Penn 320 GTI - Main gear grinding

[retiredandfishing]

So had to pry open a Penn GTi 320.  Spool bearings stuck in place.  Thought I got away with minimal damage but now find I have a problem.  I've replaced both spool bearings, the yoke as well as the idler gears and the main and pinion gears as well as the spindle/spool. But, when I test the drag with tension on the line it seems the main and pinion gears grind when I try and reel.  If I leave drag on but put no tension on the line it reels pretty well although has a little noise. 

I am into this for parts as the reel was given to me, but now it is a challenge I don't want to let go of but don't want to continue buying parts either.  LOL

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[alantani]

usually when a new main and pinion start grinding, it's because they are out of alignment, and usually the misalignment is cause by a crunchy bearing or a seriously mangled bridge.  not sure about the cause in this case.   

[akfish]

Several things can cause the gears to grind. Unfortunately when that happens, you need to replace both the main and the pinion gear. I go through lots in the shop, mostly on reels that were fished with heavy drag for halibut.

[handi2]

Shoot me a PM. I have some parts or you.

Keith

[retiredandfishing]

usually when a new main and pinion start grinding, it's because they are out of alignment, and usually the misalignment is cause by a crunchy bearing or a seriously mangled bridge.  not sure about the cause in this case.   

Thanks Alan.  I replaced the bearing initially.  Was thinking it might be the bridge.    So I'll replace that too. I'm in to it this far might as well go all the way. 

[retiredandfishing]

Wanted to complete this reel problem and share what I found.  So, this reel lay in my shop for months.  Could not figure out why the main gear seemed to grind, even though I had a new bridge and bearing (thank you Keith), new main gear and new pinion gear.  Kept playing with it then took a closer look at the new main gear under my new lighted magnifying glass, it had a bevel on the main gear on the front.  I thought I had read somewhere that Penn changed the design on the main and pinion gear, where the new main gear has no bevel on the front side.  So I did a little research and found that, that was true and that the old main design and new pinion will not work together or vice versa either.  So I ordered another set from another supplier and the reel works great.

Nice to finally figure it all out and thanks to all for the help.  Have a nice 321GTi back in operation now for bottom fishing.

Steve

[handi2]

Steve I just replied to your PM for parts. I need to be sure of the reel number. Is it a 320 or 321? The 321 you crank with your left hand.

Thanks Keith