Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn International Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: surfgod82 on September 20, 2021, 04:29:00 PM

Title: Penn 80
Post by: surfgod82 on September 20, 2021, 04:29:00 PM
Looking to see if this is normal.
I have an original penn 80 I just had serviced, updated drag and new 100lb mono.
I set the drag at the button to 30lbs, now I have no freespool. I have to pull the line off the reel with 2 hands. My question is, is this normal or do I need to have it serviced again.
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: RowdyW on September 20, 2021, 04:57:20 PM
Have any bearings been replaced especially the outer one near the handle? Was this a problem before the service?                  Rudy
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: surfgod82 on September 20, 2021, 05:56:06 PM
I doubt the bearings have been changed. I was given this reel last year from my dads friend. Im assuming it was this way before it was  serviced. Should I replace all 4 bearings or just the pinion gear bearing.
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: handi2 on September 20, 2021, 06:56:39 PM
There are so many things that can make that original reel not work as intended. Tell us what you used to upgrade the drag. That's a good starting point because it changes the thickness.

Keith
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: surfgod82 on September 20, 2021, 07:19:40 PM
I was told the drag was "upgraded". I didn't ask what that meant and this was done a year ago. I haven't had the need to use it since this was done. I used it yesterday and it was a huge pain in the #### trying to get a bait out.
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: Wompus Cat on September 20, 2021, 09:21:33 PM
Can you not just back off on the Knob and get Free Spool ?
If not something is in Wrong me thinks.
Setting your Drag to 30 would be ideal IF you had Factory Drag etc. But Updating  Might put more tension so it is not allowing Fee Spool where it use to be .
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: surfgod82 on September 20, 2021, 09:38:29 PM
Yeah I can set the button to 20-24lbs of drag and get freespool and make a mark above the button where 30lbs would be but was trying to see if maybe there was an issue starting.
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: mwgdc31 on May 09, 2022, 06:04:34 PM
Just went through same issue.  I put in the newest drag washer system that Penn now supplies.  There is a retrofit package that works great.  After I made the change, I lost freespool to quickly.  If reel is in otherwise good working order, the Belleville washer arrangement might help.  It did for me.
I changed from the ()() to (()).
I know can get up to 30-32lb at strike and still have freespool.  Max is 42-44lb.
Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Penn 80
Post by: alantani on May 09, 2022, 06:58:28 PM
if you google the different dimensions of a belleville, you will find an inside diameter, an outside diameter, a thickness and a height. thicker bellevilles, regardless of the configuration, will give you a steeper drag profile!