So I've got this old Penn 66 sitting around. Used to be my grandfathers reel, so some sentimental value here...
Anyway, I've been thinking about restoring it, maybe upgrade a bit (if and where possible), and one of the things I'm looking for is a replacement left side plate. The original had the cool marlin pattern on it, but somewhere along the way it got broken. Cracked right in half. Does anyone know where I might be able to find a replacement? Also, other than the dog gear sleeve, new drags and maybe a new handle, what other modifications would you all suggest? I'm not looking to fish it full time, just maybe take it out and land a couple in my grandads memory. I think he'd like that, and so would I. Thanks for your input!
Andy
A Penn 67 side plate will fit and will be much easier to find.
Thanks for that. Yes, I understand the 66 and 67 are much the same reel, with the 66 having a narrow spool.
PM me your adress, I have a bunch. I canabalize 66s to make fast 113s. If you need anything else from the 66 let me know.
Ron
Thanks Ron! PM sent!
And now the saga continues...
So I got inside to do a cursory rebuild, and I think what I have here is a very old Long Beach 66.
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o9F-3Vw-1vA/Ugl3C6DAYWI/AAAAAAAAAAw/PTa7PB_zJ_Q/s400/P1000269.JPG)
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3YhftXxUZvA/Ugl3AzFJy0I/AAAAAAAAAAo/LClXFuHZ3dM/s400/P1000267.JPG)
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-xRxWS8SmOWM/Ugl3M2z3kGI/AAAAAAAAABQ/2tlkWFvAu2k/s400/P1000272.JPG)
The thing that throws me is the small size of the steel gear. I believe it's steel because I tested it with a magnet. The I.D. of the gear is .850", with a depth of .1915". The washers (brass) and the drags measure an O.D. of .80". In reading up on which drags I need, I've seen numerous references to the #6-60CF drag for a 5 drag stack, or a #6-113 for a three drag stack. Am I mistaken, or are those drags simply to big to fit this reel? Also, there is a slight recess machined into the back side of the gear. Would this obstruct using a CF drag under the gear?
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cF20qcrUqPc/Ugl3PGAik7I/AAAAAAAAABY/9ZZ7LfDEAfM/s400/P1000273.JPG)
Note the slight recess in the back side of the gear.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1l4D5I-MfQg/Ugl3RhLDqXI/AAAAAAAAABg/hzMcisLI3EI/s400/P1000274.JPG)
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Js0-Hae_Iiw/Ugl3ZlyRe3I/AAAAAAAAACQ/OPQy1R_-BMc/s400/P1000277.JPG)
So my question is: Which drags do I need to put this old girl back together?
Andy,
That is a standard 66 steel gear. You can use a 60 washer for a 5+1 stack and that is what I recommend. I think the metal and carbontex all together is like $25.00 shipped from Dawn. Or you can put a set together with 60 washers for about half that. It makes a really smooth reel. You can also go hog wild with other upgrades, but the drag is a great start.
Ron
I'm not convinced that I can use the 5+1 set in this gear. The stock drag set consists of three stock fiber drags at about .025 thickness each and three metal (brass) washers at about .041 thickness each for a total stack of about .200. The depth of the inside of the gear is about .192. I just don't see how I'm gonna fit five drags and 5 metals into that little gear. I contacted Dawn with these specs and she doesn't think I can do the 5+1. She did however think that she had replacements for the stock drags, so I guess that's what I'm gonna have to do.
Hi bajandy, it looks like you have main & pinion gears out of a Penn 60 or 65. I guess that they were switched at one time. If that is so then you will have to use a 1+3 set up as in a 60 & 65.
Do you guys see a need for thin metal washers to create a 5+1 stack for this reel? Sal's been asking and im not absolutely convinced.
Hi Bryan, we already have a 1+5 stack for the 66,67, 68 using stock factory parts. Are you talking about a 1+5 stack for a 60&65? Sal already talked about using 66 gears in a 60 or 65 & dremeling out the side plate to use a 1+5 stack. I guess if somebody wants a 1+5 setup bad enough that would be the way to go. Rudy
You're right Rudy, but I rather have Bryan's kit, its much easier.
Bryan, why wouldn't they want some? The Squidder is the same as the Jigmaster, just a little slower.
The main gear might be stronger on the squidder, due to beefier teeth .
Increasing the drags a bit would make the reel much smoother at its original max drags.
That goes for most reels. I've found that out from some of the tests that I've been doing.
