Bellviles

[TheReelShop]

How do you determine if the reel bellvilles are bad? Where do you buy the bellvilles from and are they measured the same as bearings? Any insight to this is appreciated.  Thanks guys

Also for example a bellville from an international, can you purchase the same measurement bellville with a higher tension? or one size means a certain level of tension?

[Reel 224]

Bryan would be the man to ask. 

Joe

[johndtuttle]

How do you determine if the reel bellvilles are bad? Where do you buy the bellvilles from and are they measured the same as bearings? Any insight to this is appreciated.  Thanks guys

Also for example a bellville from an international, can you purchase the same measurement bellville with a higher tension? or one size means a certain level of tension?

Generally speaking when the drag seems to no longer have the range it used to have and "ramps up" very quickly then you know the bellevilles are worn (or placed in the reel improperly). The most common is fatigue from the drag being left cranked down and then stored for a long time. This causes a loss of the spring affect they have that allows a gradual transfer of force as drag is dialed up.

As far as different bellevilles the guys who are real experts on working on Internationals may have some hot rod techniques I don't know, but in general, a stock international with a flat drag plate ("blue printed") is most likely fine as is unless you need something specialized for light line class record seeking.

[Tightlines667]

TheRe are typically heavy (thicker metal), and light (thinner metal) Belleville washers.  These usually have different part numbers, but not always (like when they replace the older style ones with newer ones in the same basic model reel... tbis happened with the Penn International 130 and 130H).

I typically replace all Bellevilles when I service a reel, just because they don't cost much, and you get back to the 'factory new' drag curve.  

If the Bellevilles show signs of corrosion or the height of the stack us less then new stock.. they should be replaced.  However, most reel models have a little wiggle room here, and Bellevilles that have lost some of their springiness will continue to function, and the small changes in drag curve (usually more pronounced on the bottom end), can be negligable.  

To further complicate matters the same Bellevilles (same part number) can and usually do have minute differences in their thickness then can affect overall stack height, and the coorseponding drag curve.  I like to keep plenty in stock, and just aim to match the stock stack height and config, when servicing reels.  Sometimes wear in other parts, or using differing thickness Bellevilles may require the addition of shims to make up the difference.  It really is trial and error here though.  

Too bad no one has a published list of all stock Belleville height specs for the most common reel models, as this would prove useful here.  As I said every reel model has a different amount of wiggle room in this department.

Hope I didn't confuse matters too much,

[Tightlines667]

How do you determine if the reel bellvilles are bad? Where do you buy the bellvilles from and are they measured the same as bearings? Any insight to this is appreciated.  Thanks guys

Also for example a bellville from an international, can you purchase the same measurement bellville with a higher tension? or one size means a certain level of tension?

Generally speaking when the drag seems to no longer have the range it used to have and "ramps up" very quickly then you know the bellevilles are worn (or placed in the reel improperly). The most common is fatigue from the drag being left cranked down and then stored for a long time. This causes a loss of the spring affect they have that allows a gradual transfer of force as drag is dialed up.

Exactly.

Don't store your lever drags with the drag engaged.  It will fatigue the bellevilles, and drag spring (to a lesser extent), and degrade your drag curve... especially on the low end.  However, the preset adjust, and built in wiggle room, allow you to maintain a decent drag range, and good top end even with worn Bellevilles.

The risk of replacing with new is if the new ones happen to give you a stack height that is too great, resulting in not enough space, and loss of freespool.  This us why I like to keep extras on hand.

The bigger issue is often times these washers trap moisture, causing corrosion to the washers, right spool bearing, and can cause marring on the spool shaft which can cause it to 'hang up' on the spool bearing.  This can greatly affect the drag (and overall reel) performance.

I say...

"Any doubt...
swap 'em out."

[TheReelShop]

Wow thanks for all the info. its good to have in mind.

So you guys stock on bellvilles are from Penn themselves?

Anything on Mcmaster?

[Reel 224]

Wow thanks for all the info. its good to have in mind.

So you guys stock on bellvilles are from Penn themselves?

Anything on Mcmaster?

Try https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Home.aspx you will the Penn parts you need there.

Joe

"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

[TheReelShop]

Wow thanks for all the info. its good to have in mind.

So you guys stock on bellvilles are from Penn themselves?

Anything on Mcmaster?

Try https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Home.aspx you will the Penn parts you need there.

Joe



Thanks Joe!

[Ohrichie]

Mcmaster Carr has complete tables of American and metric.

[TheReelShop]

How do you determine if the reel bellvilles are bad? Where do you buy the bellvilles from and are they measured the same as bearings? Any insight to this is appreciated.  Thanks guys

Also for example a bellville from an international, can you purchase the same measurement bellville with a higher tension? or one size means a certain level of tension?

Awesome Thanks!