Penn 49 Super Mariner rebuild and servicing including drag washer assembly

[@djwilliams1374]

I hardly ever comment on KZbin vids but this video saved me tonight. I recently purchased a used version of this reel and used it for the first time this past week. It did pretty good but had some issues. When I got home, I took the reel apart to clean and lube and quickly realized I wasn’t going to be able to put it back together. Thank goodness I found your video. Back together now and operating smooth. Thanks again!!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for the note. Glad to hear that the video helped keep your reel fishing! Dennis

[@patmustard5353]

You have been a master at giving advice on servicing my Penn 49 super mariner, Penn Senator 114h, and Penn 114h special 6/0 senator. Appreciate your dedication and time. Irish Mike 👍

[@2ndChanceTackle]

You bet Mike. Please stay safe and stay well - Dennis

[@rufusmedrano2962]

I’ve got the Penn Fierce 3 and it’s a nice reel

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for sharing - They are dependable and nicely responsive. - Dennis

[@robertgabelman]

Wow. I think I will take it to my bait store!

[@recoilrob4765]

Dennis, going fishing tomorrow and decided to check the drag washers, turns out they were already HT100 carbon fiber so cleaned and lubed everything and then couldn't figure out the installation of the long dog and spring. Thanks for your great tutorial, it was clear and no annoying music!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Glad it helped. Best wishes for great fishing with your rebuilt reel! - Dennis

[@FFSDenny]

Hi Dennis. I just picked up three of these reels through an eBay lot. Two are very clean and need servicing. One needs a deep cleaning and servicing, but it still feels smooth. I'll probably sell two and keep one for myself. Your video will help. Thanks much for the video.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

You are welcome - best wishes - Dennis

[@lokiprichard3450]

Hello. You mentioned that this is not a casting reel. Down hear in South Africa we still cast with penn 49s. I find that with the older models I can get more distance.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes, I know that you use them and very long poles, which is the only way to make them work as casting reels. We use smaller reels here as we do not need to get out that far. Thanks for the note. Best wishes for great fishing - Dennis

[@franciscopeixoto6609]

Hello. Dennis I own three, a couple of 349H "wahoo special " that's the big daddy of the 49's. My 49L upgraded has ht100 drag washers. Great reel. Fun to fish with. Congrats on the find. Thanks

[@zeronaught7932]

This reel was definitely my toughest rebuild... I self taught on it. I have to update the drag washers in this one as well and have been avoiding because of that dog spring. You sure make it look easy ! I'll be trying your way for sure.

[@GarthGoldberg]

Just got one of these at an estate sale. It cleaned up beautifully. Mine came with a spare plastic spool. I also got the original instructions and box. Penn said the reel was for wire and other lines, including nylon. I can't see casting with it because, as you said in a comment, it's a heavy reel. But I can see bottom fishing with it. The crank ratio is not too high, so you have leverage to pull up a fish and a heavy lure from the bottom. I understood that the purpose of the freewheel lever was so that trollers could let line out and count the number of turns of the handle, in order to gauge the amount of line let out. I never heard that it was to save the drag. Frankly, I can't imagine fighting a big fish without a drag. That sounds like a recipe for an accident of some kind.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

These are great reels from Penn. On the east coast we still use them with wire line to troll sharks. The narrow frame keeps the reel from twisting out of alignment. On the accident waiting to happen. yup, it's a knuckle buster direct drive reel at that point.

[@chrisgold7924]

I found one that was like new yesterday & guy in grave his name it but removed it wet sand & going to take apart & lube. Great video.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Glad to hear. Thanks for the note - Dennis

[@markbyfield173]

Really helpful great Video. I have just serviced my one ofter watching it.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Great to hear! Thank you for the kind words and for watching my channel - Dennis

[@Berto-1117]

Thanks man, just picked on up on ebay in litterally new condition from the 1950's in the box with original paperwork and grease for $70. Just watches this video in case i want to grease it later since it has never been used and still has the factory grease form 1950 haha

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Glad to help. Mke sure you check the drag washers - those will dry and crack if the reel has not gone fishing in a while - Best wishes - Dennis

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis7302]

In South Africa it has always been used as a shore casting reel with a baker lite spool,using mono filament line.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

That is interesting given the weight of this reel. On the east coast of the US we use this for wire line trolling. Thanks for the information - Dennis