Sal
Hi Sal, easier might or might not be better but how else are we going to have fun experimenting? ;D Rudy
Quote from: RowdyW on August 14, 2013, 02:25:37 AM
Hi bajandy, it looks like you have main & pinion gears out of a Penn 60 or 65. I guess that they were switched at one time. If that is so then you will have to use a 1+3 set up as in a 60 & 65.
I agree with Rudy. That isn't a -66 main gear. Andy, if you want a 1+5 drag stack, then you are much better off returning your reel to stock specifications and getting a 5-66 main and a 13-49 pinion gear.
Rudy,
With all of your gear swapping and extra parts, did you ever try to fit a 113 bridge and pinion gear in a 66?
George
Quote from: RowdyW on August 14, 2013, 02:25:37 AM
Hi bajandy, it looks like you have main & pinion gears out of a Penn 60 or 65. I guess that they were switched at one time. If that is so then you will have to use a 1+3 set up as in a 60 & 65.
Well, grandpa Ben was a tinkerer. Where do you think I got it from? I suppose those gears could've been swapped out at some time, but I really doubt it. Long story short, I don't need to do the 5+1 drags on this reel. I just wanna get her back to working order to land a fish and then pass it on to my son Ben so he can keep the legacy alive.
I have a brass main gear if you want it. Unfortunately I hold on to steel 66 mains like they are made out of gold.
George,
I built a slow 66 with a 113 bridge and pinion. Didn't have to dremel anything and it works fine. I am thinking that the slow Senators were ment to be torque monsters and the H the screamers with the Long Beach in the middle. I really don't see the point in the slow reel unless it is for some specific presentation.
Does the 60 and 66 mains have the same number of teeth?
Ron
Quote from: Alto Mare on August 14, 2013, 03:02:23 AM
You're right Rudy, but I rather have Bryan's kit, its much easier.
Bryan, why wouldn't they want some? The Squidder is the same as the Jigmaster, just a little slower.
The main gear might be stronger on the squidder, due to beefier teeth .
Increasing the drags a bit would make the reel much smoother at its original max drags.
That goes for most reels. I've found that out from some of the tests that I've been doing.
Sal
Sal, because it'll be a $2k investment for me to make, and if I cannot break even quickly, ill be in trouble financially.
Quote from: noyb72 on August 14, 2013, 03:49:24 AM
Does the 60 and 66 mains have the same number of teeth?
Ron
I don't recall, but I'm sure the gear teeth are different sizes and won't properly mesh with the pinion. Sooo, Andy's reel must have a different pinion, too.
The 66 has a 113 yoke. I don't think the pinion in the 60 would fit that (it's a 140 I think).
Ron
Quote from: noyb72 on August 14, 2013, 03:49:24 AM
Does the 60 and 66 mains have the same number of teeth?
I can tell you that this reel has a 40 tooth main and a 17 tooth pinion. Don't know if that helps or not.
And by the way, thanks you guys for all the input. I really appreciate it. This old reel has been sitting in storage for years. It's only because I recently decided to jump in and do some 113H and 114 mods that I even decided to get it out and look at it. Like I said, sentimental value.
So,
I don't know what you want to do with this reel, but it can actually have a bunch of money thrown at it. It is from the factory a slow YTS with not the strongest stand and an open top. The thing is, I'm starting to think that the 66 stand was the most popular of all Penn stands. Their are a bunch of reels with them and so their are quite a few Newell stands out their also that will make the reel much stronger. I'm not sure if any Newell bars will fit (although I kind of hope they will) but the stand will greatly increase the strength of the reel.
The reel uses a Jigmaster sleeve that Alan and others sell out of stainless steel, and Alan has a fantastic arm for it, it would be relatively straight forward to double dog and we've already talked about the drags. The only thing I'm not sure of is the strength of the "sleeved" spools.
The cool thing about that is that the Jigmaster sleeve and Alan's arm are cheaper than the 113H parts, cheap enough to at least buy your drags.
So this reel can be built to handle 20 pounds of drag and fish 60-80 pound line. It casts nice because of the open top, you don't have to mess with bearings and it cranks like a winch in low gear. To me, it is the recipe for pitching into rocks where you might get something big and slow.
Like I said, I don't know anyone who has done it, but I think it would make a great reel.
Ron
Quote from: noyb72 on August 14, 2013, 04:01:46 AM
The 66 has a 113 yoke. I don't think the pinion in the 60 would fit that (it's a 140 I think).
Ron
The 66 has a 12-60 yoke & the 113 has a 12-113 yoke.
I'll have to look at that again.
