Thanks Dennis - another enjoyable and informative video! A wonderful recollection for me too. When I was a kid, and wanted to pick up a first reel for surf fishing, -- I got the Delmar 285M - metal spool, and had great luck casting it. Luckily, I stumbled onto a heavy-action 9-footer built on a cut-down bamboo snapper pole. Surf casting a heavy chrome metal spool is almost a guaranteed back-lash/over-run --- UNLESS you have a STIFF rod that can punch out a sinker at a speed which will match the speed of the revolving spool.Even good thumbing skills may fail. This was a kid's great discovery - thumbing experience and the right rod has served me well to this day casting conventional reels.
I had both the penn 60 that I used and the penn 285 that my son used. Both are great reels. We caught monster blue fish off the Jersey shore. Congratulations to you for posting this video to help people showing them what to do either to repair or lubricating there reels.
I was never big into the older gear until this channel. Now I can't stop buying old Penn reels and getting them going. I love the size of the Delmar 285. Slow as heck, but I'm a fan of narrow reels. That darned AR spring is the devil though on this one. The one on the reel when I got it had lost its tension so I bought another. Then I lost that one so I bought 4 more. Now I have 1 in the reel and one left over. I certainly wish they'd just stuck with the JigMaster AR system in all the reels. So much easier than having to set the dog and spring and then rotate the plate!
I call those springs "ants". I've spent a lot of time over the years looking for them on my floor and workbench. They are shooting stars and yes, you need to be careful when loading. You will eventually get the hang of it over time, but is still happens occasionally. Like you, I have a few spares on hand, just in case! The 85, 285 - DelMar, and 60 Long Beach are tried and true ocean haulers. Enjoy - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle I like that term "ants" but they're like invisible ants once they fly away! One of them I actually saw where it landed and still couldn't find the darned thing. I was able to get the spring loaded in place but then when I rotated the plate I'd run into the bridge screw and anytime I let off the pressure the spring would come out of it's slot. Most of the time it didn't leave the sideplate but 3 times it was shot out like a cannon and I lost it. I'll get the hang of it like you said and thankfully those springs are cheap!!
So - a little trick I learned along the way. I don't use it much as I tend to be overconfident, but if you put a small dab of reel grease on one end of the spring it acts a little like glue and helps prevent the boing factor most of the time. Just don't cement it in with the grease as it will dry over time and bog down the dog's performance
Put a small piece of carpet or a towel on your work station and disassemble your reel over it. If the dog spring falls out, you won't lose it and it will be very easy to see. Usually once those dog springs hit the floor, they're gone Like Dennis said, a dab of marine or reel grease on the spring will hold it in place. Really, all of the internal parts should get a film of grease on them to prevent corrosion if water gets inside of the reel. Don't forget to clean and grease the clicker tongue and clicker spring as well as the sides of metal spools. A thin film of grease is all that you need. Your reel will thank you by providing you with many years of service if you maintain them.
Dennis, I stumbled upon your channel about a week ago. I don’t remember how or why. I only watched it for a few hours, but I was mesmerized by your knowledge and skill. It prompted me to pull out an old Daiwa SMF 170H that I don’t even remember ever using. Apparently it had been used as there were grains of sand inside it along with some dried grease. Although I didn’t see one of your videos on this particular reel, I picked up on enough insight to take a gamble and pull it apart. I even got a parts tray as you suggested. Having no reel oil or grease I went and bought small quantities of each to try my hand at reel refurbishment. By day two, I had it cleaned and put back together; lo and behold it worked as advertized. The drag washers were pretty much shot, a rubber “O” ring had dried out and cracked and a spool bearing washer was crushed. Still, it operated. I tried ordering some parts online, but they were not available due to the age of the reel. With my new confidence, and your videos, I pulled apart two Diawa AG 700x reels that I use semi-annually at the Outer Banks, but don’t remember ever doing preventative maintenance on. How they were still functioning is a testament to Daiwa quality equipment. They look like Hogan’s Goat, but now feel like new again. Yesterday, 9 November, 2018, I decided to root through my storage shed for an old Penn reel that I thought may have been chucked a couple of decades ago. As I didn’t find it I concluded it was long gone. Today, 10 November, 2018 I thought I’d take one more look. The last thing uncovered was old ammo can. The lid was almost rusted shut and I thought it was too narrow to hold a fishing reel. When I finally got it open, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Inside was a Penn 209 level wind, a Model 85 and a Model 285. After four hours of preventive maintenance and numerous trips back into the house to review this particular video as I couldn’t figure out how to put it back together, the 285 now functions perfectly. Like the first reel, I don’t ever remember using them and perhaps never will, but if I decide to, I know they will work. The Model 209 and 85 will have to wait for another day as I’m celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday and partaking of some frosty malts. As I type this at 1730, the mail lady just delivered a bottle of Reel X that I ordered on your recommendation. Like many other subscribers to your channel, THANK YOU! You are a reel wizard. Semper Fi!
