Reels can clean up nice!

[JoseCuervo]

I saw this older 109 and decided to take a chance on it. From the (auction) pics I didn't see much wrong with it, but I couldn't see what was right with it either.

I hadn't held a 109 in my hand in years and had forgotten about the freespool being unlike most Penn's and thought I had a broken reel on my hands. It did spin freely, both ways. The clicker ring looks a bit bent for some reason (about 5 o'clock) and that is my only issue with the reel. I don't want to mess with it, but it does make the clicker hard to engage and disengage.

Other than being completely dry, it was in very nice shape internally, I have more pics than these but you've seen Penn guts before.



To Be Continued next post.

[JoseCuervo]

A bit of vinegar and some kerosene, grease, and an hour of time and things were right as rain.

I think it likely might not have ever been fished even with the line on it, that stuff nearly turned to powder when I unspooled it. I have never seen line that white before.

You never know what may lie under the dirt, some people find gold!

Rob

[JoseCuervo]

The handle knobs could use some help, did they coat those with varnish or did this reel catch a drop along  the way?

[George6308]

No varnish bet it's just old dried up Penn reel lube.

[JoseCuervo]

No varnish bet it's just old dried up Penn reel lube.

Thanks, I have seen WD40 do that. If that is the case, they must have missed the guts and put it all on the handle!  Would you believe me if I said the worm gear was totally dry and spotless? I didn't even bother to clean it in any way. It is in this pic, not cleaned.

[David Hall]

Excellent find and great job bringing it back.

[mo65]

Great clean up!

[Donnyboat]

Nice job Jose, great find, thanks for showing, cheers Don.

[xjchad]

Beautiful work on that 109!

[vilters]

cleaned up great! nice job. just like opening a gift Christmas morning. I picked up what appears to be an unfished, older 114h, haven't decided if to clean off the grime/old lube on the outside yet...

[Donnyboat]

Vilters, if you do clean it in vinegar & water,50/50 mix, dont leave it in anymore than 30 min before you start scrubing it, or you may over cook it, cheers Don.

[vilters]

Hey Don, thanks for the tip, I have had chrome flake off using vinegar, will dilute next time. don't need it for this reel, no corrosion, just congealed lube/grime.