Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I added the 1+5 drags in my Penn 2/0 to get more drag and have a new reel to see if it can handle these "Pigs". I am not going to upgrade to a 1+7 drags system because I don't see the main gears can handle it. I don't expect to go after anything bigger than a 10 pound blackfish with it. The first few seconds matters as these pigs must be pull from their hole. No mods were made that I can't undo and I can make it original again.   Yesterday, on my testing, I got about 17 pounds max drag and I would use the heck out of it. Well, the 2.5:1 gears mean it has torque!

I put 24-49 handles on a few of mine that I use at a local pier. Gives a little more power

Quote from: thorhammer on March 16, 2026, 01:14:14 AMIf you want larger handles and I ever get back to my shop, I'll send you some gratis by way of Maxed Out, who sent to me.

Thanks, John! If you do have a larger handle that you don't need I would be very grateful, and happy to pay for the shipping.

Quote from: thorhammer on March 16, 2026, 02:09:53 AM(and you may have a steel main from the Beachmaster)

Thanks for that comment, John. I'd been focusing so heavily on the left sideplate issues that I forgot about all the goodies I can poach from the right sideplate of the donor 155 reel. I'll take a look and move over anything that looks better than what was in the original 180.

That's a lot of fun and successful fishing reflected in those photos, bja105! I've been intrigued by the 350 and may try one after I get done with the 180s I'm currently working on. Those are nice carp! Is that Pflueger Alpine a knuckle buster? I've been thinking of trying one of those as well, maybe a Penn 78, for some old school carp fishing.

Penn 350


Penn 704Z


Airex Saltwater Mastereel


Pflueger Alpine

There is a second red/rose colored reel in the back.  Maybe an Ocean City.  The curious reel is the silver thing to the left of the 6/0.

Quote from: alantani on January 28, 2026, 05:58:04 PMthis is from brendan duesterhaus!!!

https://www.mexpermits.com/

This one work much better.

Langley Lurecast, 50 yards of 15lb braided mono (Gudebrod Meatmaster) and 6' of 8lb fluoro as a leader.
Casts surprisingly well down to about 1/4 oz, below that I'm not good enough to control the backlash..

That is a 1940s reel on a 1970s fiberglass rod, with a 2026 Megabass lure.. at one point was also trying a 1950s wood Creek Chub Jointed Pikie.

the reel and I worked hard for 8 hours of throwing everything I could think of, tubes slow on the bottom, jerkbaits midwater, spoons deep and slow, etc etc but no fish to show.. boo.

Also had the Shakespeare 2062 on a Wonderrod for when the wind got up and it was just too unpleasant to baitcast.

I'll say this- those reels have small gears and are slow, but with modern drag kits (and you may have a steel main from the Beachmaster) way stronger than your Abu 5500/6500 reels, and look at the fish they have landed...just saying. I'd want the 24-66 handle but wouldn't hesitate to stack one of your builds against a 40 lb cat or carp.

My .02, having done this and fished them alongside the Abu's.

Quote from: thorhammer on March 16, 2026, 01:14:14 AMEccentric- try dressing the proud stob with a file.

I didn't even think of a file. I think I will go out and get one tomorrow and file down the eccentric spring where it is protruding.

Quote from: thorhammer on March 16, 2026, 01:14:14 AMThese reels are fun to play with, and to be fair will deal with 95% of fish swimming. Squidders for certain landed tons of large drum and stripers in their day.

I've had fun playing with it, and am now looking forward to fishing with it. I love the clickers on the old Penn conventionals. It will be fun to hear it screaming when a carp hooks itself on my bolt rig and takes a run. I think this reel will be able to handle the carp and catfish I typically catch.