Your videos are on point. I am just getting into reel servicing after doing 4 of my Abu`s. Friends found out that I was doing it on my own & started bringing their reels to me. It gives me something to do when I am not fishing. Thanks for the great videos.Ed
Thanks Bud! I know the 285 inside and out now after watching your video at least 5 times. Quick story OK? Luckily the dog spring was secured by heavy grease when I took it apart (before watching your video BTW). I put it on an old corkscrew on my bench and started cleaning other "stuff". You guessed it - my neighbor dropped off a bottle of wine at my front door for helping him last week with his riding mower. Losing all memory of the spring on the corkscrew I opened the bottle. Screw is forever lost - had to order a new one.
Thanks for another instructive video, Dennis. My brother just gave me an old 285 Delmar reel. And thanks to your tutorial, it was brought back to life. Overall it was in pretty good shape to start with. I was a bit perplexed when I thought I was putting the reel in freespool, but that was engaging the gearing, not freeing the spool. I looked on the side of the case and sure enough it said that "off", which I take to mean freespool, was forward rather than back towards the user. Isn't that odd?
Wow i bought one the exact same but with plastic spool i went to spool it like a innocent youngerster and put the line to tight a it broke i had a older one laying around with a metal spool boom i put it on my delmar 285 and works like a charm
These reels are identical to the Long Beach model 60. They share the same spool and gears. If you are looking for a replacement spool, you can used the Long Beach 60 spool - Thanks for watching - Dennis
I have 2 of these reels that were my dad's and my grandpa's I'd definitely love to get them cleaned up and put them into service (on special occasions) the side plates have a white film on them. How do you suggest I go about polishing those back up?
You can try two products. The first is Penn rod and reel cleaner. It is available through Mysticparts.com. The second is from Fritz. It is the Flitz past polish available through Flitz.com. I think I would go with the #Flitz, but both should work for you - Dennis
Dennis! Thanks so much for the video! I had taken my reel apart a few months ago and got pushed in other directions and it looked like I was putting together a jigsaw puzzle of a foreign language. I did a little research and I think I have the old version of the 285 where the dog doesn’t have the notch and the dog spring isn’t a coil but just a small strip of metal. Any ideas what I’m looking at or how to get it back together? The dog cavity looks different than what’s in the video, I’m pretty sure I have it in the right spot.
Sure - I did a video! Watch it at ruclips.net/video/qTb04jiHS0o/видео.html This shows both the coild and flat spring versions. Thanks for asking - Dennis
2nd Chance Tackle - Thank you so much for the video! I was able to complete my project thanks to you! I am forever in your debt. Please know your videos make a difference!
That reel will last a lifetime if properly maintained. It is essentially the Penn Long Beach without the fancy handle and metal trimmed side plate. The only weakness is the non gear side plate is frequently cracked or broken when it his a deck, pier railing or other hazard. For a reel that cost $5 in the 60's, that says a lot! - Thanks for the comment - Dennis
I too have a 285 and the spool won't come off. I guess it could be corroded inside. Any thoughts. I'm pulling pretty vigorously but don't want to break anything. The spool does turn fine, not frozen.
I believe that the pinion gear is frozen onto the spool shaft. Watch this video for how to take the spool off and check ruclips.net/video/RiqZ_eazyqM/видео.html - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks for the reply, but it's the other side that I can't remove the spool from. The side opposite the real/drag. It has the oil lubrication piece. If I hold the spool and the outer side piece, I hear a clicker when I turn it either direction. But again, I can't pull the spool off.