Ron
Quote from: George4741 on August 14, 2013, 03:36:09 AM
Rudy,
With all of your gear swapping and extra parts, did you ever try to fit a 113 bridge and pinion gear in a 66?
George
Hi George, I haven't tried that swap because we are always trying to up the retrieve rate. If I want a slower rate I'll just pick up a stock ratio 113 & I'll be using a stronger reel. Almost all my 113 narrow, standard, & wide 113's are regeared to the higher ratio. I leave my LB reels at the stock ratio. Rudy ps I sure do have a lot of 113 pinions laying around.
Funny, I have a few myself.
Ron
Quote from: bajaandy on August 14, 2013, 03:43:02 AM
I just wanna get her back to working order to land a fish and then pass it on to my son Ben so he can keep the legacy alive.
My kind of guy ;)
Quote from: RowdyW on August 14, 2013, 03:14:40 AM
Hi Sal, easier might or might not be better but how else are we going to have fun experimenting? ;D Rudy
;D ;D
Quote from: Bryan Young on August 14, 2013, 03:55:47 AM
Quote from: Alto Mare on August 14, 2013, 03:02:23 AM
You're right Rudy, but I rather have Bryan's kit, its much easier.
Bryan, why wouldn't they want some? The Squidder is the same as the Jigmaster, just a little slower.
The main gear might be stronger on the squidder, due to beefier teeth .
Increasing the drags a bit would make the reel much smoother at its original max drags.
That goes for most reels. I've found that out from some of the tests that I've been doing.
Sal
Sal, because it'll be a $2k investment for me to make, and if I cannot break even quickly, ill be in trouble financially.
You're absolutely right Bryan, I wouldn't want you to be out on this.
Guys lets get on it, a little from everyone won't be so bad.
This is a good upgrade.
Sal
Ron and Rudy,
I thought one of you had mentioned trying the slower gears in the 66, but I couldn't remember who. Heck, I usually can't remember what I watched on TV last night. ;) I need to get off my duff and start experimenting again. ;D The first thing is installing the faster gears in my 113Narrow aka Grouper Special.
Andy,
I understand your point about the sentimental value. I think 1+3 will work just fine for most applications, and if you need anything bigger, then use your 113H.
BTW this is what the main gear is supposed to look like in your 66. This is from one of my small Senators, but it is the same gear.
(http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q523/rumbum01/P1010332.jpg)
I recently picked up a NIB Longbeach 60 for my grandson to have a little piece of history. I ordered 4 C Fs from Scotts and it made a huge difference in the smoothness of the drag and strength.
Excellent and cheap upgrade. I have a sabiki pole that holds up to 1/0 hooks for trigger fish and sea bass and I may just mount it on the pole.
George,
Thanks for that photo! That gear and drag set looks nothing like what came out of my 66. Here's mine. What's interesting is that the spacer sleeve on yours is polished and exposed, while the one on mine is a simple brass spacer that sits inside another cover sleeve which is pressed into the cover plate.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-44_2sRtl6ng/Ugwb6GcDEtI/AAAAAAAAACk/AFVSrw4BlAc/s800/P1000278.JPG)
Here's the cover plate with the beauty ring sleeve.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-k118iuPx6UM/UgwgcwT-7cI/AAAAAAAAADY/x97nYPEFgU8/s800/P1000280.JPG)
bajaandy, the reel looks more like a 65 then a 66. Rudy
That doesn't look like any of my 66s. I hope I sent you the rite plate!
Ron
Well, I don't know what to say... check the first photo I posted in this thread. The side plate is clearly marked as a Penn Long Beach 66. I'm tellin ya, I think she's an oldie!
Definitely different, is that inner sleeve made of copper? I am sure it is a 66, but not one I'm familiar with. If the diameter is the same as a 4/0 Senator and there is no top bar then the plate I sent you will fit.
Ron
Quote from: noyb72 on August 15, 2013, 02:20:36 AM
Definitely different, is that inner sleeve made of copper?
Ron
That's what I thought too. The inner sleeve and the wavy washer both look like they are copper, not brass. But I don't know how to tell the difference.
There shouldn't be anything different with the bridge, the Longbeach shares the same bridge ( 3-66 ) with all of the other models: 60,65,66,67 and 68.
What you have there is a set of gears from the 60, you could easily do that to all other Longbeach models.
You could also reverse what you have to the Longbeach 60, as I did here :
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=6003.msg50174#msg50174
Not easy, but it can be done.
Gears from the 60 are the same in diameter as the other Longbeach gears, the teeth are finer, but width is the same.
