Penn 349 Red Master Mariner Spool

[directdrive8]

Hi, All:

Recently was given an old Penn Master Mariner.  The reel looks good except for the spool which is corroded down to the brass (bronze?) with the nickel or chrome plating worn off.  I disassembled the whole reel and removed the spool with the intention of having it buffed out and re-plated.  However, there does not seem to be a way  to remove the axle from the center.  I don't want to have the whole thing re-plated with the axle and clicker gears still attached as the tolerances will be off if everything is plated.  Do any of you know how to remove the axle from the center of the spool without making a hash out of it?  Thanks!

[Makule]

The main shaft cannot be easily removed because it is shrink fitted onto the spool itself (i.e., the spool is heated and expanded, then the shaft is inserted and the whole assembly allowed to cool).  The shaft is actually larger than the hole so it cannot be pressed out.  The only reasonable(?) way of removing the shaft is to have a machinist remove it by boring it out on the lathe.  At that point, it's much less expensive to replace even the whole reel (even though they're not easy to find).

Regarding replating the spool, I had it done to two different 4/0 reels and they both came back fine.  Don't know if the plating is that thin and the tolerance between the shaft and bearing allows the fit, or if the company did something to prevent plating the shaft (I think the latter).

[directdrive8]

Makule:

Thanks for the reply.  I guess I'll take it over to a plating shop and see what they think.  Perhaps they can offer some suggestions about tolerances and whether or not the shaft/axle can be covered with something to prevent the  plating from adhering.

[Alto Mare]

Plating is not cheap. It might be cheaper to buy one off ebay. If they're not available, you could purchase the complete reel and use the rest for parts. You would still come out on top. Just my opinion.

[Keta]

I just found a NIB (and jumped right on it) Newell aluminum 349 spool, I wish there were more.

[Irish Jigger]

Ensure the spool is running true before you go to the expense of having it re-plated.
A good plating shop should be able to pickle the spool to remove the old nickel /chrome.
The areas not requiring plating will be masked off prior to re-plating.

[Keta]

I've recently been successful at straightening out bent 349 spools (2 so far) but it takes a hydraulic press, a fixture, a dial indicator and a good eye.

[Makule]

I've recently been successful at straightening out bent 349 spools (2 so far) but it takes a hydraulic press, a fixture, a dial indicator and a good eye.

Lee, were the spools or shafts bent?

[Keta]

The spools were bent from mono, shafts were good.

[Makule]

The spools were bent from mono, shafts were good.

Were they the old brass three piece spools or the newer aluminum ones?