The 85 spool will fit the 285 and the Long Beach 60 reels. The difference is that the 85 spool is plastic and the 285 and 60 are metal - Thanks for asking
Parts for this reel are available through Pennparts.com. you cn order online or call them at the number on the website if you are having difficulty using the site - Dennis
my guess is around 10 pounds. This is a great inshore bottom fishing reel for ocean and lakes. it is not a casting reel. The retrieve is low at less that 3:1. Not good for high speed retrieve applications like jigging and trolling. Best used for pier or boat drop line bait fishing - Dennis
Hi Dennis Great video on the 285. I used this reel in Oct on my first fishing trip on a party boat in over 20 years, There awesome reels. Found two 285 on eBay for $25 each. One in rough shape, the other in decent shape almond st the same condition as the one your servicing in the video. Will try my hand on the tougher one first. Question. Looks like insides are brass.. can you clean with ultrasonic cleaner..?. Use that on clock parts.. with it clean spool and outsides... Last as in another viewer if I completely mess up can I send it to you to service for a fee... Many thanks sir.. I’m on my 10th viewing of your video and each time it becomes more clear. Ready to try my hand.
Jack - you should be able use ultrasonic cleaners on these parts. I would test a piece, like a crossbar or reel seat first, to make sure. The gear sleeve should be brass or alloy. I don't think the bridge is brass. I believe it is an alloy. Yes, I also repair reels, so if you get stumped, you can send me an e-mail at 2ndchancetackle@gmail.com and I can give you the particulars on the repair process. Thank you for asking and for viewing - Dennis
I have a delmar 285. I do not the wrench or lube. Would you be interested in cleaning mine for me for a fee? I also have a Abu G. That’s at least 40 yrs I could send
Thanks Dennis - another enjoyable and informative video! A wonderful recollection for me too. When I was a kid, and wanted to pick up a first reel for surf fishing, -- I got the Delmar 285M - metal spool, and had great luck casting it. Luckily, I stumbled onto a heavy-action 9-footer built on a cut-down bamboo snapper pole. Surf casting a heavy chrome metal spool is almost a guaranteed back-lash/over-run --- UNLESS you have a STIFF rod that can punch out a sinker at a speed which will match the speed of the revolving spool.Even good thumbing skills may fail. This was a kid's great discovery - thumbing experience and the right rod has served me well to this day casting conventional reels.
OK - now you are bringing back memories for me with the bamboo snapper poles! Thanks! Dennis.
Thanks. Just rebuilt my friends delmar 285 with your video.
Glad I could help. Thanks for watching - Dennis
I had both the penn 60 that I used and the penn 285 that my son used. Both are great reels. We caught monster blue fish off the Jersey shore. Congratulations to you for posting this video to help people showing them what to do either to repair or lubricating there reels.
Thank you John. These reels are bulletproof and parts are sill available, so you have a lifetime reel if maintained. Thanks for watching - Dennis
I was never big into the older gear until this channel. Now I can't stop buying old Penn reels and getting them going. I love the size of the Delmar 285. Slow as heck, but I'm a fan of narrow reels. That darned AR spring is the devil though on this one. The one on the reel when I got it had lost its tension so I bought another. Then I lost that one so I bought 4 more. Now I have 1 in the reel and one left over. I certainly wish they'd just stuck with the JigMaster AR system in all the reels. So much easier than having to set the dog and spring and then rotate the plate!
I call those springs "ants". I've spent a lot of time over the years looking for them on my floor and workbench. They are shooting stars and yes, you need to be careful when loading. You will eventually get the hang of it over time, but is still happens occasionally. Like you, I have a few spares on hand, just in case! The 85, 285 - DelMar, and 60 Long Beach are tried and true ocean haulers. Enjoy - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle I like that term "ants" but they're like invisible ants once they fly away! One of them I actually saw where it landed and still couldn't find the darned thing. I was able to get the spring loaded in place but then when I rotated the plate I'd run into the bridge screw and anytime I let off the pressure the spring would come out of it's slot. Most of the time it didn't leave the sideplate but 3 times it was shot out like a cannon and I lost it. I'll get the hang of it like you said and thankfully those springs are cheap!!
So - a little trick I learned along the way. I don't use it much as I tend to be overconfident, but if you put a small dab of reel grease on one end of the spring it acts a little like glue and helps prevent the boing factor most of the time. Just don't cement it in with the grease as it will dry over time and bog down the dog's performance
@@2ndChanceTackle hmm good idea I do the same on small obnoxious screws. Put a dab of grease on the screwdriver and the screw sticks to it. Thanks!
Put a small piece of carpet or a towel on your work station and disassemble your reel over it. If the dog spring falls out, you won't lose it and it will be very easy to see. Usually once those dog springs hit the floor, they're gone
Like Dennis said, a dab of marine or reel grease on the spring will hold it in place. Really, all of the internal parts should get a film of grease on them to prevent corrosion if water gets inside of the reel. Don't forget to clean and grease the clicker tongue and clicker spring as well as the sides of metal spools. A thin film of grease is all that you need.
