How to Repair a Penn International 30W Drag

The Penn International 30W is part of the Penn 30 series that includes the 30SW and 30TW. The drag lever on the left side of the reel controls the drag setting. Moving the lever forward or back adjusts the pressure between a drag clutch washer and metal drag washer within the handle side plate of the reel. The 30W series reel schematic is helpful during disassembly and reassembly of the reel. Repairing the Penn International 30W drag begins with troubleshooting.

Things You'll Need

  • Penn 30W drag repair kit
  • Penn reel tool
  • Penn 30W reel schematic
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Instructions

    • 1

      Move the drag lever to the least resistance setting and attempt to pull fishing line off the spool by hand. If the spool rotates at this setting, move the lever to the next setting and pull the fishing line to rotate the spool.

    • 2

      Continue to increase the drag setting in single increments and pull line from the spool at each setting. Any inconsistent rotation of the spool indicates the drag components must be replaced. If the spool rotates irregularly but then rotates smoothly at some point, there's a good chance the drag needed to be freed and does not need repair. If the spool rotated inconsistently at any setting, proceed to the following steps.

    • 3

      Locate the screws that hold the handle side plate to the gold tube frame of the reel. Use the screwdriver tip on the Penn reel tool to remove the screws. Save the side plate screws. Pull the handle side plate off the gold tube frame.

    • 4

      Hold the handle and side plate assembly in one hand with the internal components facing up. Refer to the Penn 30W reel schematic and identify the circular drag cover and attachment screws on the side plate assembly. Remove the screws and save them. Remove the drag cover to access the drag clutch washer.

    • 5

      Remove the ball bearing from the race in the center of the drag clutch washer. Remove the drag clutch washer to access to the ball bearing and metal drag washer below.

    • 6

      Remove the ball bearing from the metal drag washer. Remove the small screws that hold the metal drag washer in place. Save the screws. Lift the metal drag washer out.

    • 7

      Position the new metal drag washer into the side plate assembly. Thread the previously removed screws into the pre-drilled holes in the metal drag washer and tighten the screws. Put the new ball bearing on the metal drag washer.

    • 8

      Install the new drag clutch washer against the metal drag washer plate. Make sure the ball bearing race is facing up. Put the new circular ball bearing in the race on the drag clutch washer. Reinstall the drag cover and use the saved screws to hold the drag cover in place.

    • 9

      Position the inside edge of the handle side plate against the reel. Align the holes in the side plate with the engineered holes in the tube frame. Thread the saved side plate screws into the holes and tighten the screws with a screwdriver.