Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Spinning Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn => Topic started by: johndtuttle on October 03, 2018, 09:02:44 PM

Title: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: johndtuttle on October 03, 2018, 09:02:44 PM

Penn SSVI Service Tutorial and First Look

Heya fellas, this new Flagship reel is coming out in a few weeks and PENN sent one along for our perusal. I think we will find every quibble about the old SSV resolved in this stout offering and "IPX5" sealed reel (more on that later) that is leaps and bounds better sealed than anything offered before for the money spent.

In addition to seals in key areas are a top notch machined gear train that has been well proven in the Clash and Slammer III proving that PENN has been listening to us smelly fishos and is committed to offering real value.

Overall, while we may not have returned completely to the days of the "Z" series of over built tanks (with modest drags and wide open to salt) in some ways we are living a Golden Age of spinners with seals and quality gear trains, superb drags and lightweight performance for modest coin.

Meet the Spinfisher VI 4500:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/848/41850903530_936b205015_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPyf)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/851/28770600327_fe0040e811_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KQmR8e)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/929/28770600247_f4d90fbf2b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KQmR6R)

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/942/29789143388_55728f0388_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Mon9uu)

Did I say lightweight? 12.5oz for a reel that will hold over 300 yards of 20# braid and put out 20# of drag. Note that PENN actually rates the reel for a given thickness of braid...we all are familiar with the varying claims and thicknesses of braid out there...if you wonder if your favorite flavor will fit take a look at this thread that has a measurement of the thickness and actual breaking strengths of popular braids:

https://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/663798-line-testing-abs-and-kbs-a-work-in-progress/

Partly how PENN does this is with a modern graphite rotor which also makes the reel easier to spin. The body remains all metal for rigidity under max drag. Line Roller and Rotor:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/30147487047_e7b56a0582_k.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26TBg8f](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/41934497480_55e7b2b30f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MW2Kzr)

The line roller is a simple affair as we can expect at this ~$159.95 reel (price on the street may be less). Bearing, bushing and brass roller.

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/923/28773229737_584a7cce13_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/KQAjKT)

Standard stuff here under the cover:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/44364213274_58aac24aa1_k.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjc6A](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1911/44364213664_8fa37c3733_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2aAjbYS)1003181449 (https://flic.kr/p/2aAjc6A) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr


This chart explains "Ingress Protection" better than I ever could and what the manufactured good tests to is established by an independent lab:


(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/42756341295_3a32fa0771_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/289eqEc)ip_rating_chart (https://flic.kr/p/289eqEc) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr



So we can see an IPX5 rating is for protection from "jets of water with limited ingress permitted". What this means is that when you spray down your reels you are not spraying the salt deeper into the reel like any non-sealed spinner or conventional reel. We'll see numerous seals and "hydrophobic polymers" used to seal the reel and keep it free spinning.

Under the spool we see the Spool support assembly that includes the tried and true brass bushing to stabilize the base of the spool with clicker and seals:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/914/41850904570_07775f095a_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon9ih](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/919/29789142738_129800a772_z.jpg)


Drag Stack:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/MW2KmF](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1927/30147486307_2642d6e5c1_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPSb)1003181418 (https://flic.kr/p/MW2KmF) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1961/30147485657_f0fc6183db_k.jpg)

Under Spool Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon9jE](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/927/29789142818_ffb7471a47_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH65A](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1980/45036354262_38f9923d04_k.jpg)

Rotor:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon8Sh](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/931/29789141288_bfca9dfe11_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/KQmQCM](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/28770598677_a1f43397b7_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon99E](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/857/29789142238_520de14162_z.jpg)

Cool Hydrophobic Polymer seal for friction-less sealing of Pinion Assembly. The rotor and the top of the body nest together to create the seal:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPDW](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/933/41850903860_4d62f3f2a1_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPBb](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/835/41850903700_b59e32a273_z.jpg)

Its nests in these grooves under the rotor. Note the corresponding hydrophobic polymer bushing under the rotor:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26TBgdA](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/935/41934497790_97f1b8b893_z.jpg)

Sealed on the under side:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon949](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/918/29789141918_459565e2ec_z.jpg)