Your reel will thank you by providing you with many years of service if you maintain them.
I just picked one up from some body at work I brought it home cleaned up and Grease it so far works great
They will last and last when properly maintained - Best wishes for great fishing with the reel - Dennis
Dennis, I stumbled upon your channel about a week ago. I don’t remember how or why. I only watched it for a few hours, but I was mesmerized by your knowledge and skill. It prompted me to pull out an old Daiwa SMF 170H that I don’t even remember ever using. Apparently it had been used as there were grains of sand inside it along with some dried grease. Although I didn’t see one of your videos on this particular reel, I picked up on enough insight to take a gamble and pull it apart. I even got a parts tray as you suggested. Having no reel oil or grease I went and bought small quantities of each to try my hand at reel refurbishment. By day two, I had it cleaned and put back together; lo and behold it worked as advertized. The drag washers were pretty much shot, a rubber “O” ring had dried out and cracked and a spool bearing washer was crushed. Still, it operated. I tried ordering some parts online, but they were not available due to the age of the reel. With my new confidence, and your videos, I pulled apart two Diawa AG 700x reels that I use semi-annually at the Outer Banks, but don’t remember ever doing preventative maintenance on. How they were still functioning is a testament to Daiwa quality equipment. They look like Hogan’s Goat, but now feel like new again. Yesterday, 9 November, 2018, I decided to root through my storage shed for an old Penn reel that I thought may have been chucked a couple of decades ago. As I didn’t find it I concluded it was long gone. Today, 10 November, 2018 I thought I’d take one more look. The last thing uncovered was old ammo can. The lid was almost rusted shut and I thought it was too narrow to hold a fishing reel. When I finally got it open, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Inside was a Penn 209 level wind, a Model 85 and a Model 285. After four hours of preventive maintenance and numerous trips back into the house to review this particular video as I couldn’t figure out how to put it back together, the 285 now functions perfectly. Like the first reel, I don’t ever remember using them and perhaps never will, but if I decide to, I know they will work. The Model 209 and 85 will have to wait for another day as I’m celebrating the Marine Corps Birthday and partaking of some frosty malts. As I type this at 1730, the mail lady just delivered a bottle of Reel X that I ordered on your recommendation. Like many other subscribers to your channel, THANK YOU! You are a reel wizard. Semper Fi!
Mike - Thank you for the kind works and for your service to our great country. Semper Fi! Dennis
Your videos are on point. I am just getting into reel servicing after doing 4 of my Abu`s. Friends found out that I was doing it on my own & started bringing their reels to me. It gives me something to do when I am not fishing. Thanks for the great videos.Ed
Thanks for the kind feedback, Ed. What you are doing is how I got started all those years ago . Stay tuned - Dennis
Thanks Bud! I know the 285 inside and out now after watching your video at least 5 times. Quick story OK?
Luckily the dog spring was secured by heavy grease when I took it apart (before watching your video BTW). I put it on an old corkscrew on my bench and started cleaning other "stuff".
You guessed it - my neighbor dropped off a bottle of wine at my front door for helping him last week with his riding mower. Losing all memory of the spring on the corkscrew I opened the bottle. Screw is forever lost - had to order a new one.
Dennis ,you have a Dream job . 👍great content always.
Thanks 👍 - They say it is not a job if you truly enjoy what you are doing!
Thanks for another instructive video, Dennis. My brother just gave me an old 285 Delmar reel. And thanks to your tutorial, it was brought back to life. Overall it was in pretty good shape to start with. I was a bit perplexed when I thought I was putting the reel in freespool, but that was engaging the gearing, not freeing the spool. I looked on the side of the case and sure enough it said that "off", which I take to mean freespool, was forward rather than back towards the user. Isn't that odd?
Yes - it can be read both ways - on is off and off is on! Thanks
Thank you so much. Big help on my rebuild.
Tad
You are welcome. Glad I was able to help - Dennis
Wow i bought one the exact same but with plastic spool i went to spool it like a innocent youngerster and put the line to tight a it broke i had a older one laying around with a metal spool boom i put it on my delmar 285 and works like a charm
These reels are identical to the Long Beach model 60. They share the same spool and gears. If you are looking for a replacement spool, you can used the Long Beach 60 spool - Thanks for watching - Dennis
Great video thanks 🐟
Glad you enjoyed it - Thanks Jeffrey
I have 2 of these reels that were my dad's and my grandpa's I'd definitely love to get them cleaned up and put them into service (on special occasions) the side plates have a white film on them. How do you suggest I go about polishing those back up?
