Cleaning stock grease from new Penn drag plate/drag washer

[Wayne Feagley]

Hi All,
Thanks to Scott's Bait I have my new 30VSW drag plate and washer.  There are splotchy spots of grease on it.  What can I use to clean off Penn's stock grease so I can grease it with Cal's?  I thought about using CRC brake clean, but I don't want to risk having the drag material come unstuck from the plate as that would put me right back where I started.
Thanks in advance.

[johndtuttle]

Dawn Detergent.

[Tightlines667]

No worries.  Just hit it with some brake cleaner, allow to dry, and relube with Cal's.

Sometimes I use a clean stiff-bristled brush and a mild detergent first, dry, then a quick shot of brake cleaner.  Many of the local old timers have been using brake cleaner on drag washers for years with no problems.

[handi2]

Any new 117DN drag plates I buy from them are not greased. I'm assuming your cleaning a used one. I've used mineral spirits with a semi stiff brush then let dry.

I put them in front of my shop heater in this weather.

[Wayne Feagley]

Thanks for the cleaning tips gents.

Good call, Handi.  It didn't occur to me to look at the backside of the plate, but sure enough you can see this plate is not brand new, there is clear circular marking  from where the dogs travel.  That's messed up to pay for a new part and be given a used one.  But I'm 3+ days from shoving off on a 15 day trip so I'm going to look on the bright side and get this reel back together to hopefully land a cow with my new used drag plate 

[handi2]

Thanks for the cleaning tips gents.

Good call, Handi.  It didn't occur to me to look at the backside of the plate, but sure enough you can see this plate is not brand new, there is clear circular marking  from where the dogs travel.  That's messed up to pay for a new part and be given a used one.  But I'm 3+ days from shoving off on a 15 day trip so I'm going to look on the bright side and get this reel back together to hopefully land a cow with my new used drag plate 

I'm sure it was a mistake if you received a used one...

[mizmo67]

Penn greases the 117DN's nowadays, so some have it, some don't, depending on the part number.
Even the greased ones vary in how much they put on..like they can't decide on how much.