Upgrading penn 68- Which Drags?

[fishingearjunkie]

Hello, I am New Here. I have read lots of post, and try to find my own answers already here. This is my first post. I am upgrading a penn 68 Longbeach. I do have the SS gear sleeve. Planning the 5+1 Drag Upgrade.
Can I use the 6-113sp ht-100 under the main gear?
Can I use the 6-113sp ht-100's in the 5 drag stack?
or
Do I have to use the 6-060sp ht-100's throughout? If so Why?
Do you know of a cheap handle upgrade?
I am wanting the maximum drag possible. As am planning on pushing this reel to its limits and then some. Loaded with 50# Dacron. Sharks/Sturgeon.
And yes I know most consider this a 30# class reel.

[Leif]

FGJ,

Welcome to the site and thanks for the question.

There are several posts on upgrading these reels on this site so if you search Penn 68 on Penn tutorials that may help.

Alan had mentioned previously, a smoothdrag washer goes under the main gear of all the reels taking a 98-155, 98-60 or 98-505 gear sleeve (long beach 68).

Smoothdrag has the stainless washers for the drag. If the gear has the old brass washers in them replace them with the stainless steel ones. They are the 113 size. I use the HT100 drags with them. Alan also recommends the Cals grease which is also available through smoothdrag. Use only the Cals grease on these HT100 drags.

You can use the drags dry to get a little more drag out of them.  

http://www.smoothdrag.com/price.html

There are many penn and accurate handles available for this reel. Any of the 155, 60, 500, 505 handles will fit this reel. scotts has a cross reference chart that may help you.

https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Home.aspx

37-113HLW Frame posts

6-113 Drag Washer HT-100

7C-60 Washer, Drag, Metal Drag Washers

The reel has its limitations. There is only so much you can do to upgrade the reel other than what you have mentioned....Stainless bridge, upgrade new HT100 drags with SS washers. I also recommend a new aluminum spool if you have the old multi piece spool. The penn 268 fits nicely. Also the heavier 113H Wide frame posts are available at mysticparts.com.

The most important part of servicing/upgrading this reel is to make sure the frame posts and are aligned properly and the frame is straight and tight. If you are pushing this reel and the frame/posts twist because it was not put together correctly..(alternate tightening screws) it may twist, misalign the gears and ruin your day. You could break the pinion/strip the main, ect.

If anyone else has anything to add...fire away!

Here is the picture of the Penn 68 I build again!  

Good luck and have fun!

Leif  

"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

[fishingearjunkie]

Do you use the stock post screws if you use the 37-113hlw posts?
How much do you gain in strength by using the 37-113hlw's? It is $4.40 x 6= 26.40 +S&H  (more than I Paid for the reel) for the posts, Was curious if it is worth doing.
I purchased two Penn HT-100 113sp drag kits. I plan on using one of the HT's under the main gear instead of a smoothie, or will it be to thick? I did get Cal's grease to apply during assembly. I got five weeks before my Florida trip, so I am getting excited to get her together. Thanks for your feedback.

[Alto Mare]

I believe your stock posts would be just fine. Keep the frame square as Leif mentioned, alternating when tightening the screws is a great advice, for all reels with posts. From reading your post at the top, I would be more concerned with replacing the gears than the posts. This is a 30lb reel, if you need something with more punch get yourself a 113H or 114H. If you don't like the higher gear ratio, the 114 comes with lower gear ratio. Personally, I wouldn't push that reel over 12lb.

[fishingearjunkie]

I got a nice bigger 24-56 handle on and was able to put on the new SS gear sleeve, but the retaining pin really gave me some grief. I put one of the 6-113sp HT100s under the main gear. The problem is trying to get the 5 stack to fit. I am using the 6-113sp Penn Ht-100's, and penn metal washers. The Second eared washer will not fit. Lubed them up with Cal's I tried to squash everything down a little with the sleeve and star drag knob, but there is not enough room for the ears to catch. Do I need to be using different drags to make a 5+1 stack fit? Or is there a trick to it?

I also found SS frame posts for this reel, they are on the way. Thanks again.

[akfish]

006 060 drag washers are thinner than 006 113 drag washers but have the identical OD and ID. That might solve your problem.

[Keta]

Carbontex washers are thinner than HT-100, .03" and .04" for Carbontex and over .05 for the HT-100 washers I've measured.  You can easily get the second eared washer in if you go with Carbontex washers.

I'm getting high drag numbers with smaller modified Penn reels but the gears are a week point, this is a 30lb reel.  Take Sal's advice if you have the time and get a 113H or 114H if you plan on fishing heavier line.

[fishingearjunkie]

Thanks for the info, I think I have the HT-100's in the 060-60 size, I will try them. I thought they were smaller in dia.

The gears apeared to be the Manesium alloy type, didn't look like brass to me. Anybody know for sure what they are?

akfish- funny thing i just relized you are the guy I just got the two 155's from off ebay the other day, Thanks again for sending the new handle.

[Keta]

akfish- funny thing i just relized you are the guy I just got the two 155's from off ebay the other day, Thanks again for sending the new handle.

I picked up a nice but used 349 from akfish this week....like I really needed another reel I have trouble finding parts for.  I bought the reel for the handle and parts but I think it's too nice to salvage parts from, the red handle is now on a 113H and a brown one on the 349.

BTW, I llke to use 24-66 and 24-49 handles on reels this size, including the smaller Surfmaster 100s.

[fishingearjunkie]

Carbontex washers are thinner than HT-100, .03" and .04" for Carbontex and over .05 for the HT-100 washers I've measured.  You can easily get the second eared washer in if you go with Carbontex washers.

If I use the Carbontex washer which # do I use? I'm thinking the 140.

[Keta]

If I use the Carbontex washer which # do I use? I'm thinking the 140.

Ask Dawn when you make your order.

[alantani]

don't know how i missed this post.

to upgrade this drag system, i would use five #6-60 penn drag washers and a new set of five #7C-metal washers inside the main gear, plus one of dawn's carbontex drag washer under the main gear,  don't use a#6-155 or a #6-60 because they are too soft and get mashed too easily.  a stainless steel gear sleeve is seriously needed in this large a reel.  for a handle, i have some penn jigmaster 24-56 power handles at the old price.  if you have trouble with this mix-and-match combination, let me know.  alan

[fishingearjunkie]

So it sounds like I need to remove the 6-113 ht-100 from underneath the main gear. Or will the 6-113 hold up? If not What # of smoothdrag washer would you recommend I put under the main gear?

I checked the smoothdrag chart and still cannot find what # is for the Longbeach 68. I still think its the 140.

Does anyone know if the put the magnesium alloy gears in these reels? Just curious. I believe these are a little stronger than brass ones.

[redsetta]

The 6-113 ht-100 is perfect under the main gear.
The main gear is bronze manganese alloy (though the pinion is S/S).
Once the drag is upgraded and the gear sleeve replaced with an S/S unit, the bronze alloy gear becomes the next weak point...
An S/S gear kit would be ideal, not to mention 99-sized double S/S dogs etc...
Good luck, Justin

[fishingearjunkie]

Thanks, Justin. Now I have more ideas in my head. Is there any modifications needed to switch to a 99's dog, which i'm assuming is stronger. Are they all SS dogs or do you have to get one special. Has any one done a double dog on one of these? Where do you get SS main gears for this reel? Thanks again for all your guys input.