These pictures are the V50 from Pro Gear. The reel looks to be very well made with excellent machining and materials.
The only issue with this reel is the threading on the main shaft and the drag star. When turning the drag star it's not very smooth. It will smooth out after some use.
The spool bearings are 4x10x4 and 5x13x4. The bushing in the handle side plate can easily be changed to a bearing and it's also 4x10x4. There is a bearing on the main shaft I did not measure. The clutch bearing is the very common 12x18x9 and can be purchased at Smooth Drag.
I did change that bearing. All 3 were opened, cleaned, and oiled with TSI301. The freespool was 40 seconds with no slack in the spool. The bearings were originally oiled only, no grease.
The carbon drags have a smooth finish like found in some Shimano reels. The dimensions are 10mm x 1 5/16 if you wanted to change them to Smooth Drags Carbontex.
I don't know who did the machining but it is excellent with no left over marks.
The frame screws have Loctite so they must be greased.
The spool click gear is held on with an C clip. The spool cross pin is slightly smaller on one end. Note this when putting it back in.
Continued.
Continued.
The clutch bearing sits low in the frame. Perfect to add a grease seal.
And yes the red fiber washer was changed to Delrin. 10mm x 22mm.
At $130.00 shipped it's a steal.
That thing does look to be built very well Keith...thanks for the look inside. 8)
They dont look much different than some of the originals. I forgot to add that the eccentric lever does not touch the frame in any position. The machined frame has drain holes for the gear box. The handle grip is the same as Alan Chui sells. It fits tight with no play. I hate it when a handle knob is clicking when reeling.
When i get it spooled I'll repost the drag numbers. They say 25lbs but you know how that is.
Keith
Looks good Keith!
Got the V20 yesterday. I couldn't pass it up for the price! As you said it looks good and nicely finished.
Going to add one of my Custom knobs and pair it up with my new slow pitch jigging rod. Should make a nice light weight combo.
Thanks for the write up, .. Lou
When I saw "Blown Apart" I was expecting something different like a pile of broken pieces ;D
Keith, nice look. star drive stand screws...very nice. You could spend $130 on SS guts alone to get a Jiggy where that reel is. $130, yes, all day.
Very nice reel ;)
Great write up Keith, I really like my V20
The V50, is it bigger or smaller than a Penn 501/500? I'm really tempted to get the V40 or V50, not much difference between the two in line capacity
Marc..
I think it's a tad larger in diameter than the 500 reel. Ill have to measure. Its back in the box on the shelf.
Keith: I could not pass it up either and perched one myself, for that price it was a steal. Did you get that delran Smooth drag?
Joe
Joe i punch all of mine in the shop. I can send you one if needed.
Keith
Great write up Keith!
I'm so glad to see these are well put together. I was a sceptic but, now, it's on my want-to-have-and-hotrod list.
Thanks!
Steve
Quote from: handi2 on July 31, 2018, 11:20:22 PM
Joe i punch all of mine in the shop. I can send you one if needed.
Keith
PM sent Thank you...................Joe
Quote from: handi2 on July 31, 2018, 09:51:27 PM
I think it's a tad larger in diameter than the 500 reel. Ill have to measure. Its back in the box on the shelf.
Yeah! That's what I figured
Thanks, Marc..
Got my Pro Gear V50 today, nice reel! I haven't had time to open it up yet as I have rods on the lathe to finish. I do know it is a bit larger then the Penn 500. So far I think it is a nice reel for the east cost fishing that I do. As soon as I get caught up with rod builds I will take it down and take pictures as Keith did...............Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on August 05, 2018, 01:54:25 AM
Got my Pro Gear V50 today, nice reel! I haven't had time to open it up yet as I have rods on the lathe to finish. I do know it is a bit larger then the Penn 500. So far I think it is a nice reel for the east cost fishing that I do. As soon as I get caught up with rod builds I will take it down and take pictures as Keith did...............Joe
Hey Joe!! Thanks for the feedback, meant to take my V20 apart but don't have the time also
Marc..
Do you happen to have pictures of the drag stack?
I still haven't had the time needed to brake it down yet but I will take pictures of the whole operation like Keith did............Joe
It's been a while. I spooled my Pro Gear V-50 today with 360 yards of Daiwa J braid. It's a great 8 strand braid.
To my surprise with the star tightened hard it was 10 lbs of drag. I took it back of the rod and went back in the reel. The Carbon drag material is very soft. I made 3 new Carbontex washers. The size is 3/8 x 1 5/16 x 1mm thickness.
Now I get 20lbs tightened hard. Advertised drag is 25lbs.
Keith
thanks for the up date. I'm looking to buy one of these. your tutorial was very good thanks mitch27
I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but is Progear still in business? The last I heard is they were gone, again.
I really liked their reels, I have owned some and still have one of the earlier models but support dropped off before, no new reels were built and then several years later they came back to life. Then to me it seems that they went away again.
I could be totally wrong and don't want to state untruths but I don't think ProGear has produced and new reels for a couple of years now. Am I missing something?
I bought a V20 when Keith started this thread a year ago (thanks Keith). The ebay price has gone up twenty-five bucks (now about $155 shipped for V50) but they are still being offered NIB and still seem like a really good deal. I was going to sit on mine but the kids took one look and had to have it for light trolling.
-steve
Been fishing the Vengeance, Violator and SD series (latest ones) and love them. Do fish my older ones also.
Thanks Keith. Appreciate the info on the carbonatex size. I was getting the same #10 drag pressure and ended up sanding the washer flat that got me above 15. I'm going to order the carbonatex now.
This reel is for sale. Its still brand new in the box. Its never been on a rod.
I will post in in the for sale section also.
Keith
$120.00 Shipped USPS in USA