Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Aloha gang, I have a penn 4/0 and 6/0 that I'm gonna do some maintenance on and I was wondering when I should be changing out the fiber washers? Is the whole purpose of pulling apart the drags and cleaning them to make sure the metal washers don't rust? Should I be changing out the fiber washers every time I service the feel?

if they are carbon fiber (HT100 or carbontex) you don't need to change them if the reel has been operating correcting. Just Cal's or Shimano drag grease each contact surface of the fiber and metals, including into the gear, and you'll be good. The Boss says forever. Back off drag star when not in use to avoid compression.

I have reels that are, 15-20 years old I guess with carbon fiber (Carbontex) washer and have never changed them out.

Adding grease to the fiber washers does two things. One is it does not let the washers absorb water/moisture which can stop the metal washers from rusting or corrosion and which can make other drag material jerky when wet or contaminated. Also this offers smoother drags especially at startup of the drag.

Great advise.

The reels probably still have the Penn HT-100 carbon drag washers. If they are hard, oily, glazed, or rusty they should be changed. If you get new ones get the Carbontex sets from either Dawn or MysticParts. These do last forever and I have charter boat reels that are used every day going on their 4th season with the same Carbontex washers. Do not use the small one in the kit. Use the stock hard plastic washer the reel comes with.

Keith

Here are some pictures of some 113H reels that had to be totally rebuilt. The Carbontex drag washers were fine. Cleaned and reused.

"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

The horror!

I have seen a few big senators in that kinda condition.  I always felt I should have charged an extra fee for the extra time cleaning this stuff takes.

John

I dont know how they got so much caked on dirt and debris. I take care of 3 captains over in the Grayton Beach area. They use 19 to 23 foot boats and launch them from the beach using a tractor. Right into the Gulf.

One captain uses them until something goes wrong. When they break he throws them into a bucket. No rinsing or anything. He brought me 2 buckets full of corroded reels. I have the option to fix what I can for a certain amount of money. I usually get them all done. If they need a spool they go back in the bucket!!

The only reels not corroded were his TLD reels, at least on the outside

Thanks guys great advice. I was wondering how you know if the drags are working properly? I read the wet vs dry drags thread and saw the technique with the 5lb weight to check if your drags are properly working. Is this how everyone does it?

Quote from: handi2 on February 03, 2018, 12:14:52 AM
I dont know how they got so much caked on dirt and debris. Right into the Gulf.

I don't know handi but maybe it is the waters they fish? Way more silt and sand closer to shore and in some places in the Gulf. Or what their fishing for and how. If you have been working very hard all day and into the night many times a meal, shower and a place to rest your head becomes more thought about than the gear dragging behind the boat?

As long as the keel, prop or no guests are being dragged across a sandbar that could be a good day when fishing is poor. Or after a great of fishing where no one one got any rest or maybe even a meal.

Hi guys, i just removed my drag stack to service. See Picture .

https://imgur.com/a/mur8z

Am i using the right grease for the washers?

I also noticed that these were felt washers. A close up of the washers as shown.

https://imgur.com/a/aaFgm

Are these washers actually black felt washers but turned yellow due to absorption of grease? How do i remove whatever the washer absorbed and make it black again?

Do tackle shops sell carbontex sheets? If no, what kind of shops will most probably stock them(no online retailers plz)? Why do reel manufacturers not put carbontex washers in their reels? It would make life so much easier for everyone. Are there any viable substitutes for carbontex washers?  

Howzit, RB.Unless Penn changed things up and these are a much latter Senator model than I'm used to, the washers you have look like they're from a diffrent reel. For example the I. D. Shape On the keyed metal washers should be round on two oppsite sides and flat(straight) on the other sides. Never seen felt washers from a factory Penn Senator either...
Gfish

looks like 6-stack from small Malaysian Shimano spinner
dirty felt, but not crushed/ruined -- you can wash & re-lube
you don't need CF for small spinners used w/ low drag settings -- felt is better, IMHO

NO HIJACKING -- start a new Topic for detailed discussion!

I like the felt washers for small reels and light drag as well.  Smoother than carbon fiber.  I drench them in naphtha and then press them between towel to get some of the old grease out.  They cannot handle being scrubbed and if you ruin them they may be difficult to replace.
-steve

I would still go with greased cf - even on small spinners - less future maintenace imho

nope -- won't bite, despite chompin' at the bit...
nothing to do w/ original topic (other end of the spectrum, actually)

Quote from: philaroman on February 08, 2018, 08:44:44 PM
NO ENOUGH HIJACKING -- start a new Topic for detailed discussion