Penn Manual Downrigger Maintenance

[bigwalleye]

Ive got a pair if 620 Penn Manual Downriggers. They’re not operating as smoothly as they were just a couple weeks ago. Think they may need a cleaning of the drag washers, but the q is:  what type of lubricant goes on the inner gears that get exposed in the process?

 

Anyone know if there’s a certain type or viscosity that I should use? 
 

Ie do/do not use Lucas Marine blue grease that I use on my trailer bearings? Reel grease? Thx!

[bigwalleye]

I pulled my Penns apart a couple weeks ago. It seems the drag washers are nylon. They seemed in OK shape but one of them was definitely giving up a few shavings. I cleaned all the washers in a very diluted Simple Green solution and reassembled. The Penns still dont work as smoothly as I’d like them. The weight kinda holds there then all a sudden goes racing down! I guess Ill go shopping for some replacement washers at some point.

Anyone know a good place to find parts?


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[bigwalleye]

Sometimes I answer my own questions. Is that a bad sign?

I found the nylon drag washers and nylon insulating washers at Fish307.com. About $30 total for 2 riggers worth shipped. I’ll report back with the results.


Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Willysrod]

Try   www.Takledirect.com for Penn downrigger parts

[Sk8man]

Penn no longer makes the downriggers. They are made by another company with basically the same downriggers under a different name. I believe it is Troll master or something like that.