I'm new to the website and awaiting the arrival of a penn 9/0 115L. I plan on doing some shark fishing this coming year. I have read a few of the threads on upgrading the drag washers to the HT-100's. I've also read about adding an additional dog, just not sure I'm comfortable tackling that just yet. What else can I do to get some more drag and beef it up in general?
Quote from: TreyGTR on January 02, 2015, 11:44:14 PM
What else can I do to get some more drag and beef it up in general?
Almost endless things... a few are
- SS Gear Sleeve
- SS Yoke
- SS Gears (Get the SS Hex gears then use hex Carbon fiber drag washers for a much stronger/smoother drag. This being the best way to go for a more powerful drag)
- SS dogs
- Accurate frame
- SS handle
- New Handle grip
That is a great place to start ;D
Using the upgraded drag stack from Bryan Young (ultimate upgrades) over 35 pounds on useable drag is possible, over 50 is available with the list mentioned above.
However, if you buy all of that, you are better off spending the same dime and picking up a lever drag 50w from penn, avet, shimano, or any others amd gain the same drag, with a two speed.
First off Trey,
Welcome to the site! ;D
The 9/0 is a very capable reel. I would start with a stainless sleeve and a 5 Stack of Ht-100's.
That should be enough to catch at least any 8 footer out there. I can provide both of those.
Once you catch one, you will be ready for a 12/0. My favorite reel, capable of a 12 foot shark in stock form. You need anything buddy, Just ask. ;)
When chasing Sharks, Daron is the one to ask!
and when modifying penn reels with an unlimited budget, daron is also the guy to ask. however.......
we do not all have unlimited budgets. so, here is the order that i would use if i was on a limited budget.
first, tear everything down and put a light coat of grease on all the parts, even under the rings.
second, and while you have it apart, make sure you have carbon fiber drags. if not, order a set and also get a #6-114 drag washer to go under the main gear, before installing the drag washers, add a light coat of cal's grease to the drags and put your reel back together.
at this point, you can go fish. by greasing the drag washers, you have eliminated the stickiness of the drag washers. when the drags stick, the drag pressure can surge 10 to 50% on average. this is what causes rounding off at the top of the gear sleeve, shredding of the gear teeth and torquing of frames.
third, add an oversized handle grip. i charge $41 plus $3 shipping for mine, and the price is going up soon. there are a bunch of different handle options out there. it depends on how fancy you want to get.
fourth, if, and only if, you round off the top of the gear sleeve, think about replacing the gear sleeve and dog with stainless steel. you can do this at the beginning, and many guys do, but if you are on a budget and if you can do your own work, this will be $40 less that you will have to spend.
fifth, with a stainless steel gear sleeve and dog, your reel should be able to handle more drag pressure. if you a looking for a higher range, bryan young has a 7-stack drag set. once again, you will be pushing the limits of your reel and adding more expense. question if you would not be better off with a $600 penn international two speed.
this is the stepwise progression i would take. or you can do like daron and replace everything. he does end up with a VERY nice reel. there is a certain pride that he has when he catches a shark with an old school penn senator. because he is so familiar with these reels, he know that he owns these sharks as soon as they wrap their teeth around his hooks! just be careful because it is not money that you can easily recoup if you have to sell this reel. very few people would appreciate this level of performance. good luck! alan
Quote from: fIsHsTiiCkS on January 03, 2015, 12:42:46 PM
When chasing Sharks, Daron is the one to ask!
The Key word there is "Chase"! ;D
Yes, Listen to Alan, Trey. The only downfall with the 9/0 fishing from shore is line capacity. Braid Backing will help here, although I am not a fan of it. Here is a Tutorial of reel I built for a a Gentleman who wanted the Full Monty on His 9/0. ;)
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=11486.0
This is a pretty Neat Video of a Big Nurse Shark Caught on a 9/0 with Braid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHhI-vvLPg&feature=player_embedded
Very true Alan!! I am very guilty of getting way to carried away with modifying and upgrading. As always great advice! I have a 9/0 with just a drag upgrade and it's still a beast.
Great video Daron!
Holy smokes guys!! Thanks for all the help. Did any of the 115L's come with the HT-100 drag washers already installed. Looking at the owners manual I counted the drag stack and there was 5 plus metal in between. Also does anyone know a reasonably priced rod builder? Once again thanks!
if you have carbon fiber drag washers, just grease them and you're good. even if they're all corroded, you're still good. just clean them up as best you can with an old rag. you want to "raise the grain" and then slap on a coat of cal's grease. if you need just the #6-114 drag washer that goes under the main gear, let me know and i can send one out.
