Penn 50W - Washer/Spacer ??

[Marlinmate]

I've got 6    Penn 50W's in for servicing and updates.   3 have the old asbestos drags in them 3 have the newer drags in them

2 of them have this configuration of washers on the drive shaft?   any idea why?   the schematic doesn't call for it.  The other reels don't have the silver washer.

What purpose would the silver washer/spacer serve?

[Penn]

Over time the drag washer material wears, clutch washers flatten and also the cam wears, adding the shims help increase the overall amount of drag the reel achieves without replacing any of these parts.

tony

[akfish]

I suspect the shim is there because the original belleville washers have flattened. If it were my reel, I'd replace the belleville washers.