I got a message from Wayne asking if I could do a customized Surfmaster 150 for him. He didn't seem to have the time to finish the project, but he had a donor reel, a Tiburon frame and spool, a Maxed Out handle blade with Alan Tani 3/0 knob, and a Bryan Young 5-stack drag kit. Imagine my surprise when I got the package...the photo below is exactly what I unpacked. I don't think I ever took on a project where all the bits and pieces were already cleaned and polished!
Since ol' Wayno has already covered all that, I'm going to concentrate on some of the overlooked aspects of one of these builds. These "little things" can be the difference between a project that brings satisfaction instead of frustration.
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The only parts he wanted that he didn't already have were a steel gear and sleeve, and a #10-66 drag star. NOS Penn #5-60 steel gears are getting harder to find...but I had a nice chromium plated one in my stash...and this seemed like a great time to bust it out.
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By now just about everyone knows that a replacement gear sleeve can fit just like the original, or possibly tight, but most times it will have a bit too much endplay. Shim washers can correct this, but do not make it tight. Always leave a few thousandths endplay...if the sleeve ever gets hot it can stick if there is no endplay.
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Swapping out to a larger drag star is one of the most popular mods for these smaller Penn reels, and something that I do to all of the ones I fish. You wouldn't think that extra 1/4 inch of length would be noticeable, but when the reel is in hand it makes a big difference. If you're one of those guys who always seems to be bumping the star...you can go the opposite direction...a #10-180 star is so tiny it barely sticks out past the handle blade.
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It's hard to see in a photo, but the #10-66 on the right is about .020 thicker than the #10-60 on the left. In most cases, this will require a shorter spacer. Mystic Parts sells various lengths, but I usually just adjust the length with a file. You can see where I shortened the spacer on the right...the top has the brass showing through.
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Now, on to those little things that get overlooked. Taking out the screws on these Tib frames and greasing them can really help if you ever want to disassemble the reel in the future. Smear a coat on that stand also.
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Same deal with the side plate screw holes.
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These small screws that hold the chrome ring to the frame often get bunged up. Those burs and snags make it hard to get the side plate on and off. Smooth the tops of them with a file.
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Unless you want those screws to end up bunged again...use a well fitting premium screwdriver. This .034 is a perfect fit to the screw slot...and actually was a gift from Wayne!
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And lastly, don't forget to clean and grease the three slots in the headplate ring.
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What a fantastic looking Surfy 150...and just as tough as it is pretty! 8)
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Awesome! Salmon killer for my man!
That looks amazing, great job Mo!.
Did Wayne say what the intended use was? (I always liked these small surf masters and squidders but wouldn't know what type of fishing I'd use it for)
Pj
My favorite use for them is shallow water bottom fishing. Like when the party boat takes you into the kelp to play with blues or blacks. 2 big fish on shrimp flies with a light rod can be a lot of fun, it is more fun when your reel has the torque necessary to not be phased.
That is a wonderful reel Mo. The only thing that would "gild the lily," at least for me, is a fine thread sleeve and a 505 star. The finer control is very nice.
The Man
Wow, very nice. I want one!
Great work, Mike!
Best, Fred
Quote from: pjstevko on December 09, 2021, 05:06:22 PM
That looks amazing, great job Mo!.
Did Wayne say what the intended use was? (I always liked these small surf masters and squidders but wouldn't know what type of fishing I'd use it for)
Pj
I was able to load 420+ yds of 50 lb Toro Tamer hollow core on to a Newell Surfmaster 100 spool in my modded Monofil 27. It is one of my 40 lb reels on SD Long Range trips.
The 150 width should be able to take 400-500 yds of 60lb hollow core, IMHO. If i had one, would not hesitate to fish it SD LR as a designated 50 lb reel and bump up to 60 lb top shots in a pinch given the frame and what the internals are.
Mo: Did you use delrin for the under gear washer?
Nice work Mike, and thanks for all the handy info, very valuable, cheers Don.
Thanks for the nice comments everyone.
Quote from: Porthos on December 10, 2021, 12:25:44 AM
Mo: Did you use delrin for the under gear washer?
Yes, and I used a stock HT-100 for the top friction washer in the 5-stack. It helps restore the range you lose with the thin Carbontex discs. I also had to reshape the AR dog a bit to get a perfect fit to the 9 tooth ratchet on the new sleeve. 8)
Bravo Mo !!!
Always a great read when you post up stuff like this..
Hope all is well
Col
Great job, Mo !!
Very nicely done Mo. It just looks mean !!
Beautiful Build Sir! - john
Simple and awesome. Nice build
Brett
Very tidy work Mo - that 'hopped up' 150 should stand up to years of Wayne's enthusiasm! ;D
Mike
I Like !!! I've got a mint one in my safe... I can't remember if it's a 150 or 200.
Cool
MO-meister!!!!
BEAU....TIFUL REEL Job!!!!
YES, and I'll say it again, "I'd Rather BE FISH'N... Than FIX'n!!!!" FOR SURE.