Quote from: TreyGTR on January 07, 2015, 12:53:45 AM
Holy smokes guys!! Thanks for all the help. Did any of the 115L's come with the HT-100 drag washers already installed. Looking at the owners manual I counted the drag stack and there was 5 plus metal in between. Also does anyone know a reasonably priced rod builder? Once again thanks!
As far as rods go, there's a ton of shark rods floating around, some custom built. Unless you're looking for something in particular. You fishing from boat, beach or pier? I wouldnt use it from the sand but... http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/f52/shark-rod-sale-450378/ (http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/f52/shark-rod-sale-450378/) There's a few up for grabs on SOS too.
The reel I bought was a gem! Never used. Granted I haven't taken it apart yet, but everything on the outside is flawless. So definitely planning on doing the stainless steel gear sleeve, stainless dog and stainless yoke. Now assuming I have the HT-100 drags, Alan I would like to get one of those #6-114 washers for under main gear. Also do you recommend get the pro challenger gear set from Scott's bait and tackle? Is the 2.8:1 worth it? Or does anyone make the stainless main gear? Shark Hunter we fish shark fish at Cape San Blas, although this year we are going to do Indian Pass just down the road. Shiftee we fish from shore kayaking baits out. I'm just trying to stay away from a store bought rod, but also don't want to spend a fortune.
send me your address and i will send out a drag washer and a small dollop of cal's grease for the drags. i will also include a little yamaha grease for you to put a light coat of grease on the rest of the reel. let's do just this for now. i know it all looks enticing, but go fish with this reel after the drag upgrade and then let's see what else you might need. you can always do more upgrades later. let's just take small steps for now. ;D
Trey,
I am wanting to vacation at CSB this year. That place looks awesome. Very remote and perfect for shark fishing.
I sent you a PM.
I love fishing Cape Sand Blas. I have been doing it since I was a kid. Also the tip of the cape past St. Joe State Park (great camping) called "Shark Hole". Indian Pass is good or take the ferry over to St. Vincent Island if it still runs. Where is CSB? ???
CSB=Cape San Blas
Quote from: alantani on January 03, 2015, 06:02:35 PM
fourth, if, and only if, you round off the top of the gear sleeve, think about replacing the gear sleeve and dog with stainless steel.
The gearsleeve is always the first thing I replace.
Quote from: Keta on January 07, 2015, 04:49:33 PM
Quote from: alantani on January 03, 2015, 06:02:35 PM
fourth, if, and only if, you round off the top of the gear sleeve, think about replacing the gear sleeve and dog with stainless steel.
The gearsleeve is always the first thing I replace.
Now now, it's not helpful to the students when the professors don't agree. ;D
I just put in an order with scott's
14-114 Spring, Dog Spring (114HLW)
8-115 Spring, Tension Spring (Thick) (Belleville) (114HLW)
8-114 Spring, Tension Spring (Belleville) (114HLW)
6-114HSP Kit, Drag Washers, Drag Washer Kit HT-100� with Metals (10 pcs) (114HLW)
18-114H Spring Disc (114HLW)
15-114HSS Dog, Stainless Steel (Custom) (114HLW)
12-114SS 12-114SS Yoke, Pinion Yoke (Stainless Steel, CUSTOM) (114HLW)
plus the main gear and pinion from Pro Challenger. I was going to order the sleeve but after considering the condition of the stock sleeve I skipped upgrading it to stainless to save $32. I did start thinking about it and wonder if stainless dogs on a brass gear sleeve will be an issue? So what's the consensus? Stainless gear sleeve upgrade or save the money and burn the stock one up first?
Personally, if you are going to stay with the brass gear sleeve, I would stick with the brass dog. The combination will last longer together because SS is much harder than brass, the SS dog will damage the brass gear sleeve prematurely. I have seen this on several 113H reels...and would presume that it would be the same result for the 115L.
Cole,
Every Professor has his own way of teaching the class. ;D
I look at it like this. You went all out on parts to hot rod your reel. After all that investment, I would be pretty upset if the brass sleeve rounded off reeling in a big one! Its just the way I roll. All or nothing. ;)
What line setups do y'all perfer? Braid to mono? Mono all the way? I was thinking 500 yards of hollow braid spliced with mono. Not sure on the line strength. Any preferences?
I'll remain silent, as I will just have you spending more money shiftee ;D
Trey you've received some great advice so far.
Even the most basic mods with greased HT-100s and SS gear, yoke & dog and an over sized crank, will really make a world of difference.
