Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn International Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Marlinmate on February 11, 2025, 01:18:27 PM

Title: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Marlinmate on February 11, 2025, 01:18:27 PM
Got a text from a guy about his 130VIS.   Says it doesn't have enough drag to pull a Nomad lure??

Also says it's a known drag issue and that Penn wasn't any help?? 

He "heard" that the fix is a longer "something"! 

Anybody know of any drag issues on 130 VIS's? 
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: alantani on February 11, 2025, 06:11:55 PM
braid slipping on the spool.....
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Marlinmate on February 22, 2025, 01:24:39 PM
still don't have the reel, but was told the handle turns backwards when the drag engages. 

what the? 
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: oldmanjoe on February 23, 2025, 12:29:19 AM
  Sounds like a dog went to sleep if it is turning backwards
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Donnyboat on February 23, 2025, 06:55:46 AM
So how do you wake the dog up, kick im in the gut, maybe, cheers Don.
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: alantani on February 23, 2025, 06:31:37 PM
here's the schematic.  https://www.mysticparts.com/Assets/images/pennparts/schematics/130vis.pdf there are three dogs.  this reel would have to be really messed up for all three dogs to fail.  you need the reel in hand.  the reports do not sound accurate.   :-\
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Marlinmate on December 17, 2025, 05:03:16 PM
UPDATE!   Customer was correct.  The reel had no anti-reverse.   Took off the sideplate to reveal the 3 dogs.  All 3 had factory grease that had gummed up and kept the dogs from engaging. 

Cleaned/lubed and reassembled and back to normal...just in time for bluefin season.

Now....I also have another 130 on the way in that has the exact same issue.What are the chances?  This time...almost broke some knuckles on a bluefin.   
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Gfish on December 17, 2025, 05:44:27 PM
Maybe oil insteada grease? If one were to use grease, but paint it on very lightly externally(including the springs)and oil the friction parts...?
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: redsetta on December 17, 2025, 07:22:30 PM
Found similarly gummy factory grease on a set of VISXs recently.
Made me wonder if there was a change in either the product or compound at some point?
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Marlinmate on December 17, 2025, 07:31:47 PM
Quote from: redsetta on December 17, 2025, 07:22:30 PMFound similarly gummy factory grease on a set of VISXs recently.
Made me wonder if there was a change in either the product or compound at some point?

Something has changed. I also noticed that the hi/low speed button was slow to spring back. Cleaned the gunky grease off and now it snaps back like it should.
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: alantani on December 21, 2025, 03:34:06 AM
yamaha marine grease!!!
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Marlinmate on December 23, 2025, 12:34:11 AM
Quote from: alantani on December 21, 2025, 03:34:06 AMyamaha marine grease!!!

Are you saying the Yamaha is the cause or the solution?
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: Keta on December 23, 2025, 12:50:32 AM
No, it is the solution.
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: alantani on December 23, 2025, 06:01:41 AM
Quote from: Keta on December 23, 2025, 12:50:32 AMNo, it is the solution.

yup!
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: jgp12000 on December 23, 2025, 08:21:37 AM
I'm a Super Lube guy I can't imagine it ever getting gummed up or hard in my lifetime.
Title: Re: 130VIS - drag issue
Post by: UKChris1 on December 29, 2025, 11:23:28 AM
Not just Penn 130 that can suffer from using 'glue' instead of lubricant - have had that in many reels the go 'bad', or backwards. Old dried grease or lots of over-thick new grease is almost always the problem - replace, as the boss says, with Yamalube marine or equivalent - enough is enough - but on small reels like the Abu 6500 to 9000 size I use Rocket Fuel Liquid Grease on the inside workings and be prepared to check more frequently. Those smaller, lighter parts might still get sluggish in the thicker stuff.