You can try two products. The first is Penn rod and reel cleaner. It is available through Mysticparts.com. The second is from Fritz. It is the Flitz past polish available through Flitz.com. I think I would go with the #Flitz, but both should work for you - Dennis
Dennis! Thanks so much for the video! I had taken my reel apart a few months ago and got pushed in other directions and it looked like I was putting together a jigsaw puzzle of a foreign language.
I did a little research and I think I have the old version of the 285 where the dog doesn’t have the notch and the dog spring isn’t a coil but just a small strip of metal. Any ideas what I’m looking at or how to get it back together? The dog cavity looks different than what’s in the video, I’m pretty sure I have it in the right spot.
Sure - I did a video! Watch it at ruclips.net/video/qTb04jiHS0o/видео.html This shows both the coild and flat spring versions. Thanks for asking - Dennis
2nd Chance Tackle - Thank you so much for the video! I was able to complete my project thanks to you! I am forever in your debt. Please know your videos make a difference!
I concur!
Also. Are these reels okay to store with monofilament loaded on the spool and is 30# line too heavy for it?
I still use my 85 Sea boy. Classic
That reel will last a lifetime if properly maintained. It is essentially the Penn Long Beach without the fancy handle and metal trimmed side plate. The only weakness is the non gear side plate is frequently cracked or broken when it his a deck, pier railing or other hazard. For a reel that cost $5 in the 60's, that says a lot! - Thanks for the comment - Dennis
Thanks for this video:)
Your welcome. Best wishes - Dennis
Awesome !
I too have a 285 and the spool won't come off. I guess it could be corroded inside. Any thoughts. I'm pulling pretty vigorously but don't want to break anything. The spool does turn fine, not frozen.
I believe that the pinion gear is frozen onto the spool shaft.
Watch this video for how to take the spool off and check
ruclips.net/video/RiqZ_eazyqM/видео.html - Dennis
@@2ndChanceTackle Thanks for the reply, but it's the other side that I can't remove the spool from. The side opposite the real/drag. It has the oil lubrication piece. If I hold the spool and the outer side piece, I hear a clicker when I turn it either direction. But again, I can't pull the spool off.
I just got one what type of line and test lbs would you recommend? Thanks for sharing 🙏
15-20# mono is what the reel was designed for and will. work best - Dennis
Thank you Sir !
Hi dennis the spool of the penn 85 is similar to penn 285??
The 85 spool will fit the 285 and the Long Beach 60 reels. The difference is that the 85 spool is plastic and the 285 and 60 are metal - Thanks for asking
Can you point me in the right direction to where I can get that small spring?Mine is bent pretty bad.
Parts for this reel are available through Pennparts.com. you cn order online or call them at the number on the website if you are having difficulty using the site - Dennis
2nd Chance Tackle Thanks for the quick response.Awesome videos by the way!
what is the max drag for this reel? Also what is the ideal use for this reel
my guess is around 10 pounds. This is a great inshore bottom fishing reel for ocean and lakes. it is not a casting reel. The retrieve is low at less that 3:1. Not good for high speed retrieve applications like jigging and trolling. Best used for pier or boat drop line bait fishing - Dennis
Hi Dennis
Great video on the 285. I used this reel in Oct on my first fishing trip on a party boat in over 20 years,
There awesome reels. Found two 285 on eBay for $25 each. One in rough shape, the other in decent shape almond st the same condition as the one your servicing in the video. Will try my hand on the tougher one first. Question. Looks like insides are brass..
can you clean with ultrasonic cleaner..?. Use that on clock parts.. with it clean spool and outsides...
Last as in another viewer if I completely mess up can I send it to you to service for a fee...
Many thanks sir.. I’m on my 10th viewing of your video and each time it becomes more clear. Ready to try my hand.
Jack - you should be able use ultrasonic cleaners on these parts. I would test a piece, like a crossbar or reel seat first, to make sure. The gear sleeve should be brass or alloy. I don't think the bridge is brass. I believe it is an alloy.
Yes, I also repair reels, so if you get stumped, you can send me an e-mail at 2ndchancetackle@gmail.com and I can give you the particulars on the repair process.
Thank you for asking and for viewing - Dennis
I have a delmar 285. I do not the wrench or lube. Would you be interested in cleaning mine for me for a fee? I also have a Abu G. That’s at least 40 yrs I could send
Sure. Please send me an e-mail to: 2ndchancetackle@gmail.com and I will send you the specifics on pricing and shipping - Thanks for asking - Dennis