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis7302]

Hello Dennis,what actually is wire line?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

wire fishing line is very high strength flexible wire that is generally used for shark and big game fishing. It is usually stainless or lead core wire. Do an internet search on wire fishing line or wire trolling line to see examples. Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@rupertmcnaughtdavis7302]

Thanks for clearing that up ,Dennis.Another popular Penn,was the Penn49A.Like a normal 49 in every way but had a wider baker lite spool.It was said that it was specially made for South African anglers that wanted to spin for yellowtail and tunny from the rocks,circa 1950`s and 1960`s.I have never seen it in any Penn catalogs but there are many to be found here still.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I have not seen one either. You can always ask Penn. Go to the Penn reels website and submit a question under the customer care section. www.pennfishing.com/PENN-customer-care.html. Then use the send us a message feature. I am not sure if you will get a reply, but worth a try. On the wider spool. I believe the 49 shares the side plate dynamics of the earlier Penn Senator 6/0, so it may have been possible that a few folks did an impromptu switch to create a hybrid. - Dennis

[@pabpab871]

Terrific job on these vids! Thanks!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thank you for the kind words. I hope this helped with your rebuild. Good Luck Fishing! - Dennis

[@JimmyMeatwhistle]

great channel and info! wondering what year this reel is from? I just bought the same and trying to put a date on it

[@2ndChanceTackle]

This series actually has a 60 year run. The earliest models were made in the 1940s and the reel went through several iterations until it was discontinued in 2005. If your reel has black side plates, it is somewhere before 1970s. Red sides came in about that time - Dennis

[@PortugueseDiesel]

Another great video. 3rd time watching this one because I grabbed a 49 of my own today at a flea market. Looks like it will just need service and new drag washers. This video helps a bunch so thank you as always. Why did you grease the bearing on this one as opposed to your normal oiling?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I do grease the side plate bearings as they had a protective sleeve. I do not grease the open bearings because the grease can hold dirt and that will cause it to fail - Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@easyfishing9152]

Hey what's the biggest shark I can possibly catch with my Penn 6/0.. I don't want to catch something too big that I could not handle.. thanks..

[@2ndChanceTackle]

50-60 pounds with a lot of fight are typical for this reel, as long as the line is appropriate - Stay safe Rey - Dennis

[@Dcmtryan2]

Hello Dennis. Thanks so much for taking the time to share you knowledge. I recently retired & have discovered the fun in collecting/restoring reels. I especially appreciate the engineering/design of the Penns. I’m working on a older 49 and found it is missing the eared washer and 2 drag washers. The Penn brochure seems to indicate those items are unique to the 49. Can you confirm if any other Penns washers are interchangeable with the 49? I’m having trouble finding replacements on eBay. I’d prefer to find old replacements rather than buy new ones just to stay true to the reel. Also I noticed that you have posted a few segments on the history of reel manufacturers. I really like the one on Langley, trying to find a nice Lake Cast 370. Have you considered doing a history on Penn? I find it confusing to understand the differences in the models, seems like there is a lot of overlap in features. Thanks again, Dave

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The 49 is an odd ball and I think it only shares the drag washers with the 525 and 535 GS reels. I would go ahead and order new. You can get the 3 washers plus including shipping for around $10 from Mysticparts.com. It won't make a difference regarding collectability of the reel and you will probably pay the same for a set of used ones - Dennis

[@chrisgold7924]

Great Job!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks! Dennis

[@CastFromTheHip]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching -Dennis

[@scottbrannan2894]

Dennis, what do you recommend for corrosion and green patina on the Super Mariner spool?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I use #flitz metal Pre-clear and #flitz metal polish to clean up the greening. It is available at Flitz.com. You can also use a solution of vinegar and water as a precleaner and an automotive chrome polish and steel wool to tough spots. - Dennis

[@anapisanjuk9903]

Hello Dennis, I wanted your advice, I have the possibility of buying a 49L (HT-100 drag) last version new never used, or a used 349hc seems to be in good general condition, what do you advise me to buy? Thanks for your help!

