I found two Penn 49 reels for cheap. One has an aluminum spool and the other has the chrome spool. I opened them up and found two different kind of 5-49 main gears. The aluminum one has a stainless steel main gear from the way it looks. It also has an indentation on the bottom. The chrome one has a different color and the bottom is flat. I plan to keep one for parts and fish the other but I can not tell if the older one is moly steel. Both are attracted to a magnet.
Possibly, the lighter color gear is chrome plated. Penn did that on some of their main gears and bridge plates. Unknown exactly when or why.
Thanks Gfish. The gal who sold them said her grandfather used to fish them on party boats in rockfish. She doesn't fish so they're mine now. I noticed finding drags for them is not going to be easy. I found the lighter color one has more space for the washers too.
Pretty sure I have some 49 drags if not they can be cut.
Mystic has the drag parts.
https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Parts/6-49.aspx
https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Parts/7C-49.aspx
And Smooth Drag has Carbontex CF washers.
Thanks for your help! I found the 49 drags for my reel. I can't believe how tough this reel is on snapper. :al
Over the years, I believe I have found three different main gears in 49s. The newest ones had brass main gears; earlier models had steel gears. I would use the set that is the most quiet and has the least use but either set should be fine.
I have all three gears. I am using the stainless steel gears. I assume they changed the material due to costs since no one has reported issues with any of the gears mentioned.
Surfrat = I don't think any of those gears will be a problem for you. Only thing that I am somewhat unreasonably anal about (call it my automotive backround) I like to keep SETS of used gears together (main and pinion). Have I deviated from that? Many times, but whenever possible I keep the original set together or go new on both. I'm Probably overthinking it. - john
You're not over thinking: The main and pinion gears wear together and it is important to keep them together if at all possible. While I'm here: The aluminum spool is much better than the chrome brass or steel spool so you want to use the aluminum spool. However, the bridge on some older 49s won't work with the newer aluminum spools without grinding down the bottom of the bridge assembly.
I switched the darker looking main gear with pinion into the aluminum spool 49. It's definitely lighter and very good on Sheepshead and the occasional Cownose ray. Thanks again everyone for your insights. ^-^
49's are my go to striper & bluefish reel. Big as a 6/0 and with the 3 1/2 to 1 ratio on the retrieve, baits can come back in fast. The 349 drags are superior but the 49's with carbontex and Cal's has been good enough, tough as nails, and a dime a dozen with parts still easy to be had. The aluminum is NG for wire, the plastic is lighter and does okay with dacron backing and the wire on top. Good tackle.
I don't see there's much upgrades or tweaks for the 49. I have replaced the old drags with HT100 drags. It came with a Penn 49 handle. I read it can accept a Penn power handle but I will need to get a SS gear sleeve and a SS dog that's unobtainium.
@Cuttyhunker, how do you use your 49 for Striper and Bluefish?
When pollack season opens, I will try using it.
Quote from: Surfrat on September 05, 2025, 01:58:38 AMI don't see there's much upgrades or tweaks for the 49. I have replaced the old drags with HT100 drags. It came with a Penn 49 handle. I read it can accept a Penn power handle but I will need to get a SS gear sleeve and a SS dog that's unobtainium.
@Cuttyhunker, how do you use your 49 for Striper and Bluefish?
When pollack season opens, I will try using it.
What kind of SS dog does it take? I assume that's what you refer to as unobtainium because the -60 dog is very available in steel form.
The Penn 49 uses part#15-49 dog.I suck in cutting metal nowadays. I have seen others homemade Penn dogs using strong metal such as SS. This is what the 49 dog and spring look like. You can see how tricky it is to cut one.
There is a slight chance that I have a SS 15-49, I will search today.
Indeed, the alloy spools are better than the chromed brass ones. The brass ones tend to spread and deform; at least, all the ones I've seen have done so.
The 349 Master Mariner is a better reel in many ways if you have the option, of course not everyone has that, but here in the UK the 49 was used a lot for conger eels on charter boats years ago, and they wreck gear! The eels, that is, not the boats!
I almost packed my 349 for tonight's trip now I'm kinda wishing I had brought it.
The 349/349H are a different class of reel and much stronger than the 49H.
I recalled Sal did an expose on the 49 a few years back trying to beef it up with 349 internals and it worked. The 349H is the beefiest Mariner model with heavier Senator size internals.
My 49 reels will not be displays collecting dust in the living room or paper weights.
I have been using my 49L and my Blackfish Special at Creek Pt and I hooked into Cownose Rays. It worked great so far.
No luck on the SS 15-49.