Like most PENN spinners you have to remove the Main Shaft to safely remove the Pinion Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5eh](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1943/45036351402_f859c36fda_k.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjcD9](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1962/44364215494_5896fad219_k.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5Co](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1920/45036352742_d3afb03c9b_k.jpg)
Top of Pinion Assembly:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon96U](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/29789142078_73b9fa76d5_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/26LdPku](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/41850902790_3c09a54d72_z.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/Mon96U](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/938/29789142078_73b9fa76d5_z.jpg)


A few whacks (protect your hand) into your palm and it drops out:

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aAjcv3](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1949/44364215024_b65302b819_k.jpg)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5nU](https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1948/45036351902_bdbf3006d3_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MW2Kat)1003181434 (https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5nU) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1923/45036352192_6ca8c909c2_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5sU)1003181433 (https://flic.kr/p/2bBH5sU) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

Nothing fancy-schmancy for the ARB:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/850/42838782005_8de0f1c90e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/28gvXpK)P1120668 (https://flic.kr/p/28gvXpK) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

The Body has a familiar and reliable plan:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/939/41850903950_98a5b4fb42_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPFu)P1120654 (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPFu) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/937/29872163968_86d93ddcb0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/MvGDBN)P1120664 (https://flic.kr/p/MvGDBN) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

Crosswind Gear:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1800/41934497230_404ff9ea61_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26TBg3W)P1120665 (https://flic.kr/p/26TBg3W) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

It rides on the nylon washer above and this brass bushing:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1777/41934497610_027417b0ab_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26TBgau)P1120666 (https://flic.kr/p/26TBgau) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

Side Plate with Body Seal and note the screws to retain the Bearings:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/931/29789142338_f373564866_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Mon9bo)P1120652 (https://flic.kr/p/Mon9bo) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

Seal of the handle opening:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/840/41850902870_688f3e6931_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPmS)P1120650 (https://flic.kr/p/26LdPmS) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr

The Handle is peened on permanently like the old SSV for low maintenance. Nice to see it was well greased already from the factory:

(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/841/29789141628_f2769a4151_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/Mon8Y9)P1120638 (https://flic.kr/p/Mon8Y9) by johndtuttle (https://www.flickr.com/photos/20496507@N07/), on Flickr


Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Frank on October 03, 2018, 09:10:58 PM
Thanks John. Nice!
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Alto Mare on October 03, 2018, 09:15:33 PM
Hello John... always a pleasure seeing you here.
Thanks for making it easy on us to take a look on these new products.

Sal
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: happyhooker on October 05, 2018, 03:24:53 AM
Quite interesting-thanks.

Frank
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Puddle Jumper on October 21, 2018, 12:06:50 PM
Thanks for the look inside,  8)
Going to be interesting to see how these work out after people start putting some hard use on them..
PJ

Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: handi2 on October 21, 2018, 06:33:16 PM
Thank you John.

I've torn down one myself and they look more durable. Time will tell on the exterior finish.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: conchydong on October 22, 2018, 12:19:45 AM
Nice work Doc! Very much appreciated.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Chuck750ss on October 22, 2018, 01:56:56 AM
Thanks!
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: johnachak on March 12, 2019, 04:09:30 PM
Thank you for a great tutorial / review

John
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: happyhooker on March 13, 2019, 12:39:02 AM
I might have missed it, but what material are the bail arms made out of?

Frank
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: 0119 on April 07, 2019, 10:38:41 PM
Quote from: happyhooker on March 13, 2019, 12:39:02 AM
I might have missed it, but what material are the bail arms made out of?

Frank

Graphite.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Gfish on April 07, 2019, 11:45:59 PM
"DUDE!"

