Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn Senator Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Shark Hunter on May 01, 2013, 04:06:56 AM

Title: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 01, 2013, 04:06:56 AM
I first want to say thank you to all the help and knowledge I have learned from this site. Alto Mare, Keta, Makule and of course Alan Tani. All your expertise and reel rebuilding tips and fishing secrets you have taught me are invaluable.
I am headed on my first Shark fishing trip next week and feel confident I am ready.
I am bringing a 9500 ss with a nice ugly stick. 6/0 with Tiburon frame. A 9/0 and a 12/0 spooled with 130 lb mono and some trick mouse trap shark rigs.
Hopefully I will have some nice pictures when I get back.
I am having trouble finding a rod that will fit my 14/0's and 16/0's. I have rods that the reels will fit in the seats, but when you try to bolt them down on the seat, there is a 1/4" gap. I have tried dealing with SOS and ebay rod builders on this matter, but they can't seem to help me.
I want a ready to rock roller rod rated to at least 130 lb. less than 6' for shore based Sharking with a harness and belt that I can just bolt up a penn 16/0 and fish with this monster! :P
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: alantani on May 01, 2013, 06:17:16 AM
good luck!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: UKChris on May 01, 2013, 12:04:05 PM
I'm not sure I understand you when you say the reel fits the seat on the rod but won't bolt down as there is a 1/4" gap. Do you mean the bolts are too short or the reel foot does not sit closely to the seat on the rod?

I suppose you might be able to get longer bolts (oddly, after reading your post I noticed that the bolts on one of my 12/0s are longer than on the other! Never noticed that before) - stainless from a marine hardware store if nowhere else - but if the reel foot is standing proud of the rod I guess it must be misshapen somewhat.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 01, 2013, 02:25:04 PM
The reel foot fits in ok, then you tighten down the rings, but on the bottom, when you slide the rod clamp over the bolts. The reel seat on the rod is not big enough. It has nothing to do with bolt length.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Bryan Young on May 01, 2013, 03:10:26 PM
In that case, get shorter bolts or cut them and you will be good to go.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 02, 2013, 03:53:59 AM
The bolt length has nothing to do with my problem. I put the rod clamp on the reel, tighten the bolts all the way to the reels seat. There is a 1/4" gap between the rod clamp and the seat. I need a bigger diameter seat to mount a 14/0 or 16/0. :'(
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Makule on May 02, 2013, 03:59:44 AM
Please post some images.  I'm having difficulty visualizing the problem that you are having.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Alto Mare on May 02, 2013, 04:08:49 AM
You might be trying to mount the reel on the wrong rod :-\, your rod needs to be rated for 130 class or better for those.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Keta on May 02, 2013, 04:16:35 AM
Is the clamp hitting the reel frame?  Photos will help.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 02, 2013, 04:55:27 AM
I'm glad to see some veterans trying to help a guy out!
This is the deal. I had this beast mounted to a okiaya 160 to 200 lb rated rod. I know these rods are cheap, but I figured I would give it a try. I looked in to some more expensive rods, but am afraid I will have the same problem. These are old school, and I want to keep it that way!javascript:void(0);
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 02, 2013, 05:03:01 AM
I can't figure out how to send pictures. A little help. I have them right here!
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Mandelstam on May 02, 2013, 05:23:00 AM
Upload pictures to a picture hosting site, click on the "Insert Image" button and paste the picture's URL between the IMG tags.

BTW, I think I finally understand your problem, but don't have an answer for you. Better wait for the experts.

/Karl
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Alto Mare on May 02, 2013, 01:28:26 PM
Daron, I just checked some of my rods and yes I do have some that only measure 1", most of the others measure 1 1/2".
You could make a shim in the same shape of your rod clamp for the bottom side of your rod, or if you happen to have a 33-116 you could shape it to fit. You will need a hammer and something to protect the finish, unless you don't care about looks :-\.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Robert Janssen on May 02, 2013, 02:44:31 PM


there ya go
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 02, 2013, 03:08:00 PM
Thanks Robert.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Makule on May 02, 2013, 08:07:14 PM
I guess you are saying that the reel seat diameter is too small and that the clamp will not touch the reel seat when the nuts are fully tightened on the bolts.  If this is the "problem" then:

A. You could try building up the rod reel seat;
B.  You could try making another clamp that is not as high; or
C.  You could simply put in a spacer between the reel seat and the clamp.

