Back again with this 70VS. Thanks again to those who helped me with removing the stripped screws in the other thread.
The whole reason I took this reel apart was because I noticed bad freespool after a recent fishing trip. In trying to diagnose the problem, I noticed that the schematic that I received when i bought the reel used does not match either schematic shown on MysticParts.com. It's definitely an older version, because it didn't have the newer shifting mechanism shown in the tutorial on this site. It's almost identical to the pre-#C060700 schematic, except the schematic i have doesn't show part 13A - the spool sleeve. The reel doesn't have that part either.
I read some of the other Penn International Tutorials on this site to see if there was a common theme on freespool issues, and I noticed in the 50VSX tutorial that Alan specifically mentions this spool sleeve and how it affects freespool by axial loading on the bearings. Copied & pasted from that tutorial below:
"the spool sleeve (key #13A) is also commonly known as a bearing sleeve. the purpose of this sleeve is to prevent the drag springs from placing an axial load on the spool bearings. this allows the spool to spin freely in freespool. if the bearing sleeve is too short, then it may as well not even be there. if the bearing sleeve is too long, you will have great freespool when the reel is level or turned to the left. turn the reel to the right and you will loose freespool. that is because the spool is shifting against the drag washer. this problem is most commonly seen in the shimano tld single and two speed reels. this bearing sleeve measured 1.513 inches and had to be shortened down to 1.492. even ground down 0.021 inches, there was still a slight amount of play in the spool. it was not enough to affect performance or freespool."
I ordered this part from Mystic, reassembled the reel, but I'm still experiencing poor freespool. Interestingly, it's the opposite as Alan describes above. Tilt the reel to the left (handle facing the sky) and the freespool is poor. Tilt the reel to the right (handle facing the ground) and freespool is somewhat better. Before I start grinding away as Alan describes, i figured I'd ask for some advice.
I've pasted a photo below of the pinion gear + the spool bearings and inner drag washer. The spacing between the bearings is a millimeter or two narrower than the length of the spool sleeve #13A. I figure this is pushing the inner drag washer against the metal drag washer and perhaps slowing freespool? This seems to make sense - if i tilt the reel to the left, the spool & inner drag washer move left relative to the pinion gear and metal drag washer, bringing them together, increasing friction, and reducing freespool. If i tilt the reel to the right, the spool and metal drag washer move right (relative to the pinion gear and the inner drag washer, reducing friction and improving freespool.
It's also worth noting that this reel definitely benefits from the spool sleeve, regardless if it's at the right length to achieve optimum freespool. There are streaks on the inner side of the inner drag plate, indicating that it was rubbing against the spool due to improper spacing. The sleeve definitely helps achieve the proper spacing so that there's no rubbing, but perhaps if I grind it just a bit, I will improve the freespool but still prevent the rubbing.
Were there any shims present under the bearing to the right?
tony
No shims. None of the schematics show a shim, but i did consider trying to source a washer that would fit the pinion gear.
Years ago, I read some of the spool-sleeve posts for enough information to get some brass tube and make one to fit my TLD 15. It was a "tilt to the right/friction in free-spool" problem. I thought I might want to cast with it every now and then. A larger reel, like the Int.70, I can't see there being any issue, because all I'm gonna do is use free-spool to let out line.
There is something guys mention sometimes called "flyline" baitfishing. Would that be a freespool thing? Even with a 70?
This reel will mostly be used for planer rod fishing, where freespool isn't an issue at all, but i might also occasionally use it for dead bait trolling for blue marlin, where a good freespool is important for a resistance-free drop back. Might be an issue for finicky sails and white marlin, but perhaps a blue marlin wouldn't notice. I might be a bit of a perfectionist and should just be happy with "good enough."
"Good enough" is never good enough.
How about part #13B Captain. It's another sleeve, but very short and fits down on or maybe above the pinion gear. Isat in there?
Yeah that smaller sleeve is in there.
I'm trying to think through what's happening. There's enough play in the system that the spool can move relative to the fixed pinion gear shaft. When i turn the reel to the left, with the handle facing the sky, gravity pulls the heavy spool towards the left side plate. The metal drag washer (attached to the spool) is now resting on the left carbon fiber drag washer (fixed in place by the spool sleeves & bearings), creating the resistance in freespool. I need more space between that left carbon fiber drag washer and the metal drag washer. The way to achieve that space is (1) move the carbon fiber washer closer to the left side plate, or (2) reduce the play in the spool to prevent it from moving so far towards the left side plate.
(1) is achieved by grinding the spool sleeve shorter. I'm reluctant to do this because i don't know what too much is, and i really don't want to do another mystic parts order if i trim too much.
(2) - i'm not sure. Thoughts?