Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I picked up a left-handed stainless gear sleeve (far right in the photo below) from a member on this board a while back. It's fine-pitch reverse-threaded, and I can't seem to find a drag star that will fit on it. Does anyone know the provenance of this gear sleeve, or know where I can find a star drag that will fit it?

Pictured from left to right:

1) Stock left-hand brass gear sleeve, coarse thread.

2) Stainless left-hand gear sleeve, coarse thread.

3) The gear sleeve in question.





I'm also looking for a couple more SS LH gear sleeves, so please reach out if you have one or two laying around somewhere.

I wish I had more in my unobtanium bin.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm thinking that 505-506 gear sleeves are fine thread, maybe you could find one from a lefty?

The standard Penn 505 uses fine-pitch threaded sleeves (part 98-505) and fine-threaded star wheels (part 10-505).

I remembered making a left-hand Penn Jigmaster 500 (the 500L-LH) for a southpaw friend, you will need the dedicated left-hand gear sleeve assembly, Penn Part 98-60LH to integrate into the left-hand bridge assembly 3-500LH. You can buy a lefty Penn 60 and take those parts, the lefty star and gear sleeve to make yourself a lefty. I used the Penn 10-60LH Star Drag Wheel to match the lefty gear sleeve. It's a coarse gear sleeve.

You need a special tap 5hat is very expensive to make a drag star.