Of the three options mentioned (there are more) the easiest would be to put in a spacer.  Simply cut a piece of PVC pipe (for example) to the appropriate length, then cut it so that there is a split running along its entire length, then slip it on to the rod reel seat, between it and the clamp.  When the clamp is tightened it will push the spacer so that it will eventually hit the rod reel seat.  You can continue to tighten the clamp until it presses very firmly and not allow slippage.  The inside diameter of the PCV pipe should be such that it is about the same as the outside diameter of the reel seat.  When you make the lengthwise cuts, there should be enough space so that only about half of it remains.  The finished product will look like a "C" shape and the opening of that "C" will be the side that faces the underside the reel.

PVC is not required, of course, but it's waterproof, durable, and (my favorite) cheap.  I've seen people use other things for spacers, such as glued-on felt/leather, wooden wedges, etc.  I may have also seen someone with a custom machined spacer made of brass/bronze once.  Whatever works, works.  No need to be fancy about it, but that's just my take because reels, to me, are only tools and not "works of art" (even though Sal seems to be changing that).
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Keta on May 02, 2013, 08:10:45 PM
Option #3, remove the jam nuts and see of the clamp tightens on the rod without them.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Bryan Young on May 02, 2013, 08:20:23 PM
I was just thinking, and Makule already answered my though.  I'd probably use a cut PVC pipe to fill in the gaps.  Cheap, easy to cut, does not corrode.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Alto Mare on May 02, 2013, 09:12:20 PM
Lee's idea might work, but I believe your space is a little more than the thickness of the nuts. Let me know when you're leaving, I could make you one out of the 33-116 as I mentioned above, you won't find anything better. The pvc is a good idea, but I'm sure it will work itself lose during battle.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: broadway on May 03, 2013, 03:29:47 AM
    I think I'd give Lee's idea a shot, and then throw a thin nylon lined (locking) stainless hex nut on top of the nut you removed under the clamp.
Worth a shot before you need Master Sal to come in gunz a blazin'! ;D
Good luck with the big boys!
Dom
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: conchydong on May 03, 2013, 12:07:06 PM

Maybe you can cut an appropriate sized piece of PVC  pipe along the springline to fill in the space between the clamp and reel seat.
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: UKChris on May 03, 2013, 12:54:45 PM
Yes the problem is very clear from the photo (and indeed your explanation). Some sort of packing looks to be the only easy option and if PVC doesn't seem to answer, you could get some aluminium tubing approximately the diameter of your reel seat.

Cut a few pieces only a little longer than the width of the saddle clamp - say an inch and a half - anf cut them in half lengthways to give you some C shaped pieces. This can be placed between the clamp and the reel seat where tightening the bolts will force the aluminium packing to conform to the shape of the space. It might scratch the reel seat though unless you open the C shape out a bit first if necessary.

A bit of a pain to do, but may be a bit stronger than PVC.

Just a thought - and good luck in getting a screamer on that reel!
Chris
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Cameron Pitts on May 15, 2019, 04:47:17 AM
Hello everyone!  Newbie here.  I was googling answers about pairing this 160-200 Okiaya with my Penn 14/0 and found this thread.  I'm curious to know what the solution was for mounting your 14 to the Okiaya?  How did it all work out?  Would you recommend?  Thanks!
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: 54bullseye on May 15, 2019, 09:38:29 AM
Darin
How bout taking a piece of inner tube cut neatly maybe even folded in half to take up more space between rod clamp and reel seat ? If you do it neatly it would hardly show and would serve the purpose. A piece of leather would work as well. Just a quick easy temporary fix.    John Taylor
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: Shark Hunter on May 15, 2019, 07:35:31 PM
A Member made me a custom clamp that fit perfect.
It was put in a pipe bender or something to take up the slack.
You realize this is a six year old thread, right?
Title: Re: Penn 14/0 and 16/0 reel seats
Post by: 54bullseye on May 15, 2019, 11:04:14 PM
I didn't till now LOL !!!!!   John