Handle Knobs

[Midway Tommy]

Why is it that nearly every white Penn handle knob I see has one or more stress cracks?  Too soft of plastic? It always prevents me from purchasing the darn reel. 

[basto]

That reminds me of the white rubber tips I used to get to put on the bottom of chairs. The black ones last a lot longer.

[Tiddlerbasher]

Tommy - it could be that the white plastic is harder? Hard plastics are maybe more prone to splitting

[foakes]

That knob looks like one for a 716 or 714 reel, from this angle, Tommy —

The reel you are showing us is a 722 old metallic green high speed.

And someone may have installed a knob from a smaller reel (714-16), I believe — which is not correct.

However, it could just be the angle I am looking at it from.

And, of the knobs I have — I think that is a mold mark that is going diagonally across the knob — they are all like that.  It may not be cracked.

If you decide to go ahead and get the 722 — I can send you this new correct knob and aluminum grip screw right away.

N/C.

You should get the reel cheap because of the knob...

Best,

Fred

[foakes]

Here are a few new ones, Tommy —

Those diagonal mold marks get dirt built up on them — and sometimes look like a crack in a pic.

Even the seller will think it is cracked — until it is cleaned up.

Best,

Fred

[mo65]

   Hey fellas...looking at Fred's pics and seeing the mold lines in the new knobs...I'm thinking Tommy's "crack" is just a dirty mold line!

[Dominick]

Yep! That's what it looks like to me also.  It makes sense to mold those handles diagonally for strength.  Dominick

[Midway Tommy]

Well, there you go!  I love learning something new. I've got 8 Penn spinners and none of them have the flat white knobs. Two have blacks and the other 6 have white torpedos. Never looked that close at the one black flat knob.  Thanks, Fred! I sure have passed up a lot of decent lighter Penns because of that crack looking line. Beware now, though!   

[jurelometer]

OTOH, the 720/722  drag knobs crack pretty frequently at the point where the brass insert is pressed in.  They are getting harder to find.