Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I purchased a Penn 750ssm sometime back. It's stayed on the shelf an in the box until yesterday. I don't purchase reels to collect, no shelf queens for me. I planned on selling it to a friend, but changed my mind, an started to spool it with mono, an it just did not feel as smooth as my older reel. I put the spool back on an at times it had that jerky feel that felt as sand, or metal to metal feel, but not all the time, just once every so often. Maybe something loose.

I removed the side plate an the lack of grease surprised me. The bearing was dry. I do pack mine with grease, all bearings except the spool ones. The main gear was greased, but I felt it was way short. The other side plate bearing was dry as well. I was under the idea all ball bearings were to be packed with grease. I packed the bearings, they rolled smoothly in my fingers now. I decided to check the drag. It worked fine on the bench running off line. After opening it the washers were dry. I know everyone packs them with grease, but it being dry you could not tell the difference after wiping them down with Cal's.

I put it all back together and the difference was quite different. I don't know if this is common, I must have a dozen reels but nothing like this. Most are Penns an my choice to fish with. All are easy to service. I was wondering if any others have seen this before? The reel now works great.

Black Lab, every new reel should get a pre service no matter what brand. Don't trust the manufacturer.        RUDY

It is typical. I bought a brand new production 14/0 and the drags were bone dry.

All the SSM reels are like that. I have pictures galore I show them when I open their reels.

Quote from: Black Lab on October 22, 2015, 09:16:42 PM
I purchased a Penn 750ssm sometime back. It's stayed on the shelf an in the box until yesterday. I don't purchase reels to collect, no shelf queens for me. I planned on selling it to a friend, but changed my mind, an started to spool it with mono, an it just did not feel as smooth as my older reel. I put the spool back on an at times it had that jerky feel that felt as sand, or metal to metal feel, but not all the time, just once every so often. Maybe something loose.

I removed the side plate an the lack of grease surprised me. The bearing was dry. I do pack mine with grease, all bearings except the spool ones. The main gear was greased, but I felt it was way short. The other side plate bearing was dry as well. I was under the idea all ball bearings were to be packed with grease. I packed the bearings, they rolled smoothly in my fingers now. I decided to check the drag. It worked fine on the bench running off line. After opening it the washers were dry. I know everyone packs them with grease, but it being dry you could not tell the difference after wiping them down with Cal's.

I put it all back together and the difference was quite different. I don't know if this is common, I must have a dozen reels but nothing like this. Most are Penns an my choice to fish with. All are easy to service. I was wondering if any others have seen this before? The reel now works great.

There was little grease put in old Penns, certainly no drag grease.

That is all changed and the only complaint I ever heard about currently made Penns (that 750ssm is probably 10 years or so old) is that they have too much grease in them. 

We have recently seen some reels that were underwater for weeks that were resurrectable due to plenty of Penn grease inside protecting them.

It is just after midnight here an I just finished servicing another SSM model. A friend I talked to about the reel asked me to look at his. He stated it has always had this jump an click as he called it. He used the reel a one or two outings an put it away an forgot about it until he spoke with me.

I noticed the same odd feel to the rotation. I disassembled it an to no surprise it had no lube on the side plate bearings. The bigger problem was the harshness of the main shaft almost like sandpaper on the pinion. Also a small brass shaving stuck in the grease. Inspection of the pinion showed a shiver of brass removed from the tooth f the gear.

I did a full cleaning of everything, removed the burrs from the main shaft an edge of pinion. Lubed up all correctly an when she was all put back together the difference is amazing. No doubt there was an assembly problem but, I don't blame Penn on this one. They did not put this line of reels together. I am still a strong advocate for them. But if I come across any more of this model line I will be sure to let the person know what I found. I don't think these are bad reels, but they do need service. I cannot wait to use mine this weekend, an it will not be the reels fault if I come home empty, hopefully.

Every SSM I have opened looks just like the new one in my first picture. If you don't service them they will look like the second picture very soon.

Well here I am again finding myself another Penn in need of service that should be in fine condition, being that it's les than a year old. Another reel came in for service, A Penn SSV6500, the new Spinfisher. I earlier noted the condition of a new 750SSM. I did not expect to find the same condition in this new model. The side bearings had little to no grease. I cleaned them, repacked them an lightly greased the case body as well. The reel had a very stiff feel. I thought it was taken apart an over greased. That was not the case. The pictures posted above were nearly what I found in this newer model reel . It did have a little more grease but nothing to really speak of.

After servicing this reel I wanted to use it being that it's the new version. I can't say I don't like it, I really do. After being serviced as it should the reel handles nicely. It's better balanced than older models. The bail has a positive feel. I don't crank my reels over to reset the bail, I normally just flip it by hand, but this larger one is better placed for my hands. Not as heavy feeling an means a lot at the end of a long casting day. The drag I think is some what better. I do not dislike the drag on my SSM's but I think this style is better.

I don't like the smaller screws. Those 6 screws on the side plate bearing retainers are just to small. The screws on the pinion retainer are to small an not as hard as others. To soft. I think I will travel to Fastenall an see what they have on had before I send this back. All in all these are better reels than the predicessor an my favorite Penns. But as with all things it can be improved. Penn should ask all dealers to service these things before sold as a comment stated

I'm glad you like that reel, I had a chance to play with one when they first came out. About your last comment, it all depends who you ask.
Some reels will require more maintenance than others, you keep after your reels as you do, you should be good.

Sal