We've all heard it before: that peculiar grinding noise as the angler turns the reel's handle while fighting a big fish. A sound usually followed shortly there-after by the sharp snap of the line breaking as the reel seizes up and several loud curses from everyone on board. Thankfully, with today's high-tech reels, this scenario rarely rears its ugly head since most captains and mates work hard at maintaining their gear to make sure it won't fail. But as the old saying goes, "stuff happens," and every once in a while you might find yourself staring at a pile of reel parts late at night, wondering if you're going to get the thing back together in time for fishing the next day.
The most common complaint that forces you to open up one of your reels on your own instead of sending it in to a pro is a drag problem - either too much or not enough. A drag system can wear out anytime, but drag failure usually occurs when it's being punished by the pressure and heat created by a big fish on the line, which is, of course, the worst possible time for something to go wrong with the reel.
Sending your reels back to the manufacturer or a trusted tackle shop for yearly maintenance usually keeps you from ever having to do any work on your own other than a regular drag adjustment and giving your reels a good rinse in fresh water and a chamois at the end of each day's fishing. Even on boats that really rack up the numbers, today's high-tech drag materials can probably last two or three seasons when properly cared for.
But sometimes that once-a-year service just won't cut it. Let's say there's a big blue marlin bite going on and you notice that the drag on one of the only two 80s on board is starting to stick. The boss calls unexpectedly and says he's flying in the next day to get a piece of the action and he's eager to catch a big one. What are you going to do? If you're lucky, you can run next door and borrow another 80 off your dock mate. But if he's fishing, or doesn't have an extra, then you'd better get cracking and open that baby up.
I chose a brand-new Penn 80vsw International V two-speed and a slightly worn Shimano Tiagra 80 WA for our test subjects. I know there are a lot of other fine brands out there like Accurate and Alutecnos, but the Penn and Shimano 80s are probably the ones most commonly found on big-game boats pursuing marlin these days. There are slight differences in the internal configurations of these two reels, so we'll go step by step to show you how to do an emergency teardown and drag change on each one. This isn't a complete overhaul mind you - just a quick fix and maintenance check for those in a bind.
Preparation
Before you start, find a clean, uncluttered place to work. Lay down a white towel or a sheet of butcher's paper to catch any grease and to make it easier to find screws or washers that may drop out during disassembly. Don't try to take the reel apart while standing in the salon over a deep Berber carpet.
And make sure you have the manufacturer's schematic, owner's manual and the C-shaped drag-cover wrench that comes with the reel. You'll also need a small tap hammer, a flat-head screwdriver, a hex wrench and some factory lube. Only use lubricants recommended by the factory if at all possible.
Choose a reel below to get started...
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