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Penn Liveliner query

Adam Wylie

Adam Wylie

Senior Member & Supporter
Hi all.
I have a Penn reel that when turning the rota with the handle seems to be not as free running as I believe it should be .
Is this due to excessive grease in the bearings ? Or does it need some gear oil ?
It's a liveliner reel and the gears can be accessed via 4 screws on the side plate.
I have never taken one apart before so a little bit nervous as to doing so
The reel has only been used a few times and has been sat in its box for about 6 months .
Any suggestions please 👍
 
Adam Wylie said:
Hi all.
I have a Penn reel that when turning the rota with the handle seems to be not as free running as I believe it should be .
Is this due to excessive grease in the bearings ? Or does it need some gear oil ?
It's a liveliner reel and the gears can be accessed via 4 screws on the side plate.
I have never taken one apart before so a little bit nervous as to doing so
The reel has only been used a few times and has been sat in its box for about 6 months .
Any suggestions please 👍
Click to expand...
I’m interested in any replies you get to this Adam as one of my Penn’s has stiffened up !!
 
I have a Liveliner and had a problem also, however I am lucky in having an old school type of chap that lives in Pershore local to me, who is a registered Penn servicing agent, he is very helpful and knowledgable 01386 552949 is his number.
 
Neil Smart said:
I have a Liveliner and had a problem also, however I am lucky in having an old school type of chap that lives in Pershore local to me, who is a registered Penn servicing agent, he is very helpful and knowledgable 01386 552949 is his number.
Click to expand...
Many thanks Neil, I thought he had retired ? I’ll give him a bell 👍🔔
 
Adam Wylie said:
Hi all.
I have a Penn reel that when turning the rota with the handle seems to be not as free running as I believe it should be .
Is this due to excessive grease in the bearings ? Or does it need some gear oil ?
It's a liveliner reel and the gears can be accessed via 4 screws on the side plate.
I have never taken one apart before so a little bit nervous as to doing so
The reel has only been used a few times and has been sat in its box for about 6 months .
Any suggestions
Click to expand...
I can't see the reel having excessive grease if it it worked OK before. And it is unlikely that any oil will have seeped out so my guess is that the grease has congealed possibly down to the low temperatures. I have just sorted an old French reel that had solid grease inside. It was jamming the anti-reverse. If the techie can't help then I would advise removing the screws and cover and checking the lube. If it has solidified you can easily remove it using Q tips or artist's brushes dipped in white spirit. Then wipe it out and re-lube it. I use marine grade grease for gearboxes applied very lightly. That is OK for low temperatures.
 
Neil Smart said:
I have a Liveliner and had a problem also, however I am lucky in having an old school type of chap that lives in Pershore local to me, who is a registered Penn servicing agent, he is very helpful and knowledgable 01386 552949 is his number.
Click to expand...
Thanks Neil, that's very helpful, I've only used them once ,just don't seem to run as smooth as my Daiwa Reels.
 
Clive Kenyon said:
I can't see the reel having excessive grease if it it worked OK before. And it is unlikely that any oil will have seeped out so my guess is that the grease has congealed possibly down to the low temperatures. I have just sorted an old French reel that had solid grease inside. It was jamming the anti-reverse. If the techie can't help then I would advise removing the screws and cover and checking the lube. If it has solidified you can easily remove it using Q tips or artist's brushes dipped in white spirit. Then wipe it out and re-lube it. I use marine grade grease for gearboxes applied very lightly. That is OK for low temperatures.
Click to expand...
Thanks Clive👍
 
Adam Wylie said:
Thanks Neil, that's very helpful, I've only used them once ,just don't seem to run as smooth as my Daiwa Reels.
Click to expand...
Only ever used my liveliner once or twice, not the best of buys, plus I like to back wind...bomb proof but heavy. The issue I had was the small nylon washer dislodged off the spindle whilst playing a rare lower Severn barbel, the rotor jammed and had to play by hand. Clutch is so smooth though.
 
Perhaps I am expecting to much from these reels ??? Maybe the Penn reels just aren't as good as the Diawa and Shimano reels ??? I got them for a good price ,so thought I would give them ago. Think I will stick them up on eBay !!!
At a cheap price .
 

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They are not to everone's tastes mainly due to no AR switch. This was seen as a potential weakness as the reels were mainly aimed at saltwater sport fish. They found favour amongst catfish anglers and then in the smaller size for barbel as the gears were tough enough to haul dustbin sized feeders from the tidal stretches. They could be got for sixty quid at one time. A third of the price of a Shimano equivalent.

The AR issue is easily overcome regards bringing in the feder to hand as the baitrunner switch is easily operated using your thumb. But you cannot go to backwind mode whilst playing a fish. That has probably saved a thousand nuckles on the charter boats.
 
Clive Kenyon said:
They are not to everone's tastes mainly due to no AR switch. This was seen as a potential weakness as the reels were mainly aimed at saltwater sport fish. They found favour amongst catfish anglers and then in the smaller size for barbel as the gears were tough enough to haul dustbin sized feeders from the tidal stretches. They could be got for sixty quid at one time. A third of the price of a Shimano equivalent.

The AR issue is easily overcome regards bringing in the feder to hand as the baitrunner switch is easily operated using your thumb. But you cannot go to backwind mode whilst playing a fish. That has probably saved a thousand nuckles on the charter boats.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Hi all,
"SORTED"
Took side plates of , far to much grease !! Cleaned it out and spread what was left more evenly around the gears .
Put plates back on.Cant believe the difference it's made.Both reels now running as they should ,
Thanks for all the advice.
Will now put back up for sale .
 
Adam Wylie said:
Hi all,
"SORTED"
Took side plates of , far to much grease !! Cleaned it out and spread what was left more evenly around the gears .
Put plates back on.Cant believe the difference it's made.Both reels now running as they should ,
Thanks for all the advice.
Will now put back up for sale .
Click to expand...
Time for me to brave it with screwdriver then Adam 🤞
 
Hi Bill,
Don't forget to remove the BAITRUNNER lever ! Or you won't get the sideplate off,
Mine were full of Blue thick grease .I removed most of the grease using the tip of a pencil,
And then spread what was left more evenly over the gears. I can't believe the difference.👍
 
Finally did it, screwdriver and I removed the side panel without mishap! The reel wasn’t overfilled with grease but what was in there had hardened. I scraped off the excess and put a couple of drops of fine oil on the cogs and gave it a few revs. Once nice and free I put a thin coat of low melting point grease on and hey presto…..it runs a treat 😁 Adam and I are new Penn service kings 🤣🤣🤣
 
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