Cool! I got one of these with the Planomatic system a few months ago, and the apparent inability to separate the pinion assembly from the rotor was making me a bit grumbly. I'd wanted to do a deep cleaning but had to settle for spraying the bearings out as best as I could and hoping for the best. Worked, but still... Now I know how to get better access for cleaning.
Rick, http,his reel is filthy. I’ve got to make me a screwdriver like that. I don’t have any pins tor this reel. That bearing design is better than a 406. Rick, you need a set of Mitchell tools. They will loosen almost every rotor nut of a French Mitchell. Who in the world would use a 308 in saltwater? Great job with the rotor. I’ve always heard that the 308 was a great little reel especially for trout fishing. I know that it is one of the most desirable reels Mitchell ever made. Being primarily a saltwater fisherman I never got one. I may have to rethink that decision. I’m still so stoked about getting another Penn 708Z today that ir’s hard to think about other reels right now. Great job and video Rick! - Chris
Filthy is what you get when you buy 5 rods and 4 reels for $20. They have usually been hanging around for years waiting for a buyer. I'm still not sure if that bearing is supposed to come apart or not. I decided to error on the side of caution since it is a serviceable reel. Informed people probable would not use this reel in salt water but inexperienced people would never give it another thought. I remember my first experience with salt water was a Johnson Century reel that I used in the back bay of Biloxi Mississippi. When I finished fishing, I put it into my trunk and didn't think about it for 3 months. It was a gross white fuzz ball when I took it back out. My dad was able to save it, but I learned my lesson about salt water. They don't have salt water in Kentucky, so we don't learn about it at an early age like costal folks do. I like the reel and I had planned on making an offer for it but once I took it apart, I was less enthusiastic about it. Nice reel but I don't consider it anything special.
Be careful using ultralight reels in saltwater. It's easy to break stuff if you aren't careful. I once hooked into a 20lb+ bat ray using an ultralight in a float tube. I ended up cracking the drag knob on my reel, which was no big deal because it was a Penn and getting a replacement part was easy. My wrist hurt for a week afterward from the strain of fighting and dragging that ray for 45 minutes. I've read similar tales from other fishermen, where they did more significant injury to their wrist.
@@warpedweirdoSorry for the typo. I am partially blind so typing isn’t easy for me. Sorry for the confusion. I think there is a 707Z for lefty’s. - Chris
Hey Richard this reel a new version of the 308 maybe a 308 A not a true 308 which has a planetary gear system which allowed the spool shaft to go up and down in stages not go just up and down this allowed for better line lay on the spool. I personally have 408 and 409 and a 908 and very hard to find 909.
Carl, I was pretty sure that was the case since I had seen videos of the planetary gear setup. I was surprised when I opened it up and found a more standardized gear set. I’m not sure which came first but I think mine might be the earlier and the planetary was an improvement they made to get a better line lay. I can’t imagine them going from that design to this and still being made in France.
Cool! I got one of these with the Planomatic system a few months ago, and the apparent inability to separate the pinion assembly from the rotor was making me a bit grumbly. I'd wanted to do a deep cleaning but had to settle for spraying the bearings out as best as I could and hoping for the best. Worked, but still... Now I know how to get better access for cleaning.
Rick, http,his reel is filthy. I’ve got to make me a screwdriver like that. I don’t have any pins tor this reel. That bearing design is better than a 406. Rick, you need a set of Mitchell tools. They will loosen almost every rotor nut of a French Mitchell. Who in the world would use a 308 in saltwater? Great job with the rotor. I’ve always heard that the 308 was a great little reel especially for trout fishing. I know that it is one of the most desirable reels Mitchell ever made. Being primarily a saltwater fisherman I never got one. I may have to rethink that decision. I’m still so stoked about getting another Penn 708Z today that ir’s hard to think about other reels right now. Great job and video Rick! - Chris
Filthy is what you get when you buy 5 rods and 4 reels for $20. They have usually been hanging around for years waiting for a buyer.
I'm still not sure if that bearing is supposed to come apart or not. I decided to error on the side of caution since it is a serviceable reel.
Informed people probable would not use this reel in salt water but inexperienced people would never give it another thought. I remember my first experience with salt water was a Johnson Century reel that I used in the back bay of Biloxi Mississippi. When I finished fishing, I put it into my trunk and didn't think about it for 3 months. It was a gross white fuzz ball when I took it back out. My dad was able to save it, but I learned my lesson about salt water. They don't have salt water in Kentucky, so we don't learn about it at an early age like costal folks do.
I like the reel and I had planned on making an offer for it but once I took it apart, I was less enthusiastic about it. Nice reel but I don't consider it anything special.
I've never heard of a Penn 708z, and can't find any info about it. Are you maybe referring to a 710z, or a 706z?
He missed typed. He just purchased another 706z.
Be careful using ultralight reels in saltwater. It's easy to break stuff if you aren't careful. I once hooked into a 20lb+ bat ray using an ultralight in a float tube. I ended up cracking the drag knob on my reel, which was no big deal because it was a Penn and getting a replacement part was easy. My wrist hurt for a week afterward from the strain of fighting and dragging that ray for 45 minutes. I've read similar tales from other fishermen, where they did more significant injury to their wrist.
@@warpedweirdoSorry for the typo. I am partially blind so typing isn’t easy for me. Sorry for the confusion. I think there is a 707Z for lefty’s. - Chris
Hey Richard this reel a new version of the 308 maybe a 308 A not a true 308 which has a planetary gear system which allowed the spool shaft to go up and down in stages not go just up and down this allowed for better line lay on the spool.
I personally have 408 and 409 and a 908 and very hard to find 909.
Carl, I was pretty sure that was the case since I had seen videos of the planetary gear setup. I was surprised when I opened it up and found a more standardized gear set. I’m not sure which came first but I think mine might be the earlier and the planetary was an improvement they made to get a better line lay. I can’t imagine them going from that design to this and still being made in France.