8' Scalloped Hammer on a 6/0
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/ChileRelleno/9ScallopedHammer072013_zpsbdaf0125.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/ChileRelleno/media/9ScallopedHammer072013_zpsbdaf0125.jpg.html)
11.5' Great Hammer on a 12/0
(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s190/ChileRelleno/137inchGreaterHammer_zpsa7fae1eb.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/ChileRelleno/media/137inchGreaterHammer_zpsa7fae1eb.jpg.html)
Daron,
give me plenty of notice when you decide to schedule a sharking trip to CSB.
If you want to split a beach house or something I'd be in for that, better than a hotel for 3-4 days.
But I need time to adjust the budget & save some dollars.
If I Do CSB this year. It will be for a full two weeks with all the family. Not sure if I can swing it yet.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on January 08, 2015, 02:35:04 AM
If I Do CSB this year. It will be for a full two weeks with all the family. Not sure if I can swing it yet.
Hit that SOB over the outfield wall & go to CSB.
I've heard great things about it & want to myself too.
:D I'm probably talking a Four Grand Trip.
We can still hit Pensacola in the fall. You know that's where the Monsters Live! ;)
I've been to CSB a few times. It's really nice there and great fishing. Going again in early June but staying at Indian Pass about 10 min from there. If anyone makes it down there this year check out Indian Pass for shark fishing.
Lazarus Thread!
Reviving this for some info.
Back in 1990 I purchased a new 9/0 to do some standup tuna fishing. I loaded the stock reel with some 80#, put it on a Pen Slammer rod and had a great time on 4 separate trips through 1992. Since then the setup has been sitting in the rafters.
I'll be using it this summer again so I pulled it down from the rafters and I did a good job of "winterizing" no corrosion , drag still works, etc. I'm going to go the cheap route here and give a a cleaning and greasing, but would a reel purchased in 1990 have carbon fibers in it already or should I get the 5 stack of HT-100 #6-114 drag washer to go under the main gear Alan recommended to be ready? If it already has CF washers will it be a 5 with the 6-114 or will that still need to be installed?
thanks,
Rob
6-114 washers are to small. You need 6-115 (5) washers. You probably have the old style asbestos washers (3) in there unless someone changed them. Open it up before you order the parts. If you have the old style setup you will also need one more eared and one more keyed washer, or just order the full set of CF and metals (6-114HSP). Rudy
OK, now I'm confused.
Alan wrote "second, and while you have it apart, make sure you have carbon fiber drags. if not, order a set and also get a #6-114 drag washer to go under the main gear, before installing the drag washers, add a light coat of cal's grease to the drags and put your reel back together."
Then you wrote "6-114 washers are to small. You need 6-115 (5) washers"
Then you wrote "just order the full set of CF and metals (6-114HSP)"
So which is it 6-114 or 6-115 I need?
I know it's a bit confusing. The under gear washer is a 114, the 5 CF drag washers are the same as a 114H but on Mystics parts list they are listed as 6-115. On Mystics parts list the full set of fibers & metals is listed as 114HSP. A 114 is different then a 114h, one is a Senator & one is a Special Senator. The 114H & the 115 use the same drag stack because they use the same main gear. The 114 uses a smaller main gear so one of it's drag washers can be used as an under gear washer for the 114H or 115 or you can use a 4-114H hard fiber washer. So open it up and see what you have. If the drag washers are thick & there are only 3 of them then you have asbestos brakes which are run dry and which aren't to good for your health. CF drags are coated with a thin layer of Cals Drag Grease.
OK, that makes sense, thanks. I'll report back after surgery...
OK, I opened her up and there are 5 carbon fiber washers with all the steel ones in between, so I'm just going to grease them with Cal's and go.
I don't think the main gear will come out the sideplate hole so can I assume the fiber washer under the main gear cannot be accessed without taking off the sideplate?
thanks, Rob
I hope that you are a least taking out the 8 sideplate screwsw so you can at least see if the insides need some grease. And then you can pull the spool out & grease the left plate insides. Also remove & grease the left plate screws. Rudy
Will do later tonight.
BTW, after greasing the CF washers with Cal's is it normal for low end drag to increase? Seems like I have 20-25 lbs with the star backed all the way off.
No, if everything is assembled correctly you might have a couple of lbs. of drag at most. Do you have that stepped washer with the felt in there. I get rid of them and set the top hat right on the last keyed washer. If you need more height on the top hat you can add an extra thin keyed washer to the top of the stack. Also I don't use a thin belleville washer between the star & handle.
On top of the last CF washer are 2 steel washers keyed to the shaft. Then the felt washer, the 2 piece top hat assembly (flanged washer and sleeve) then a very thick bent washer (not a belleville, more like a washer that was bent over a rod), star, belleville and handle.
