Windshield or Bug?

**histprof** · #1 08-01-2012, 10:54 PM

I got whipped tonight by an old Penn 209. I got the reel in a box of fixer-uppers and it had a cracked left side plate and no eccentric lever. It bound up very badly and would not turn. I have a 209 and rarely use it, so it was low priority. I eventually found the parts cheap. Not interested in TV tonight, I decided to do the side plate swap. I forgot what a pain the xx9 reels are with the levelwind taking three hands, a rubber band and some anti-gravity to position correctly as the reel comes back together. I finally got it and then found that the reel still did not turn right. So, thinking "I must be an idiot", I opened the right side. I forgot the absolute joy of all the little parts and springs raining out like so much greasy penance to be served. I inspected all of the parts and found no damage. So... the binding is likely because of grime or improper installation at an earlier service attempt. Feeling better, I start trying to put it back together. FAIL. Can't get drag stack and gears to seat correctly so that the anti-reverse dog & spring can find a home. I never saw it in position, so I am guessing about how to install the dog. After an hour... and a trip to the fridge to find no beer... I have given up for the night. It will live in the ziploc for a while. I will read Alan Tani, re-stock with essential supplies, and give it a go at a later date. Once again, I think of the guys on the line building those things at Penn for decades. How did they stay sane building Chinese finger puzzles?

**Dipsay** · #2 08-02-2012, 07:57 AM

Amen brotha! LOL My first rebuild of a 209 Penn came in a Country Crock tub all apart. My buddy had taken the 4 screws in the middle out first, then took the outer housing screws off. Yup, you guessed it.. Spraaaang! He gathered all the parts together and let it sit for 15 yrs till he gave it to me. Took me a while to figure out how that dog went back together as well. Love your description of getting it back together..LMAO! They are a PITA, but once together. those reels are tank proof.

**bigfost** · #3 08-02-2012, 10:35 AM

It's always amusing to hear people who don't do it regularly describe disassembling and reassembling Penn reels, especially the level winds.

To understand their complexity, I think you have to go back to the origins of the company. They were a machine shop. They probably thought designing all those little parts that fit so neatly together was a hoot. Little did they know the amount of future moaning, groaning and cussing they were creating.

As with anything, the key is practice, practice, practice. After doing it for 40+ years, I can rebuild any conventional Penn reel, blindfolded, on the beach while I'm fishing. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration, but I'm pretty good with them. I can usually do a 209 now with a bare minimum of grumbling and cussing to myself.

Now, seriously, I may have more bad news for you. The 209s are one of those reels that is famous for being used and abused. If you had the reel back together, and it still didn't want to work right, something else to look at is the spool. If it ever had mono put back under heavy stain from a fight with a big fish, there's a good possibility the spool is spread. The cracked side plate is a clue that might be the problem. Another possibility is that the shaft might be bent. That's not as common as a spread spool, but it does happen.

I assume you've already checked the spiral bar. The ends of the cuts can get rounded over and the level wind won't operate properly.

Anyway, leave it in that bag for a while, then take another run at it. Next time you'll get it.

**histprof** · #4 08-02-2012, 12:06 PM

Yes. I was planning to check that spool once I inspected the gears. I got distracted by the cascade of little parts and dove into the puzzle solving. If the spool is shot, I have a spare, so the reel may still return to service. It will be at the back of the line for actual fishing use, so if I need it, I will have been on an apocalypse level run of bad luck.

**trout250** · #5 08-06-2012, 07:04 PM

alan tani has a tutorial on penns nd most od the other big reels
www.alantani.com
I feel for you as i have to do my sons big penns and when you are used to doing curados it takes some getting used to
JIm

**bigfost** · #6 08-07-2012, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by histprof

If the spool is shot, I have a spare, so the reel may still return to service. It will be at the back of the line for actual fishing use, so if I need it, I will have been on an apocalypse level run of bad luck.

That's kind of where mine has been relegated, too. Sometimes I feel kind of bad about that. For many years, one or two 209s were part of my first team lineup, but in recent years, as I've gotten more of the Daiwas and Jigmasters, the 209s have been rotated to the bench. I did break one out about a year ago and caught a nice 5 1/2' shark on it. Then, back to the shelf it went.

I may give them a shot every now and then, for old time's sake.