BUTT over time I've leaned on the likes of Alan, Bryan, of course, Dominick, and who has shouldered most of my REEL PROBLEMS is FRED!!!!
This time, I asked MO to "put Humpy Dumpy Back together again!" Could not have asked for a better outcome.
Quote from: pjstevko on December 09, 2021, 05:06:22 PM
That looks amazing, great job Mo!.
Did Wayne say what the intended use was? (I always liked these small surf masters and squidders but wouldn't know what type of fishing I'd use it for)
Pj
PJ! For sure:
1) Ocean Salmon
2) General Rockfish and Ling Cod fishing
3) if it works out, for smaller Halibut next summer in the Gustavus, AK area with our own Gary the BUTT MAN!!!
I have 6 Penn Surfmaster 100's that I use, and have friends that fish with me, but I read that Lee has an SM 150 for deep drops and I thought WHY NOT??
This all started on a busted Morro Bay trip, Jonathan (The Swimmer) and I decided to drive to Morro Bay & enjoy the weekend. We also had a Makaria reel from Alan, to drop with a boat capt. while there.
We did a general walk-through at Jerry's in Morro Bay, and this reel was for sale for $35!! Just $35??!!! I bought it.
AND MO, let's not forget Randy (Vintage Offshore Tackle) for me raiding his stock for this cherry RED TIB Frame and spool. And like Fred, Randy always offers his stock at below prices for us members here.
Quote from: Ron Jones on December 09, 2021, 06:26:30 PM
My favorite use for them is shallow water bottom fishing. Like when the party boat takes you into the kelp to play with blues or blacks. 2 big fish on shrimp flies with a light rod can be a lot of fun, it is more fun when your reel has the torque necessary to not be phased.
That is a wonderful reel Mo. The only thing that would "gild the lily," at least for me, is a fine thread sleeve and a 505 star. The finer control is very nice.
The Man
Ron, unlike you NorthWest FINESSE Fisherman, YOU, Ted, and Todd, I want to crank the star drag ONLY 2-3 finger pulls and not spend 2 minutes figuring out what drag I want to winch up a big fish off the bottom. ;D BUTT seriously, it was Sal who asked me to try both on an SM 100, and quickly decided the course thread was my deal!
MO's workup reel will arrive soon, and just in enough time for me to get to Alans' and have him lace it up with 50 lbs. brad for our upcoming Morro Bay trip, set up by our own PJ!!!!
IT's Friday, my Brother Ken & his wife will be in several hours, we will enjoy a weekend with my 2 sisters and enjoying a Deutscher Christmas together.
When our Mother died, 3 days before her last breath, she called her 4 children into her hospital room and asked us one thing, "JUST STAY TOGETHER". She didn't ask us to love each other, or be nice but JUST stay together. So Saturday we will gather in Sacramento, CA, and enjoy the food of our family, put out photos of Mom & Dad, enjoy memories of our growing up together.
What you are doing this weekend!!!!
THANK YOU Again, MO! For taking on Wayne's REEL Problems!!!!
Wayne
Quote from: El Pescador on December 10, 2021, 03:38:38 PM
THANK YOU Again, MO!
You're welcome Wayne! I think you're really gonna dig this little reel. With the solid frame and upgraded components it should be impervious to twisting and grinding.
The only way I could see to
possibly improve it would be to double dog her...but that is a time consuming labor intensive ordeal on these small Penns. Alan at Pro Challenger or Tom at Cortez Customs ought to check on the possibility of producing a DD bridge for the #3-200 bridge. Then folks could easily double dog those Surfmasters and Squidders!
I say crank away on 'er Wayne...and if by "snowball chance in hell" you do bust the AR dog...don't worry. My Dad is a TV repairman, he has an awesome set of tools! 8)
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Quote from: mo65 on December 10, 2021, 05:08:04 PM
Quote from: El Pescador on December 10, 2021, 03:38:38 PM
THANK YOU Again, MO!
The only way I could see to possibly improve it would be to double dog her...but that is a time consuming labor intensive ordeal on these small Penns. Alan at Pro Challenger or Tom at Cortez Customs ought to check on the possibility of producing a DD bridge for the #3-200 bridge. Then folks could easily double dog those Surfmasters and Squidders!
Nice work Mo. Have to agree on double dogging these small Penns. Am just finishing up another Squidder project, and put the extra dog on as per Mikes thread with the dog going through the bridge. Got there in the end.....
(https://alantani.com/gallery/35/17471_10_12_21_9_00_51_359542422.jpeg)
The only way I could see to possibly improve it would be to double dog her...but that is a time consuming labor intensive ordeal on these small Penns.
(https://alantani.com/gallery/35/17471_03_11_21_2_19_53_357481745.jpeg)
I thought that`s what we do here ....... My Dad is a TV repairman, he has an awesome set of tools! Cool
Just a teasing ya , Good job on that reel .
That reel looks great, nice job. Maybe if Wayne ever comes fishing up here he will trade me for a mooching reel once he see's the light.
Cheers:
Todd