JT or anyone else know if you can get rotor flex(just what I call it) by pushing on the rotor arms?
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Hapster on November 21, 2019, 06:35:57 PM
Good Day, I was doing maintenance on my Penn Spinfisher VI 4500, & removed 4 shims & I'm not sure where to replace them. Two are copper colored & the others chrome. Need your assistance please.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: vilters on May 04, 2020, 06:07:50 PM
nice, thanks for posting this. anyone have a link to schematic for this? i'm no spiinning reel guy, and have one that got dunked in nacl h2o needs complete disassembly and {hopefully} reassembly...
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on June 03, 2021, 04:28:16 PM
So these have been out a few years. Has anyone developed a strong positive or negative opinion on them after using it for a bit?
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: ReelClean on June 03, 2021, 10:51:38 PM
IPX5 my ar$e!  It works in reverse also: OPX5 (whatever gets in can't get out).
I have written off two chinese built Penns this year due to internal corrosion.  The grease they are using seems to hold all the salt and converts itself into blue/grey crystals/concrete; I can only presume the graphite or Li in the grease reacts with the salt.  I am guessing that the water came down through the pinion seal judging by the rusted ARBs. Also, the "sealed" sideplate bearings were rusted solid.
In both cases the pinion gear bridge in the body just corroded away.  Both these were smaller bodys where the bridge has only a couple of mm of metal over the top as you can see in one of the photos.  I have done a couple of 6000 size and they were still sealed and the grease in good condition.
IMHO, get a 'Gosa!
cheers
Steve
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on June 04, 2021, 05:55:08 PM
Quote from: ReelClean on June 03, 2021, 10:51:38 PM
IPX5 my ar$e!  It works in reverse also: OPX5 (whatever gets in can't get out).
I have written off two chinese built Penns this year due to internal corrosion.  The grease they are using seems to hold all the salt and converts itself into blue/grey crystals/concrete; I can only presume the graphite or Li in the grease reacts with the salt.  I am guessing that the water came down through the pinion seal judging by the rusted ARBs. Also, the "sealed" sideplate bearings were rusted solid.
In both cases the pinion gear bridge in the body just corroded away.  Both these were smaller bodys where the bridge has only a couple of mm of metal over the top as you can see in one of the photos.  I have done a couple of 6000 size and they were still sealed and the grease in good condition.
IMHO, get a 'Gosa!
cheers
Steve
Ouch. What the heck were you doing with that thing for it to get that bad?

My problem is most sealed or semi sealed reels don't come in smaller sizes, and im trying to find something I can take on a kayak with my 4yr old without worrying about it going swimming. Or more specifically if it does go in the drink it doesn't mean the end of the trip, it can wait til I get home for a cleanout.

Why aren't there any smaller reels with brass or better internals? Screw sealing, I'd prefer corrosion resistant materials.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: ReelClean on June 05, 2021, 11:07:30 PM
Quote from: JasonGotaPenn on June 04, 2021, 05:55:08 PM
Quote from: ReelClean on June 03, 2021, 10:51:38 PM
IPX5 my ar$e!  It works in reverse also: OPX5 (whatever gets in can't get out).
I have written off two chinese built Penns this year due to internal corrosion.  The grease they are using seems to hold all the salt and converts itself into blue/grey crystals/concrete; I can only presume the graphite or Li in the grease reacts with the salt.  I am guessing that the water came down through the pinion seal judging by the rusted ARBs. Also, the "sealed" sideplate bearings were rusted solid.
In both cases the pinion gear bridge in the body just corroded away.  Both these were smaller bodys where the bridge has only a couple of mm of metal over the top as you can see in one of the photos.  I have done a couple of 6000 size and they were still sealed and the grease in good condition.
IMHO, get a 'Gosa!
cheers
Steve
Ouch. What the heck were you doing with that thing for it to get that bad?

Customers reels  ::) (I have a mix of classic ABUs, Certate and Luvias with nothing newer than 2010). I don't buy chinese rubbish, and I refuse to service dept store garbage.
IMHO Penn should do better when they sell these for the price of a Saragosa!
There is nothing out there that I have found that will resist a dunking, but the 'Gosa seems to come the closest without paying for a Van Stahl.  You will get closer if you fully strip and grease the reel before use, at least get some protection applied.

Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: Ruffy on June 08, 2021, 02:09:08 AM
Quote from: JasonGotaPenn on June 04, 2021, 05:55:08 PM

Ouch. What the heck were you doing with that thing for it to get that bad?

