Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: turboal on August 24, 2013, 04:04:04 PM

Title: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 24, 2013, 04:04:04 PM
Ok, I pulled out my 2  349 reels. one is Blk and one is Red. both have Newell cross bars. turns out their both Hi spd 3:25-1.
a few questions. can i dbl dog it ? what is the best drag setup ? I don't know if they have steel gears, not cracked open yet.
both have the 3 hole handles. what else can make them better ? SS gear sleeve ?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 24, 2013, 04:14:26 PM
Quote from: turboal on August 24, 2013, 04:04:04 PM
Ok, I pulled out my 2  349 reels. one is Blk and one is Red. both have Newell cross bars. turns out their both Hi spd 3:25-1.
a few questions. can i dbl dog it ? what is the best drag setup ? I don't know if they have steel gears, not cracked open yet.
both have the 3 hole handles. what else can make them better ? SS gear sleeve ?

You can double dog them but I haven't done any of mine.
A 5+1 drag is far superior the stock drag but as of now I don't know where you can get the needed thin metal washers.  I'll dig around and see if I still have a set I can part with, if not I can have more cut.
The only 349/349H gears I've ever seen were steel.
You can replace the stock gear sleeve with a SS 113H one, the ratchet is slightly smaller but they work well.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: thinket on August 24, 2013, 05:46:23 PM
hi keta,

if your going to cut some 349 washers I have two 349's i'd like washers for as well.

thanks,
ralph
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: surfcaster on August 24, 2013, 06:35:25 PM
 Dawn from smoothdrag hooked me up with some ground stainless 349h washers & some really thin carbon fiber washers to make a 5 stack drag for a 349h
It has worked out Awesome for bottom fishing.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 25, 2013, 12:18:14 AM
can i use a Pro Gear 541 bridge an sleeve ? are they any better ? or stay with Penn parts ?
going to call Dawn about  a 5 stack drag. if i use the SS 113H sleeve do i need to modify the dogs ?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 25, 2013, 12:44:49 AM
Quote from: turboal on August 25, 2013, 12:18:14 AM
.... if i use the SS 113H sleeve do i need to modify the dogs ?

No.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 26, 2013, 08:09:52 PM
Lee,which carbontex washers do you need for a 5+1 stack ?  yes i would need the thin metal washers from you
for 2 reels.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 27, 2013, 05:06:07 AM
I have the thin washers, I'll have to go to the shop and get my Smooth Drag washer reference sheet and I'll get back to you.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 27, 2013, 05:07:47 PM
Ok, thanks
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: George4741 on August 28, 2013, 03:20:39 PM
Turboal,
I can use Smoothdrag's #48 with the standard thickness metal washers for a 1+5.  You will have to enlarge the holes in the carbontex.  The #48 is .040" thick so everything just barely fits.  Your mileage may vary.  If you want something thinner, like .030" thick, I suggest Dawn's #46 carbontex.  Check out her carbontex washer size chart. Additionally, Dawn's #12 is designed for, and fits nicely under the main gear.
 George    

BTW this is for the 349H 3.25 gear ratio.  The slower 349 uses a smaller drag washer.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 28, 2013, 03:29:37 PM
George, won't i need some more metal washers ? i do have 349H's
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: George4741 on August 28, 2013, 03:31:31 PM
Yes, Dawn sells 349H metal washers.  That is where I bought mine.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 28, 2013, 06:58:24 PM
I used the Smooth Drag #59 CF washers (.020") and .035" metal washers.  You will have t reduce the OD of the CF washers.   I have  .035" metal washers.  I can get 2 Bellville washers in my stack using the thinner CF and metal washers.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 29, 2013, 12:14:58 AM
lee, where do the bellviles go ?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 29, 2013, 01:14:55 AM
On the 349 under the star like this ().
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 30, 2013, 02:59:04 AM
thanks Lee.  do you have any SS dogs for this reel ?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 30, 2013, 04:17:16 AM
Quote from: turboal on August 30, 2013, 02:59:04 AM
thanks Lee.  do you have any SS dogs for this reel ?

I'll look but I think I sent the last two out last week.  I can cut more.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: turboal on August 30, 2013, 04:30:30 PM
ok, let me know i will need 4.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on August 30, 2013, 05:18:59 PM
I'll try to get them cut.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: George4741 on September 03, 2013, 02:38:57 AM
I was just checking Smoothdrag's website and I don't see the 349H metal washers.  They may have discontinued them. :-\
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on September 03, 2013, 03:00:47 AM
Quote from: George4741 on September 03, 2013, 02:38:57 AM
I was just checking Smoothdrag's website and I don't see the 349H metal washers.  They may have discontinued them. :-\

Dawn should have some in a week or so.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: jaidam on May 06, 2014, 07:28:02 AM
 Lots of threads on the 349, hope I can post my question here.

After years of trolling wire line for mackerel with a Penn 49 which was perfect except for customers regularly shredding the sleeve cranking in a big one, I decided to upgrade to a 349. I picked up 3 of them. I have tried the 349 with the regular drags they came with, which didn't work well as the drags were sticky when a fish was running. So changed to HT100 greased with Cals, from a spare 113H I had lying around. Problem is exactly the same. When a fish runs, the drag is not smooth at all. I have now tried 2 different Penn 349s and the problem is identical with both. I'm fishing 30lb leader with a fairly tight drag. Today we had a good hit and the clicker sounded brrrrrr.....brrrrr then rod bent over, the drag stopped paying out line, and the line snapped.

My question is, is there any other reason for the drag to not be smooth and useable. The Penn 113H worked perfectly so I know the HT100s are fine. The metals likewise are lapped and smooth. It's very confusing, so before I stop using the 349 and go back to the 49 can somebody tell me if I'm missing something obvious?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on May 06, 2014, 02:51:51 PM
My 349's are as smooth as any other Penn reel, they all have 5+1 or 7+1 drag stacks.   Did you use the original thick metal washers and double up the 113H HT-100 CF washers?   If so I'd get a 5+1 set from Smooth Drag.  Did you replace the wavy washer with Bellville spring washers? Check and see if the gear spins free on the gear sleeve. 

If you do go back to 49's install a SS gear sleeve.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Alto Mare on May 06, 2014, 04:44:30 PM
Quote from: Keta on May 06, 2014, 02:51:51 PM
My 349's are as smooth as any other Penn reel, they all have 5+1 or 7+1 drag stacks.   Did you use the original thick metal washers and double up the 113H HT-100 CF washers?   If so I'd get a 5+1 set from Smooth Drag.  Did you replace the wavy washer with Bellville spring washers? Check and see if the gear spins free on the gear sleeve. 

If you do go back to 49's install a SS gear sleeve.
Or if you have time and patience you could do something as this ;D
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=6197.msg52039#msg52039
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Keta on May 06, 2014, 04:54:46 PM
That is the ultimate 49 upgrade.
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: mhc on July 22, 2014, 09:51:13 AM
Lee - Do you have any 113H handle arms and 349 SS dogs lying around looking for a new home?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: doradoben on July 22, 2014, 05:25:52 PM
I know this may be an obvious question, but I'll ask it anyway. Is the drag set at more than 30% of line test at the top of the spool?
Title: Re: penn 349
Post by: Ron Jones on July 22, 2014, 05:31:00 PM
Yes.

Ron