Penn Jigmaster 500s drag issue

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 02:01:13 AM

I greased the Penn stock drag washers with Cal's reinstalled and now drags is very smooth but I have hardly any drag when its cranked down, I took apart and made sure everything is seated and in the right order I think. What can be wrong?

Alto Mare · March 06, 2011, 02:20:13 AM

Whippertail. this might be a stupid question but we have to start somewhere. Did you remember to put back the tension spring? Part # 8-60

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 02:33:27 AM

the 2 springs that the bridge screws go thru? yes I did and with the right screws

Phinaddict · March 06, 2011, 03:30:46 AM

Alto means the cupped washer that sits on top of the drag stack. Also, make sure you have 4-60, the fiber washer, sitting under the main gear, not included in the drag stack.

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 03:32:36 AM

Phin, yes both are in place. Could the grease be causing this?

Alto Mare · March 06, 2011, 04:50:56 AM

Just to recap, you have 1 carbon washer under the main gear, then you placed the washers in the main gear in this sequence: carbon, keyed, carbon, eared, carbon, keyed and lastly the tension spring, correct? Also, did you wipe off the access grease from the washers? Washers should be lightly coated.

alantani · March 06, 2011, 05:50:28 AM

Quote from: Whippertail on March 06, 2011, 03:32:36 AM
Phin, yes both are in place. Could the grease be causing this?

no.

look for the spool slipping on the spool shaft, the spectra slipping on the spool, the eared metal washer sitting on top of the main gear instead of nested inside, or the star bottoming out against the side plate.

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 02:25:01 PM

Alto- there is only 1 eared washer in this stack and it is in the middle. Alan- yes it seem that the star is almost bottomed out on side plate, its not touching but close. Thanks Frank

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 04:34:02 PM

OK its fixed after taking it apart about 8x, did not do anything except wipe drag grease of of metal washer completely and wiped the other washers down as best I could, without a rod attached (on a straight pull) reel locked down is getting 14lbs on a straight pull. Is this good? I see a shiney wear mark on the brass sleeve that drag washers sit on should I go with a stainless one? And can I do anything else to get a little more drag out of it?

alantani · March 06, 2011, 04:48:04 PM

no, no, 14 pounds is the max you can get out of this reel!!! it is only a 3 drag system. figure on getting 5 pound of drag per drag washer. you're right on the money. actually, you are into a range that can damage the reel. it was never designed to hold these kinds of loads.

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 05:53:41 PM

what will I wreck, and should I go with that stainless shaft you sell?

Alto Mare · March 06, 2011, 05:57:17 PM

I'm glad that you got it all straightened out. On a positive note, all that practice means you could probably do it blindfolded by now. The stainless steel sleeve is a good call, i would leave it at that, like Alan said.
Take care, Sal

alantani · March 06, 2011, 06:50:51 PM

main and pinion gears, and the top of the gear sleeve. if it cranks ok, leave it be. if there are problems later, holler!

Whippertail · March 06, 2011, 08:13:50 PM

Thank Guys and Alan! You guys are great!

Alto Mare · March 08, 2011, 12:15:47 AM

He is, I'm not!.....I'm just one of his students like yourself. Glad it worked out for you. Take care, Sal