senator 4/0

[bigtoy83]

you guys rock thanks for all your help

[Bryan Young]

Hi Bigtoy, use 4-60 fiber washer under the main gear, 5 of 6-60 drag washers, 1 more 7-60 earred washer, & 1 more 86-60 keyed washer & you will have more drag power then when the reel was new. That all will fit with no alterations like it was factory installed. If in the future you want to hot rod the reel there are a lot of other options but you will have all the drag power that reel can handle. Don't forget to grease the drag washers with Cal's drag grease.      Rudy

Sorry to contradict Rudy, but I would use a 4-155 Carbon Fiber washer instead of the normal fiber washer.  This washer can also be sticky when it gets hot due to a fish run.

[RowdyW]

Bryan its not a contradiction it is your opinion and my opinion is to use the 4-60 as I have for years without a problem. Just drop a couple of drops of oil down the sleeve periodically and you will not have that problem. I haven't run into a sticky fiber washer yet.    Rudy

[Alto Mare]

Rudy, if it's working out for you, that's great. I'm also going to recommend the carbon fiber washer there, to me it's a good upgrade. I've removed a few fiber washers in the past, some where dried up and on some there wasn't much left.
Sal

[RowdyW]

  Sal, thats probably reels that missed a lot of services. I've taken reels apart that were the same way because of lack of service or that were never serviced. I've seen a lot of reels that were original inside ( probably 30-40 years old) with the original drags & the fiber washers still useable even though I would replace them after that amount of time. I guess Penn is always wrong & should recall several million reels for an update. Whats in a new Penn Senator? I understand the point of view of a lot of you but you have to understand the point of view of the rest of the people that have thier own opinion.     Rudy  

[Keta]

The CF washer under the gear adds to the drag.

[Alto Mare]

 I understand the point of view of a lot of you but you have to understand the point of view of the rest of the people that have thier own opinion.     Rudy   

Absolutely, that's why I said if it's working out for you, that's great.
I'm going to keep recommending replacing the fiber on conventionals and the teflon on spinners with carbon fiber, simply because I believe they're much better.
I'm not getting confrontational with you Rudy, you and others have every rights to do as you please.
Sal

[slgriffiths]

When I first saw the recommendation from AT to use a CF washer between the gear sleeve and the main gear, I was not sure about it - I had the standard brass mains and sleeves then, and was worried about abrasion on the softer materials. Had no evidence to support that concern, just a little niggle.
But now, with stainless gear sleeves and main gears so common, I think it seems a shame not to use the extra surface area to get a little more drag, or the same drag with a little less pressure on the drag star.
Critical?  No way.  
Do fibre washers work - sure, have done for years, as you say, Rudy.
But with SS components, I agree with Keta and Sal on this now.
Just my $.02

Simon.

[bigtoy83]

Just finished putting the reel together,  I followed Rudy's advice and it came out perfect. Plenty of drag and everything fit. Here's the pics.Thanks agian for all the advice.

[ossipeter]

That looks very great!

[BMITCH]

Nice job, nice reel. Good luck!

[RowdyW]

That reel looks brand new & now it will be tougher then new.  Tight Lines, Rudy

[Keta]

Nice

[slgriffiths]

That is really beautiful.
Well done.

Simon.

[Cone]

Nice reel and even nicer doing it yourself! Bob