Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: mattaus1964 on January 17, 2025, 12:54:59 AM

Title: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: mattaus1964 on January 17, 2025, 12:54:59 AM
Hi all,
My fairly new Penn reel has suddenly lost drag. No matter how much i tighten it the line just pulls off easily.
I have checked schematics and both drag washers are there and look fine. Prior to this problem, the reel had never been disassembled.
Not sure where to go from here ?
Thanks for any help
Matt
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on January 17, 2025, 01:07:46 AM
Is the line slipping on the spool? More common than you'd think.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: mattaus1964 on January 17, 2025, 02:58:53 AM
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on January 17, 2025, 01:07:46 AMIs the line slipping on the spool? More common than you'd think.

No, fully spooled with mono. Not slipping.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: Keta on January 17, 2025, 03:33:48 AM
It just started, not after a service?
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: mattaus1964 on January 17, 2025, 03:51:17 AM
Quote from: Keta on January 17, 2025, 03:33:48 AMIt just started, not after a service?
Yes, it's strange.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: Keta on January 17, 2025, 03:53:10 AM
Yup, very odd.  Take it apart and post photos.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: boon on January 17, 2025, 04:16:58 AM
There's only so many things that can go wrong. Does the drag knob get tighter when you turn it? If so and it's definitely compressing the drag, then either the spool hub is spinning on the spool shaft, or theres a problem in the drag stack like the ears failing on the metal drag washer.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: oldmanjoe on January 17, 2025, 03:14:10 PM
More likely the top keyed drag washer is not seated , sitting on top of the stem ..
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: Penn on January 17, 2025, 03:15:38 PM
Turn the spool upside down and place it on the shaft as far down as it will go, you may have to rock the spool to get it to drop down, this will help align all the washers.  Flip the spool back over and try again. 

tony
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: mattaus1964 on January 19, 2025, 02:00:25 AM
Well this has fixed it ?? I don't really understand why as both washers were correctly seated b4 I tried this ??
You're a champion, thanks so much Tony.
Title: Re: Penn 430ssg drag not tightening
Post by: Penn on January 20, 2025, 11:42:52 AM
Quote from: mattaus1964 on January 19, 2025, 02:00:25 AMWell this has fixed it ?? I don't really understand why as both washers were correctly seated b4 I tried this ??
You're a champion, thanks so much Tony.

Happy to help Mattaus, I have been troubleshooting reels for 20 years and there isn't many issues I have not seen or heard before.  I will be patiently awaiting your next one  >:D

tony