New to the site

[Thomas Murphy]

Hi everyone I am new to the site. Glad to be here.
I am looking forward to reading all the posts. Quick question.
I am looking for a left side plate for a penn 990 mag. Mine has a small crack. Any suggestions? Thank you

[Keta]

Hi.

Someone here should be able to help you find the sideplate.

[Crow]

Howdy!!

[alantani]

welcome!!!!! took a quick look and could not find one.   

[happyhooker]

Greetings, Thomas, from wet and half flooded Minnesota.

Sorry, can't help you on the Penn, but I bet someone else will have a lead.

Frank

[Gobi King]

Welcome

[Brewcrafter]

Welcome aboard Thomas from the SoCal Inland Empire! - john

[sabaman1]

Welcome!

[Tmurphdawg]

Thanks for the big welcome

[Donnyboat]

Hi Tom, I dont think you will be able to do to much with that reel, for quite some time, if your going to read all the posts here, but the fish will be getting bigger all the time, you maybe able to build up the inside of the plate, with some epoxy, were the crack is, and welcome from sunny Western Australia, cheers Don.

[Tmurphdawg]

Thanks I will try that

[jurelometer]

Welcome!

I have heard that the 970/980/990 models have polycarbonate sideplates, unlike the classic Penns that used Bakelite.  Polycarbonate is more prone to compression fracture, and the usual cause on those reels is the hole area for the (possibly over-tightened) sideplate screws.

Sideplates, especially the non-handle side, are hard to find for these reels, as the cracking is a common issue.

If you want to give repair a shot, polycarbonate actually glues better than most plastics.  Make sure that the crack is clean.  Epoxy is not a bad choice.  Better to use a stronger epoxy ( e.g. five ton) than five minute epoxy. Here you go:

https://www.acmeplastics.com/content/which-glues-work-for-polycarbonate-plastic/



-J

[Bill B]

Thomas welcome.  Those side plates are hard to come by.  As the guys said give epoxy a shot. Bill

[Tmurphdawg]

Wow thanks for the advice. The crack was formed in the side plate by the side screw

[Donnyboat]

Okay you may have to stick some tape over the screw hole, it would be best to rough the surface up with emery , that will help the epoxy grip better, good luck, cheers Don.