Here's what I have before the star/belleville handle...see attached. First pic is two steel on top of last CF, then felt and then the top hat/curved washer assembly.
The top hat looks like it is sitting to high. Try removing the extra top keyed washer that should lower your initial drag setting. If that's not enough then remove the wavy washer from between the star & handle.
Wait a minute it looks like the felt washer & it's stepped metal washer is sticking out of the plate. The felt washer is supposed to slip over the flange of the stepped washer it goes with. Turn the stepped washer over then the spacer, then the wavy washer, then the star. If you are using that felt washer & stepped washer they are supposed to be down inside the plate & not showing above it, just flush.
Of course you are correct! I put the felt washer and stepped washer together correctly and all is well. While I was at it I took the sideplate off to see what it looked like and, while not too bad, it was 29 year old grease so I stripped everything down, threw the big parts in the ultrasonic cleaner, coated everything in blue grease and put it back together. Feels good, except for the blue under my nails.
Thanks very much for your help, greatly appreciated!
thanks,
Rob
I'm glad it finally all worked out. Now give that reel a real workout & send us some photos of what you catch. Rudy
Maybe not so fast, This has been bothering me so I made some drawings, take a look and tell me what you think??
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28495.0
(https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28495.0)
I replace that top washer with the felt on all my 9/0's with a top hat washer from the 114h.
Sal
What exactly is a top hat washer? Got a picture of one?
If use fused the spacer cylinder in your reel with the thick washer it looks sort of like a top hat. Just the spacer sleeve and washer in one piece.
Quote from: Swami805 on May 16, 2019, 04:50:59 AM
If use fused the spacer cylinder in your reel with the thick washer it looks sort of like a top hat. Just the spacer sleeve and washer in one piece.
Still not sure, picture?
Quote from: Recoil Rob on May 16, 2019, 02:42:07 AM
What exactly is a top hat washer? Got a picture of one?
It is rwice as thick in the center and cone shaped tapering to the sides.
18-114h
OK, thanks. Looks nothing like a top hat though. The pressure plate does a bit more...
John, thanks for the pic, but that is not what I was talking about. The one you're showing is the Belleville, I actually don't like those in any of my reels, but use them on some.
RR, sorry it got a little late last evening, so I couldn't post the pic.
Here is what a "top hat" looks like
(https://i.imgur.com/T0zotCZ.jpg)
It is basically a thicker washer with the spacer build into it.
You will really feel the difference from the others when you try it.
Here is the bottom part
(https://i.imgur.com/FSFolIU.jpg)
Here is the way I will usual finish all my builds
(https://i.imgur.com/SPAGYs6.jpg)
A Delrin on top of the last keyed metal washer, followed by the top hat and the thick spring washer.
Here is a 9/0 I just finished for a member, using the top hat
(https://i.imgur.com/guUAJ04.jpg)
He will be using this reel for grouper down in Florida.
The reel is loaded with goodies, it has the slower 2.7:1 steel gears and insert.
Sal
That clears up things a bit, the top hat is what Penn calls the pressure plate. The way you do it is similar to the way I suggested in the post I started, see https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28495.0 (https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=28495.0)
What I was getting after though is I only have the parts that came out of the reel. I bought it almost 30 years ago and took it apart for the first time and can't seem to replicate how Penn put it together at the factory.
Can you tell me the part numbers for the tophat and delrin you use?
Finally, what is the purpose of the original felt washer?
Again! The felt washer was Penn's design to help keep water spray from entering the reel. The top hat is obsolete, you will have to find it somewhere like ebay etc. if someone will part with it with or without the right plate like I said in your other post. Try to keep all your questions in the same post instead of using mutiple posts.
OK, my apologies.
Quote from: Recoil Rob on May 16, 2019, 01:56:23 PM
Finally, what is the purpose of the original felt washer?
To get in the way.
I toss them when I find them on spinners and the 9/0's, they get in the way and don't really stop water intrusion.
About the top hat, I do not have the part number, but as Rudy has mentioned they're not easy to find.
I doo not have any extra,...sorry.
Sal
Thanks anyway Sal. Do you have a source and part # for the Delrin washer?
Send me your address on a pm and I'll get a couple out to you n/c.
Sal
Thanks Sal, that's very kind of you.
Sal, got them today, I removed the felt, put on the Delrin and flipped the pressure plate over, worked like a charm!
Thanks again.
Quote from: alantani on January 03, 2015, 06:02:35 PM
fifth, with a stainless steel gear sleeve and dog, your reel should be able to handle more drag pressure.
I found a few SS 15-115 dogs if anyone needs some.