From Crossbar to Topless

[MexicanGulf]

Hi Guys,
do you think it is possible to transform the Penn International 70 VIS frame into Topless?

[boon]

Anything is possible with a mill and enough perseverance.

I would say that you would severely compromise the reel's corrosion resistance where it was cut. Whether it would be structurally sound is another question; presumably Penn doesn't put the crossbar there just for looks.

Perhaps a better question is why?

EDIT: Surely you would just go for a 50VISX, or a Makaira 50 or 80 SEA LBS, or a Talica 50?

[MexicanGulf]

[boon]

There is a solution to this problem that does not involve sawing the top out of an expensive reel.

[MexicanGulf]

There is a solution to this problem that does not involve sawing the top out of an expensive reel.

explain to me my friend

[boon]

Tell your crew not to tutu with the reels! 

EDIT: Heavy tackle gamefishing is not an activity for amateurs or people who can't follow instructions. Hacking up a reel because you're worried about a scenario that should never arise in practice seems like a solution looking for a problem

[Keta]

I have trouble believing this.

[Gfish]

There is a solution to this problem that does not involve sawing the top out of an expensive reel.

Electrical tape 🥺?

[Keta]

Bovine excrement.

Unless a knife is razor sharp Specrta is hard to cut, the rounded edge of a reel frame is not going to cut it.  If it has a burr it could shread it but not a cut.

[Swami805]

Just to add a little fuel to the fire there was an outfit "Cofe Products" that hot rodded reels that did remove the top bars on tiagras and apparently it worked out OK. I have a 16 size tiagra that came with the top bar removed and the bare metal treated with something. I've since found a topless frame for it and replaced it since it looked kind of ghetto. Good idea?  Maybe?

[jurelometer]

Spectra fiber properties are very different (including brittleness) across vs along the fiber.  I suspect that they are not being cut, but failing under compressive load when pulled against a tight corner on the crossbar. The tighter the corner, the less the load is being distributed.

A reel with a sharp frame edge from a missing or inadequate chamfer or fillet is defective IMHO, and should be returned.  I wonder if this is actually very common.

If the reel is not returnable,  I would  sand the offending edge smooth before I would resort to taping or machining off the entire crossbar.  I have saltwater reels with enough boat rash that the anodized layer is completely missing in some spots.  The exposed aluminum forms a fresh oxide layer, just not as deep as anodizing, but it seems to hold up fine if you don't try to paint over it. And machining off the crossbar leaves a larger wound. Taping creates an oxygen deprived environment under the tape that promotes corrosion.

-J

[oc1]

I wouldn't worry about sharp edges.  I'd worry about the reel taking a seemingly small bump and being bent out of alignment.

[Gfish]

This reel is topless already but has that flat metal part screwed into only the front graphite cross-member. I couldn't figure-out the purpose? Maybe abrasion prevention if the spool loses most of it's line?

[Brewcrafter]

This reel is topless already but has that flat metal part screwed into only the front graphite cross-member. I couldn't figure-out the purpose? Maybe abrasion prevention if the spool loses most of it's line?

Did you get that second hand or did it come that way "out of the box"?

[JasonGotaProblem]

My impression would be that it's there to add rigidity lost by the removal of the top bar.

I don't do a lot of trolling and have never fished for tuna, swordfish or any of the really big stuff you guys out west target. Every conventional I use is topless, with the exception of those with a levelwind. And a reel being topless makes me more likely to want it. But that's just me.