwill lot as many others.  This one is not as bad as the 180 was in the way of corrosion, so I have hopes the Simple Green will clean up the spool well.

All in all, these are all turning out to have interesting stories that I wish I knew.  All the reels came from either Seattle, WA (my Goodwill reels) or the Central California Coast (one Ebay lot).

Russ

[alantani]

i've gotten lazy.  my grinder has a stone on one side and a wire brush on the other.  i put a light coat of grease on the brass coated parts and then clean them up as lightly as possible with the wire brush.  it actaually comes out looking pretty good.

[Bryan Young]

after removing the corrosion, if it doesn't feel smooth, I have put the bars in my drill press and wet sand with a lubricant then flip to smooth out the bumps.

[fIsHsTiiCkS]

I dont have any fancy tools. Good idea is to soak all chrome parts in white vinegar for about 2 hours and all corrosion and dirt for the most part wipes right off. Then 2000 grit sand paper takes everything to a smooth surface. Lastly a nice chrome polish helps the shine in brass showing in the pitting. The way i clean up the older beat up ones.