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Not that much difference between the two. The Super Mariner 49 is a little more high speed at 3.5:1 versus 3.2:1 on the 349. The 349 is a bit heavier and hols a little more line. If you are using these for trolling, you will see little difference. The choice is really yours. You can't go wrong either way - Dennis

[@cruzerlououtdoors1940]

Hey Dennis, I have a #49 that the reel foot is twisted on. I contacted Mystic reel repair and they can't seem to figure out the part # for the reel foot . Mine is marked 30-49, it's #30 on my #49 schematic. I know that this reel foot was used on several different reels. Do you know what other reels used the same reel foot ? Thsnks ahead of time.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - the Penn part number is 030-1182603 the reference key number is 30-49. It was used on multiple reels including the Surfcaster 100, Senator 1/0 model 110, Baymaster 180, Narrow frame squidder 146, Mariner 249 and JigMaster narrow frame 501 and 506. I thin Mystic parts Amy have said that the part 30-49 is no longer available and not that they do not know the part number -

[@cruzerlououtdoors1940]

Thanks Dennis for the info. I have a Vintage bamboo heavy action 6' rod that I installed 5 roller guides on that this reel is going on. Can't wait to go fishing with this rig, it's a beast lol.

[@apistoking4208]

Awesome vid man 👍. Got 1 of these penn49s the other day and your video helped me fix 4 out 5 of the problems with it but for some reason the spool seems to catch on something inside almost like a speed bump slowing the spool down when in free spool if I lean the reel down towards the handle side but then if I lean it towards the ratchet cover side the spool spins beautifully There's no play on the spool so it's not grinding against the handle side cover either. Got any advice on what to look for inside that would cause that ? Thanks in advance.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Most likely it is a bad handle side bearing. That is the piece with the hex nut top behind the handle that nests the spool shaft on that side - Dennis

[@jamesmckay797]

Hello I'm sure you have answered this question more then a dozen times so I apologize. which of these older models to you reccomend for deep sea trolling for tuna and other big game fish in the 40-80pound range thanks in advance. Just some that I have found penn #49, #349, #350, any other models I'm missing???

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - you are missing several reels. The Mariner series is good for trolling and wire line fishing for BIG fish, including Sharking. You are missing the Senator series, particularly the 6/0 and small 4/0, which are proven BIG game reels in this class. You may also want to try the Penn GLS 45 Lever drag as well. Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@kb93063]

Hi Dennis. Your content is great and extremely useful. I just bought a great Super Mariner and took it apart and serviced it. After reassembly, I noticed that the bottom of the outer chrome ring on the non-handle side had cracked where the screw attaches the side plate to the rod seat. I may have torqued the screw a bit much, but that didn't seem to be the case. Is this a critical issue? If so, is replacing the outer chrome ring the only solution? I hate to think that I marred a vintage reel, but it was a fun learning experience.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

That is not a critical issue. The chrome trim rings crack occasionally. Go ahead an use the reel. If you find you are snagging line or that sharp edges are sticking out of the crack, go ahead an file it down or search for a replacement ring on sites like Ebay - Thanks for asking and for the kind words - Dennis

[@kb93063]

@@2ndChanceTackle Thank you!

[@norman1826]

Well done and explained ....can I cast from the beach with a penn 49 if so do you have a clip doing it....thx bru

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Thanks for the encouragement. This reel was not designed for casting as it is too large and heavy to be effective there. It was designed as a trolling reel that could accommodate wire line. The narrow frame helps avoid frame twist while the large spool capacity allows for the amount of line needed to troll. If you are looking for a casting reel with the same features, then the Penn Squidder is the answer. Another Penn reel that would meet those needs is the JigMaster 505. That version of the reel has bearings on both sides, which makes casting the reel longer and easier. Thanks for asking - Dennis

[@norman1826]

2nd Chance Tackle thank you Dennis...sorry for only replying now but again thank you I love my Penn 49 though its supper strong

[@manolistyrakis8033]

Hello, I live in Greece and I would like you to tell me what Rod is best to buy for a gear I bought from USA in 1986, the PENN 49L and it is new, for fishing from a boat we live bait (Sepia or Calamar) filled with dacron. Thank you very much. Manolis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

A 7 foot medium trolling rod is best for this reel. If it has line roller bearings, that would be a plus.

[@reyalvarez5458]

My surf master one screw turns fine but the side plate is very hard to turn and remove.. ...why??

