progear albacore special - finally something nice to say

i admit it.  i've never had anything completely nice to say about any reel.  well, i always try to find something positive, but the reason i'm working on a reel because broken.  it always starts on the negative, never totally positive.  that's about to change....

here's the link to the manufacturer.....

http://progearfishingreels.com/default.htm

schematics are not listed for every reel, so i'm going to wing it. 

prior to this, the last albacore special i opened up was several years ago.  i had lubed it up and switched out the composite drag washers for greased carbon fiber, and sent the reel on it's way.  last month i was sent two albacore specials that were basically brand new.  when servicing a reel, it is my standard to grease the screw holes, grease the non-exposed metal surfaces, lube the bearings, and install greased carbon fiber drags.  i opened up the first reel and was pleasantly surprised that everything had already been done.  i went through the second reel just to take pictures.  you may have an older progear.  a jumpy drag confirms this. 

here is the progear albacore special.





you only have to back out two screws to remove the right side plate. 



these screws have to be greased, and, son-of-a-gun, this screw has grease on it!



looking at the right spool bearing, you can't tell if it's dry, grease or lubed with an oil of some sort.  i called progear later, and dan at progear tells me it's lubed.



i pulled the spool to check the left side bearing and clicker assembly.  progear says this bearing is lubed, too.  and it's obvious to see that the clicker assembly is greased. 



reel seats, particularly on older reels, are commonly bolted on dry. 



we've got grease....



and more grease.



and how many corroded handles and stars have you seen.



grease on top of the anti-reverse roller bearing will keep water out and help prevent failure of the primary anti-reverse mechanism.



three screw are all you need to separate the right side plate....



cleanly into two pieces.



here is a stack of greased carbon fiber drag washers.  nothing for me to do here....



so back together it goes.



i was going to grease the inside of the right side plate, but it's greased already.



three screws again.



the bellevilles go back on.



the star.



the handle.



the handle nut and you're done!



the only thing you might add is a larger grip. 



the handle grip is purely a personal preference, so i will certainly not count that against the reel.  that's why i give this reel a perfect 10!   

i forgot to mention something very important. the albacore special has two anti-reverse mechanisms. one is the infinite anti-reverse roller bearing. the other is a standard spring loaded dog.

that is one purdy reel! 

any comments about the drag pressure/gear strength?

http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csrProGear.htm

and "only" $350, 

Alan, how good are the Progear CS 600 series reels priced at $229-249?
They're still high for me but closer to my price range. 

the albacore special and classic series are both excellent reels.  the albacore special has a "newell" design.  i concur with everything that mark at charkbait has to say.  this new classic series 600 line is unfamiliar to me.  i have the old classic series 500's and 550's and i love them.  they are a classic "penn 4/0" design, not the more advanced "newell" design, but they work just fine. 

one note.  i was fishing with my classic series 500 and it went for a swim along with me when i flipped the kayak during an attempted landing in open surf.  as a result, the left side plate bearing rusted and had to be replaced.  that is the only problem i have ever had, and i fish these straight out of the box.  my personal kayak fishing preference is still the narrow spool jigmaster for you. 

you guys are too hard on your stuff.   

my personal kayak fishing preference is still the narrow spool jigmaster for you. 
you guys are too hard on your stuff.   

Alan, do you have a photo of Jigmaster converted to narrow spool? I'd love to see it.
Which model year/size of Penn's Jigmaster do you recommend?
Also, are the tolerances between the narrow spool and frame tight enough to use thin spectra line without it getting jammed in between?

any jigmaster will do.  all you need to do is order up a narrow spool conversion kit from pennparts.com

http://www.scottsbt.com/catalog/store/KIT500-501-Conversion-Kit-500-to-501-Save-400-P68082C6014.aspx

you are correct.  spectra will not work because it will get caught in between the side plate and the spool if you're not careful.  i'd load it up with 150 yards of straight 30# mono.  that should be stiff enough. 

here's a photo of the reel....

Thanks again, Alan!
Your reel seminars are excellent.  Good thing I only brought 4 reels this time around.  I don't think I would have had time to do any more.
I'll be back for your next one.