Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Hi Alan,

First, thanks for all the informtion, posts, and tips!  You have a big fan club up here in Oregon on Ifish.

I am doing my first reel service, Penn 113H.  Are the metal washers in the drag stack supposed to be flat?  Belvilles are used only in lever drag reels, right?  Drag washers in star drag reels should be flat? 
I'm asking because after I reassembled it, there's a little bit of slop (axial) in the reel handle.  I noticed the old metal washers were not quite flat.  Was wonding if I assembled the parentheses wrong? 
There's also a little grinding (freespool is good; I can feel the grinding in the handle when the gears are engaged) - I was going to take apart and clean the gears better. 

Thanks again,
Dylan

chances are the gear teeth are shredded a little.  if you want to get it smooth again, you will most likely have to replace the main and pinion gears. 

the keyed and sloted metal washers are stamped from stainless steel.  there is always some slight curvature.  under pressure, they flatten out just fine.  the proof is in the drag pressure anyway.  they could be waved in an out a half dozen times.  if the drag works, it works. 

regarding the bellevilles, you will find them in many star drag stacks, just above the last final keyed metal washer.  the purpose is to distribute pressure downward to the outer edges of the drag washer.  if pressure is being applied only by the spacer tube to the center of the keyed metal washer, then you might get a little less drag pressure as a result.  regardless, just put it together using the parts you have and give it a yank.  if you get enough drag pressure, then call it a day.  particularly with the older penns, the tolerances are so loose on these reels that you could spend an entire day trying to dial it in just perfectly and never get it right.  trust me on this one, i've been there.  alan