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The side plate screw is spring loaded. Make sure you pull the screw out towards you after you loosen it.once you have it pulled out twist the side plate counterclockwise to remove it. If you do not pull the take apart screw toward you while turning, it will stick and not let you remove it easily - Dennis

[@HuangLewis]

On this reel, both of the levers (drag off, free spool) travel across the post screws. On mine they actually hit them and doesnt move nicely... any solutions?

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Hmmm. Let me check to see if I have one in the shop to show you. My first thought is that the dog may be on upside down??? Dennis

[@HuangLewis]

@@2ndChanceTackle nope, correct orientation.. very odd, someone had filed the tops of the screw head so the levers could get past, i will try cleaning the screws and posts to see if they can go in more to get more clearance.

[@bradcranford2264]

Hi Dennis, Where did you get the after market Penn wrench? Thanks.

[@2ndChanceTackle]

The wrench is available through Mysticparts.com. They operate the former Pennparts.com website. If you work on a lot of Penn reels, you will appreciate the difference this wrench makes. I believe it is from Alan Tani, but I could be wrong. Put this in the product search box o the website 168-TANI Heavy Duty Penn Handle Nut Wrench by Alan Tani - Dennis

[@bradcranford2264]

@@2ndChanceTackle Excellent! Thanks Dennis.

[@robertbarros-pz4cp]

You need a screw holder screw driver for the small screws

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Got one! Thanks

[@MaverickCompany]

Dennis do you know the rated drag power of this reel? Thank you for this video. It was priceless in rebuilding my own #49

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I'm sorry, I don't know. I checked several sites and it as not referenced in the reel specs. The first edition of this reel was in 1941! A lasting treasure. - Dennis

[@MaverickCompany]

2nd Chance Tackle thank you and once again you're a reel saver thanks for making this video

[@elguapo9268]

Hi when i put it back together the spool doesnt turn

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Ok - Does the spool turn in free spool, but not when you crank it? Assuming that the drags are tight and that the free spool lever is off and the spool spins when the free spool is on, then the cause is probably that the spool gear is installed backwards. Take the drive side plate off and check the small spool gear that sticks out of the bridge assembly. if the face of that gear is smooth, then it is backward. The spool gear has a smooth side and a side that has a U shaped slot cut in it. The U cut grabs the spool. You will need to disassemble the reel and reverse the spool gear if that is the case. If not, please send another note with further details. Thank you - Dennis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - the original drag stacks on the older Penn Senators had the thick drag washers. If these need to be replaced, you can add the newer thin washers for the Penn Senator. I believe the alternating fabric and metal washers using the newer ones would total 5 fabric and 4 metal, but I could be more. The thicker washers are no longer available. They are replaced in a 2:1 ratio with the newer thin washers. Washers are available at Pennparts.com and you can probably order the complete set as a single package if needed. To see a close up, watch my Penn Long Beach video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vcYqufhd9pmqM It should help. If you have the flat spring and not the coil spring, the procedure is almost the same, except that the flat spring rides on top of the dog and wraps in an L shape around the side plate post going upward. Please ask more if that does not answer you question. Thank you - Dennis

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Lauren - I just did a quick video for you kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vcYqufhd9pmqM. shows the close up - Hope this helps - Dennis

[@elguapo9268]

Hi the one in the video(longbeach) has a sping,i have the same flat piece of metal that I found in the 049

[@2ndChanceTackle]

I just posted the close up of the one with the flat spring. follow this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3vcYqufhd9pmqM See if that answers your question - Dennis

[@reyalvarez5458]

My surf master..spool moves to the Wright..n feels hard to reel....is it missing something..?...or just a bent frame.??..

[@2ndChanceTackle]

There are several things to check.. First, take off the side plate and see if the gear side turns easily without the spool. If it does not turn freely, the problem is in the gear side and may be something like broken line, If it turns freely, check the spool to see if there is line trapped on the other side.. If not, check the bearing side plate to ensure that the bearing is properly adjusted. There needs to be side to side free play, but not excessive. Next, check to ensure that all of the screws in the frame, including those behind the gear side plate are tight. If none of these work, you most likely will need to replace the spool. - Dennis

[@jamesmckay797]

Also do you sell any of the reels you find???

[@2ndChanceTackle]

Yes - some of the reels I do are from sale. Most are customer reels that are brought in for service. If you are looking for a particular reel, please send me a note at [e-mail] - Thaks for asking - Dennis