Reel Repair by Alan Tani

You can get the original for about half that.

Quote from: Shark Hunter on January 23, 2018, 12:51:09 AM
You can get the original for about half that.

Not to mention the original Penn version can be found on ebay very cheap. Great reels for fishing 20 - 30 lb. line.

The 704Z and 706z reels are Tanks and will last a lifetime for sure, but are not flawless. Don't get me wrong, I have a bunch and love them.
I don't know everything I would like to know about this reel, I never held one, but reading about it and believe they're on the right track.
Even though the gear train is similar to the Z's, these are much lighter reels with a lot more available drag, that should translate to smoothness.
The Infinite Anti-Reverse System on these would be just what the doctor ordered for the Z's, but I personally wouldn't like it if it didn't have an additional dog for backup.
There are a bunch of guys customizing their 704Z & 706z to add some similar details you see on this reel.

I'm not sure about the Star reels, but If they take care of the issues that have been pointed out and adding a dog as backup, I would definitely buy one, if not...I'm out!

Sal

Sal, I agree regarding this design. The older design of the Penn doesnt make enough drag for it's weight. Now days a reel the size & weight of the Z series should be able to fish 40 lb. line but most in this can do more... Jeff

I hope they stay the course. Competition is a good thing.
Make a good product. Back that product up with good service. Hopefully has leadership that realizes a company can not set record sales/profit every month /quarter.
May be tough to stay the course. If they start becoming successful I am pretty sure Pure Fishing and others will take notice. And would hope they would use their money making better products. Not slinging mud at the new kid on the block.

Last thing I will do is trash a new innovator --

We need new ideas and variety -- for me, it is just hard to leave an old trusted and reliable friend for a new one.

But you guys may be right --

I also question the high drag numbers we seem to need on spinners? 

In the old days, say 40 years ago, we seemed to catch even larger fish than we catch today with smaller drag numbers.  There is something to be said for developing the skill required to also manipulate and use a rod properly to gain additional line on a fish -- instead of relying on the reel's good gearing and drag numbers to crank in the fish.

I am also likely being old-fashioned and naive -- but just take a look at the fish caught with fly rods and tiny reels with almost no drag.

Then there is the price of 575 yards of quality braid -- compared to the cost of a reel, at least for me.

Plus, will the spinner frame and other components hold up to 40 pounds of drag?  We will see, I guess.

Alan Hawk has a recent small blurb on his website -- it will be interesting to read his take on the Star reels when he reviews them further.

* (29 November 2017) The "Star Fishing Tackle" S7000 & S8000 reels have rubbish advertised drag figures. They claim 28lbs for the 7000 and 25lbs for the 8000, in reality the 7000 does 18.7lbs, and the 8000 does 17.5lbs. Figured it weeks ago but needed time to examine several pieces before I post. Full evaluation later, this is just a quick heads up. As usual be wary of efforts to prove otherwise.

Hope that when Sal examines and tests one of these as thoroughly as he does so well -- that my cautions are proved wrong.

Just my personal opinions --

In the meantime, back to the bench to work on more old reels.

Best,

Fred

   I don't know if any of you watched that video Alan posted, but after I watched that, well, they're gonna have to do some work. Fred mentioned something I always think about. Those crazy high drag numbers they put on spinning reels now. I love big numbers...who doesn't??...but hanging on to just 20lbs. of drag is tough. Especially stradlin' a big rock in the riprap...in the real world.

well, i wasn't going to say anything, but there is no way i'd fish with a spinner and that much drag.  i actually did put together a harness for a big spinner but never used it.  45 pound of drag with a rail rod and a decent rail to lay it on is no problem, but a spinner, mano a mano?  no, thanks!   

Quote from: alantani on January 23, 2018, 06:21:25 PM
well, i wasn't going to say anything, but there is no way i'd fish with a spinner and that much drag.  i actually did put together a harness for a big spinner but never used it.  45 pound of drag with a rail rod and a decent rail to lay it on is no problem, but a spinner, mano a mano?  no, thanks!   

Just my two cents worth on drags.(and that's about all my opinion is worth) I rate drags on how smooth they are. Not how much they "hold". This is based on many years of catfishing in the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers. Certainly not the same as catching sw fish. But a 30+ pound blue cat in strong current will test your equipment pretty good.

Quote from: Chuck750ss on January 23, 2018, 07:13:45 PM
Just my two cents worth on drags.  I rate drags on how smooth they are.

Yep, jerky drags at all drag ranges lose more fish than anything else -- because they can lead to either impatience, risks, or line failure.

That is why a thin coat of Cal's on the CF's, with SS discs, and sometimes a Delrin under spool washer -- are essential when fishing for larger fish in tough conditions.

With average or smaller fish -- we can get by with almost anything.

Best,

Fred

Quote from: Chuck750ss on January 23, 2018, 07:13:45 PM
Just my two cents worth on drags.(and that's about all my opinion is worth) I rate drags on how smooth they are. Not how much they "hold".

Yup, this is what I call fishable drag. You have what the reels max drag is & you have what I have come to call "Fishable Drag". Two different things.

While I enjoy at times using a few of my older reels I would not purchase a spinning reel for the majority of my fishing that weighed more than 20 oz . & produced less than 15 lbs. of fishable drag. I dont fish most of my reels any where near ther max usable drag as a practice. However knowing that my reels can produce far more drag is reasurring, brings confidence that my gear will be enduring, last & is up to any task that I use it for when called upon... Jeff

I believe you guys are getting mixed up with conventional reels vs spinning reels. Drag numbers work differently on spinners.
Now back to the original posting and try to stay focused men .
Sharkman has asked if anyone has seen this reel, no need for speculations if anyone could hold 50lb of drag, last time I looked this reel was rated at 28lbs...perfect for these if you ask me.
Many things need to be taken in cosideration when trying to get smoother drag.
A Delrin washer for under the main gear does do wonders, and I happen to know the guy that came up with that idea really really good.

Looking at this reel some more, I'm starting to believe that the designer was  Penn CEO.

Best!

Sal

The market place will deside if this reel will be a success or failure.

Quote from: Alto Mare on January 23, 2018, 10:39:00 PM
I believe you guys are getting mixed up with conventional reels vs spinning reels. Drag numbers work differently on spinners.
Now back to the original posting and try to stay focused men .
Sharkman has asked if anyone has seen this reel, no need for speculations if anyone could hold 50lb of drag, last time I looked this reel was rated at 28lbs...perfect for these if you ask me.
Many things need to be taken in cosideration when trying to get smoother drag.
A Delrin washer for under the main gear does do wonders, and I happen to know the guy that came up with that idea really really good.

Looking at this reel some more, I'm starting to believe that the designer was  Penn CEO.
Chris mentioned a couple of weeks ago that some smaller Star reels were in the works.

Best!

Sal

Sal, some how or another my post got caught up in yours when I replied.
Chris mentioned that some smaller Star reels are in the works.
As to the drag thing, all I meant is that I pay little attention to drag numbers. Seems a lot of people are hung up on max drag numbers. That's all.