I just finished a Penn 26 Monofil That was a project reel. I apologize for not taking any pictures wile do this reel, my only excuse isIt was a piece meal job between a bunch of other work on rods and my new machine shop.
Anyway first of all the reel needed a internal cleaning all around, this reel is simple dissemble and conman to the early Penn's up to the 500s.
What I found in assembly was keeping the dog in place wile rotating the Bridge plate into position without some manual dexterity, I had to adjust the frame posts to get them aliened with the right side plate so they were not torquing the reel.
The dog and bridge sleeve were not engaging so that was a trifle bit of a task to get it to work properly but removing it a few times I detected the problem. By filing a sharp angle on the dog and adjusting the dog spring it worked efficiently.
This little reel is a nice reel to work on and practice on..............................Joe
Great little reels perfect for 20lb. They cast pretty well too with tsi321 in the bushings. I started using painters tape to hold in the bridge screws,a good 3rd hand to free one up for the dog.
I use 321 on all reels, I also tried the tape but it's hard to get it to stick on a grease screw and side plate. I will try that reel when ever the weather cooperates. It's rained every day for 9 days. I'm ready to start building an Ark...........................Joe
With a SS gear sleeve, a Tiburon frame, an aluminum spool, a 13-200 pinion, and a power handle, it can fish 40lb.
It's a nice little reel but I don't know that I want to do all that, I'd rather spend money on the 112H plats that are in the works. Good information though.............................Joe
Joe, those Monfils make a sweet little reel for fluke and sea bass. The colored one's are starting to get a bit pricey!
................best, Lou
Thanks Lou but I have so many Fluke reels now I don't know what to do. I want to concentrate on the bigger reels........................Joe
Quote from: Swami805 on September 15, 2018, 01:59:05 AM
Great little reels perfect for 20lb. They cast pretty well too with tsi321 in the bushings. I started using painters tape to hold in the bridge screws,a good 3rd hand to free one up for the dog.
Anyone have problems using <25 lb. mono on vintage penn conventionals, i.e., line getting past spool and into side plates? Other day I's testing a 506 with 2/3 of a spool of 12 lb. mono and even when I backlashed, no problems, not to mention it casted so well relative to heavier lines and the spool wasn't full. Then again a 180 I have sometimes eats 30lb.???
Come on Joe, pictures a the finished product, please!
yes. surfmaster and squidder give me issues on that; I usually try to stay 20-25 mono on them.
I will take pictures. Thorhammer You could try shimming the handle side of the spool to take up gap in the spool and the plate sow the line doesn't have the chance to get under or between the spool and plate.......................Joe
When retrieving and thumbing 50lb braid to 40lb top shot with the Penn 27 and 970, my eyes are on the spool with momentary glances up to check if the bearing of the line is still directly in front of me, Has worked so far for avoiding the gap issue with these old reels.
I was able to finally obtain a stainless steel 15-155 for my 27 from Lee. Hopefully will be able to complete the last round of upgrades this weekend.
Here is the picture of the mono fill 26 finished And a sea Gate that is not like any other that I could find on schematic nears one I found was a Sea Gate 128or 126 Every thing was the same but the dog and spring I had to find a spare dog and leaf spring to make it work. The Sea Gate was without a dog or spring(it was missing) .......................Joe
P.S. I used a 200 dog and spring for the Sea Gate. The Sea gate did not have a number on it just Sea Gate.
About the line on these vintage Penns...
- I have 10lb Fireline on a Squidder 146 that I use from the boat for fluke. Casting is minimal, so I haven't had a problem. The thinness helps the jig stay down, and the Fireline doesn't seem as squirrely as regular braid.
- I have a Baymaster 180 with about 80-90 lb PP super-slick on it. Wasn't my idea to go so heavy, but I've heard others do that for manageability. It casts great from jettys and I have yet to birdsnest it.
- A guy I know that surf-casts vintage Penns likes to use about 40lb braid with his Squidder and Jigmaster.
- I've gotten 30lb mono stuck in the side (or cut on the side) of my Squidder 140, but that was night fishing from the beach, so...
- Mono seems to be the safer choice, especially for all-out power casting, but I'm trying to use braid more.
I like the mid-size reels (145,150,26, etc.) for surf-casting. If using braid, they have plenty of capacity. Burnt thumbs will surely happen, but wet line and thumbing the spool flange is an answer.