So, same bridge, same width dimension on gears ........ it has to work.
Sal
Sal, I think the early model 60 reels used a 3-60 bridge with a slightly smaller shaft in the bridge. Isn't that also a squidder bridge? Rudy
Quote from: RowdyW on August 15, 2013, 03:35:55 PM
Sal, I think the early model 60 reels used a 3-60 bridge with a slightly smaller shaft in the bridge. Isn't that also a squidder bridge? Rudy
I have never seen a 3-60 Rudy. I did have some of the very early Squidders and the bridge was the same as today's bridge 3-200.
Most sleeves on these smaller Penn's are the same , with very little variance. It doesn't really matter....well, unless you use the new ss gears that are cut to perfection, but that's another story. ;D
The only thing I have noticed to be different on the 3-200, was with the bridge post. Some of the earlier models were smaller but the OD of the sleeve was the same.
Even if the 3-60 does exist, gear swap on the 66 is possible...as stated above.
George mentioned if you ever used the 3-113 on those, I don't see why it wouldn't work.
Sal
Sal, I have 3 used 3-60 bridges. Would you like me to send you one? ;D Rudy
Rudy, if you could I would appreciate it, now I need to have one. Just make sure the one that you send it's stamped 3-60.
Thanks buddy.
I'll PM you my address.
Sal
Just went out in the garage and looked at my 65 bridge is stamped 3-60. It also has a small brass main gear and the same side plate as bajaandy's 66 ???
Wow, this could be interesting.
Ron
Can anyone post up a picture of a 65 side plate and a 66 side plate so I can see what they're supposed to look like? Sounds like I've got something "unusual" here.
No need to, Andy. The 65 has screw holes for 4 posts and the 66 has 6 posts, just like the photo in your first post. Additionally, the 66 has a larger diameter side plate.
I get the post differences, but I'm curious why some folks are saying this looks more like a 65 than a 66. I was just hoping to see the differences.
Quote from: bajaandy on August 16, 2013, 03:03:43 AM
I get the post differences, but I'm curious why some folks are saying this looks more like a 65 than a 66. I was just hoping to see the differences.
The only thing unusual I see is the 5-60 main gear. All of the other stuff is typical of an early Longbeach 66. The 3-60 bridge was replaced with a 3-66 in newer reels.
BTW in my photo of the main gear and bridge, don't let the hefty spacer sleeve confuse you. That is out of my Senator 2/0, which uses the same main gear as a Longbeach 66 is SUPPOSED to, part #5-66. Your spacer sleeve is correct for an early 66.
So early 66s had the chrome ring in the plate? None of mine have it. Funny, they all have steel gears. Guess they went through several changes along the way.
Ron
Bajaandy, I see a sticky coming ;). You've created lots of discussions with your post, some worthless and some priceless, most of the worthless are from me ;D.
Quote from: noyb72 on August 16, 2013, 04:09:57 AM
So early 66s had the chrome ring in the plate? None of mine have it. Funny, they all have steel gears. Guess they went through several changes along the way.
Ron
Yup! BTW I see some Longbeach 66 sideplates on ebay where the hole is much enlarged, as if for easy access to the drags. I've never seen that before. Comments, anyone?
I had an early Longbeach 65 with a chrome sleeve pressed into the sideplate, too, just like Andy's 66. I believe the newer 65's don't have that, either. This reel was the ugliest, most pitted reel I've ever had, but had the longest freespool of any of my reels.
Well, the old 66 is back together again. New Carbontex Smooth Drags (turned out the be the Penn 140 set). I left the original brass drag washers in, just cleaned them up and lapped them on some 600 grit. The cross bars are pretty pitted and corroded, but that's only looks. I suppose if I get a wild hair I could swap those out for some new ones. I doubt if I'll ever go that far. Anyway, here's what it looks like back together. I had an extra handle left over from another reel, so I put that on. Gonna take it out and see how it does. No reason to expect it won't do just fine. Thanks again to everyone for input and advice. And thanks Ron for the left side plate!
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_aIP9tnqul0/UhgJcdOqkaI/AAAAAAAAAFo/jJZgA34GC7o/s800/P1000298.JPG)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WVawIVP7ZZA/UhgJZAxOqaI/AAAAAAAAAFY/lVjnCOMOQIk/s800/P1000296.JPG)
glad to see it got there. go catch some fish!
Ronald
Thanks again Ron. I am bummed that I broke the original. It was the fancy one with the lighthouse and boat pattern on the surface. Kinda dome shaped (at least more than the one you sent), but everything fit back together just fine.