An (original) nice find, bran new

[Alto Mare]

Paul, the earlier 650-750/850SS all came with brass gears as for crosswind, main and pinion.
Later Penn introduced the 6500-7500 and 9500'
They decided to place the cast aluminum gears in those, keeping the pinion brass.
If you purchase one of those today it would be as purchasing a fortune cookie, you will need to remove the side cover and there is a good chance that you'll find the brass gears.
I believe Penn put some of the leftover brass gears in those to use them up, but at the very beginning of when the change took place.
Why would  they downgrade from brass to cast aluminum? I couldn't tell you.
I could speculate that the brass got too expensive to machine, or maybe  that the reel was too good and needed some changes soo they could have more sales...I don't know.

There are some ( as me and you) that really love these reels, but as everything else, there are some that can't stand them...good, more for us
The only issues I've found with these beauties is with the dogs and the inner side of the pinion, I still consider it normal wear and tear.

The stock dogs do fail, but we now have stainless steel dogs and ratchets.
The brass pinion, having the stainless steel shaft constantly going up and down through it, gets worn a bit at times, this  happens on reels that are fished hard.
It isn't terrible, the reel will still function well, just a little extra movement with the spool.

It is not a problem for me, I use this one on my personal reel:


Later Paul.

Sal

[Fisherman Paul]

Spot on Sal, got to the bottom of it, at the very
beginning you are 100% correct the 650ss,750ss
and 850ss all had the 3 brass gears, the part
is of the bronze/brass crosswind gear is
the same even the serial numbers are the
same 231-750 Number after it (can't remember)
but the white metal and the bronze/brass crosswind gear
are the same part just different materials.

Just ordered 3 more 231-750 (in bronze/brass)
and going to stick them in my other 750ss
and my 850ss, 3 full spec reels, it is not
as some think it goes on the handle, black
or chrome but the 3 bronze/brass gears.

Learning all the time.

 

[Fisherman Paul]

3 x 231-750 (Bronze, original) crosswind gears arrived today,
had one in one of my 750ss so just a matter of putting
in the other 2 in my other 750ss reel and my 850ss reel.

I have 1 as a spare for a future 750ss if a bran new one
comes up

So that's 2 x 750ss and 1 x 850ss reels with the three amigos lol.

1. Original Bronze main gear
2. Original Bronze pinion gear
3. Original Bronze crosswind gear

Thanks Sal for your huge knowledge on these reels,
they also feel super smooth.