Porthos' 27 is inspirational. I saw the threads months ago, and they encouraged me to fish the 180. Mine has a Tiburon frame and aluminum spool, but I haven't upgraded internals yet. The 180 (like the 27) is much lighter in weight than the 100 or 146, and it looks like with upgrades it can work every bit as hard.
Joe; So you would suggest the Sea Gate be loaded with 80-90# Power Pro and the 26 Mono Fill be loaded with 30# mono? I would prefer 20# Mono or 50# Power Pro on the mono fill 26. What is your thought?...........................Joe two
Quote from: Reel 224 on September 19, 2018, 10:05:25 PM
Joe; So you would suggest the Sea Gate be loaded with 80-90# Power Pro and the 26 Mono Fill be loaded with 30# mono? I would prefer 20# Mono or 50# Power Pro on the mono fill 26. What is your thought?...........................Joe two
Jersey-Joe,
Sorry if I have confused things. I'm not really the one to give recommendations, just intended to give my experience. Although mono works best all-around on those reels (no doubt), you can take advantage of some braid (or other super-line) characteristics in the right circumstances. If you can avoid potentially back-lashing, why not give braid a try?
50# Power Pro on the Monofil 26 sounds good to me for light casting. The Seagate is basically an LB60, right? If fishing it deep for medium-big fish like tog, the 50# PP would work there too, though 30# mono would give you more abrasion resistance on hard structure.
Joe-PA
I didn't find your observations confusing PA Joe...I doubt Jersey Joe did either. Your wide usage of sizes demonstrates just how versatile these old reels are. One just has to match the line to the job. I guess a super-simplified recipe would be "fish whatever ya like for dropping...but stay heavy enough to keep out of the spool gap for casting". 8)
P.S.--- I just spooled my Daiwa Millionaire 3H with 30lb. braid. I've never tried braid for catfishing, who knows what will become of this...::)
Quote from: mo65 on September 20, 2018, 01:56:43 PM
"fish whatever ya like for dropping...but stay heavy enough to keep out of the spool gap for casting". 8)
Well said, Mo.
If your old reels are eating line do you build up the edge of the spool with fingernail polish? It's an old method of dealing with the issue. Personally, I've used clear but if you like wild colors knock yourself out.
Quote from: MarkT on September 20, 2018, 02:19:11 PM
If your old reels are eating line do you build up the edge of the spool with fingernail polish? It's an old method of dealing with the issue. Personally, I've used clear but if you like wild colors knock yourself out.
I remember you mentioned that method a while back, Mark. Haven't tried it. I guess you put some on, then try it, then put some more on.... until you get close? A really thin bead of it right on the edge? I'd like to find a photo. Will they do it for you at the salon? ::)
Several posts ago, I Mentioned line eating problems on a 180. Thinkin more on it, aligning the spool evenly as Joe mentioned could mitigate the issue. Then again, this reel's got a plastic spool on it. Perhaps the bakelite side-plates, or the spool, or both, have been degraded by the elements over time leaving me witha problem-gap. I's thinkin bout gettin a PC aluminium spool for this light-weight castable beauty, but then thought it might still have the same issue.
Probably givin myself another means to hate on plastic... Recently the radiator of my work vehicle sprung a leak from a PLASTIC section on the bottom. Very expensive and time consuming to replace. PLASTIC parts on a 180-190*F operating temp. engine cooling system? I call BS!
The nail polish thing sounds like somethin to try, though. Thanks Mark and Joe and Joe.
Quote from: Gfish on September 20, 2018, 03:24:36 PM
I's thinkin bout gettin a PC aluminium spool for this light-weight castable beauty, but then thought it might still have the same issue.
I doubt a new spool will help, unless if indeed, your plastic spool has been worn away. Many do over time. You should see a little "lip" on the edge, like in the photo below. Since the PC spool is made to original Penn specs...it will fit just like an original. It seems all the small Penn models that uses the #2-155 rings have a problem gap between ring and spool if you like light line.
Gregg, I have some of those plastic spools in the 180/100/27 size too. The thing I like about them is that they're so lightweight. Light spool means less momentum when casting, and less back-lash potential. A plastic spool n a 180 is just about the lightest-weight Penn conventional. The vulnerability of those spools is a) putting mono line directly on the spool shaft that later compresses and breaks the spool, or b) dropping the spool while you are changing it. Call me crazy, but I'd rather have a plastic spool than chromed bronze. Aluminum is the best of both worlds. Note the shape of the plastic spools versus the aluminum ones. The aluminum have an 1/8" squared flange on the sides, that probably helps prevent the line trapping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dug-G9xVdVs
;D ;D Plastic spools ??? ::) I don't think I would trust them to be loaded with Mono and hold the pressure. I have had the experience of one exploding on a reel in the past from the pressure that the new line put on the old spools. If you are going to fish old Penn reels I don't advise using the old compassion spools.
Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on September 20, 2018, 06:13:14 PM
;D ;D Plastic spools ??? ::) I don't think I would trust them to be loaded with Mono and hold the pressure. I have had the experience of one exploding on a reel in the past from the pressure that the new line put on the old spools. If you are going to fish old Penn reels I don't advise using the old compassion spools.
Joe
Hey Joe,
Did you have a backing of Dacron or braid as a buffer before spooling on the mono?
First select the length, strength and type of line needed for the task at hand. Then select a reel to match.
The plastic Monofil spools were designed to cast better than metal spools. The structural integrity of the plastic spools cannot be compromised with spectra braid the way they can with stretchy mono.
The monofils will also cast better with the spool under-filled because you get a faster start-up speed. Try about two-thirds of the originally intended full spool diameter which is about half of the originally intended capacity. The under-filled spool is also less likely to get light line caught under the flange.
If you can keep a tight line then the line cannot get under the flange. But, keeping a tight line means you do not get to make big fluffy backlashes; only little tight backlashes.
-steve
Two important facts to remember about plastic spools and monofilament fishing line:
No 1. Contrary to popular belief, light mono will stretch
more than heavy mono. 12lb. mono will bust a spool faster than 30lb. will.
No 2. The quickest way to bust a plastic spool is fill it with mono from a line winding machine. The higher the tension while applied...the faster she'll pop. I like to spool my plastic spools by hand, with only a pound or two of tension, and a non-stretch backing is a must.
Quote from: oc1 on September 20, 2018, 07:25:17 PM
The Monofils will also cast better with the spool under-filled because you get a faster start-up speed. Try about two-thirds of the originally intended full spool diameter which is about half of the originally intended capacity. The under-filled spool is also less likely to get light line caught under the flange.
This is an excellent tip, not only for the Monofils, but also for the other models that share it's spool/ring gap.
Quote from: Reel 224 on September 15, 2018, 01:33:45 AM
This little reel is a nice reel to work on and practice on..............................Joe
I couldn't agree more Joe. The monofil is a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn to service Penn conventionals. It uses the absolute minimum of parts, a fantastic design, and very successful model for Penn. It's just a bit ironic than the line type it was named for can cause it such heartache! 8)
Well guys I'm will take your advice about backing and light winding, I am not so hard headed as to think I know it all..................sure as heck I don't. Don't get me wrong because I had one bad experience with the composite spool, I can't try a second time. ;) :D...........................Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on September 20, 2018, 08:54:20 PM
Well guys I'm will take your advice about backing and light winding, I am not so hard headed as to think I know it all..................sure as heck I don't. Don't get me wrong because I had one bad experience with the composite spool, I can't try a second time. ;) :D.........................Joe
Hey brother, you ain't the first guy to bust one, and I'll bet you sure ain't the last either! They really do cast great, but they just aren't as bullet proof as aluminum or chromed bronze. I busted a spinning reel's plastic spool once...that cracking sound just punches ya right in the gut!
Quote from: mo65 on September 20, 2018, 09:08:45 PM
Quote from: Reel 224 on September 20, 2018, 08:54:20 PM
Well guys I'm will take your advice about backing and light winding, I am not so hard headed as to think I know it all..................sure as heck I don't. Don't get me wrong because I had one bad experience with the composite spool, I can't try a second time. ;) :D.........................Joe
Hey brother, you ain't the first guy to bust one, and I'll bet you sure ain't the last either! They really do cast great, but they just aren't as bullet proof as aluminum or chromed bronze. I busted a spinning reel's plastic spool once...that cracking sound just punches ya right in the gut!
;D ;D Mike the reel I filled took about 20minunts to burst and the reel was in my hand. I scared the crap out of me. :o ;D....................Joe
Quote from: Porthos on September 18, 2018, 01:52:51 PM
With a SS gear sleeve, a Tiburon frame, an aluminum spool, a 13-200 pinion, and a power handle, it can fish 40lb.
And fish it well! I love that reel.
Ron