Penn 209 Level Wind Free Spool Problems

[brodu]

I recently did a full service on my Penn 209 Level Wind left hand reel. I watch a video on how to do it. I thought I did everything correctly, until I tested it out. I noticed the free spool was a little stiff instead of spinning freely. I have tried adjusting the tension knob but it didn't help. Any thoughts on why this might be? Any advice would help.

[akfish]

It could be a lot of things. If the line guide isn't resting correctly on the top bar it will affect free spool; you may need to adjust the line guide post. Check to make sure the worm gear end bearings are not too tight. Make sure the frame is true; it could be that loosening one of the side plate screws will make a difference. And finally, it could be that the spool is out of round, but if free spool was good before you started service, that is likely not the issue.

[brodu]

Thank you for this response! I loosened up the all of the side plate screws about 1/2 of a turn or so and it started spinning fine. I'm glad it was such a simple fix. 

[thorhammer]

I'd still check the alignment on the slotted cross bar. I've a bunch of 9/209/309's, and sometimes tightening the plate screws will rotate the bar itself just a hair, which binds the line guide. Loosening the screws as you did may have allowed the line guide to index the slotted bar so it works, which is great, but now you have screws that may unscrew themselves when bounced around. Hold that slotted bar with one hand exactly where it is, and tighten that screw first, then the others, and see if that works.

John