My problem is most sealed or semi sealed reels don't come in smaller sizes, and im trying to find something I can take on a kayak with my 4yr old without worrying about it going swimming. Or more specifically if it does go in the drink it doesn't mean the end of the trip, it can wait til I get home for a cleanout.

Why aren't there any smaller reels with brass or better internals? Screw sealing, I'd prefer corrosion resistant materials.

If you're cranking with your left hand then you want the older Penn's - 712, 714, 716, 420SS or 430SS. All strong reels, give them a good service prior, they will handle a dunk and still work perfectly normal, but make sure you then do give them a teardown soon after just to be on the safe side.

Unfortunately, they never made any of those reels with a right hand crank, with the exception of the 713z. My favourite Penn reel; I also had a 711z but didn't like the overall size/balance of the larger rotor and spool on the same size body as the 713z.

Cheers,
Andrew
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: johndtuttle on July 06, 2021, 06:48:18 PM
Quote from: ReelClean on June 03, 2021, 10:51:38 PM
IPX5 my ar$e!  It works in reverse also: OPX5 (whatever gets in can't get out).
I have written off two chinese built Penns this year due to internal corrosion.  The grease they are using seems to hold all the salt and converts itself into blue/grey crystals/concrete; I can only presume the graphite or Li in the grease reacts with the salt.  I am guessing that the water came down through the pinion seal judging by the rusted ARBs. Also, the "sealed" sideplate bearings were rusted solid.
In both cases the pinion gear bridge in the body just corroded away.  Both these were smaller bodys where the bridge has only a couple of mm of metal over the top as you can see in one of the photos.  I have done a couple of 6000 size and they were still sealed and the grease in good condition.
IMHO, get a 'Gosa!
cheers
Steve

Dollars to donuts those reels were deeply submerged (and possibly cranked underwater) and then put away with zero service for significantly more than one year. Comparing **one reel** to **one other reel** without knowing their full histories is just not scientific information (ie knowledge).

Handi2 and myself have brought back to life even less expensive Penns that were found at the bottom of the ocean or bays. The above reels likely saw something along those lines of abuse, imo.

IPX5 prevents splashes from entering the reel and it does according to thousands of guys that have fished the reels. But ANYTHING will leak if submerged deep enough and everything requires service once salt gets inside. Yes, even Saragosas but the Slammer gears are far tougher.

ps and you can find photos of Saragosas that have leaked and corroded too out there.
Title: Re: PENN SSVI: Service Tutorial and First Look
Post by: johndtuttle on July 06, 2021, 06:49:54 PM
Quote from: JasonGotaPenn on June 04, 2021, 05:55:08 PM
Quote from: ReelClean on June 03, 2021, 10:51:38 PM
IPX5 my ar$e!  It works in reverse also: OPX5 (whatever gets in can't get out).
I have written off two chinese built Penns this year due to internal corrosion.  The grease they are using seems to hold all the salt and converts itself into blue/grey crystals/concrete; I can only presume the graphite or Li in the grease reacts with the salt.  I am guessing that the water came down through the pinion seal judging by the rusted ARBs. Also, the "sealed" sideplate bearings were rusted solid.
In both cases the pinion gear bridge in the body just corroded away.  Both these were smaller bodys where the bridge has only a couple of mm of metal over the top as you can see in one of the photos.  I have done a couple of 6000 size and they were still sealed and the grease in good condition.
IMHO, get a 'Gosa!
cheers
Steve
Ouch. What the heck were you doing with that thing for it to get that bad?

My problem is most sealed or semi sealed reels don't come in smaller sizes, and im trying to find something I can take on a kayak with my 4yr old without worrying about it going swimming. Or more specifically if it does go in the drink it doesn't mean the end of the trip, it can wait til I get home for a cleanout.

Why aren't there any smaller reels with brass or better internals? Screw sealing, I'd prefer corrosion resistant materials.

Consider the Slammer iii, Clash iii or the Battle iii DX with all Brass gears. A Saragosa would also be an excellent choice. Yakking is super tough on all gear. Many simply fish Jigmasters super packed with marine grease to deal with the inevitable ingress of salt or loss when landing the yak.