I recently picked up a Penn 710z for really cheap (couldn't pass it up). Is there anyway to convert it to a manual pickup? They don't seam to make a kit for it. Thanks for any input.

There is a manual kit.

PM'd the info.

I recently picked up a Penn 710z for really cheap (couldn't pass it up). Is there anyway to convert it to a manual pickup? They don't seam to make a kit for it. Thanks for any input.

:call:

You can get the manual conversion for like $19 from Scotts B&T in NJ, you can google his site and check it out. I have made the conversion my self but I don't like the fact that the line roller on the conversion is like three times the size of the original and spools the line in a cone shape. I was just going to call and order another bail arm and line roller to canilbalize to see if this would give me better results. After cutting the bail arm I'll have my neighbor tig weld it in the proper position and use the screw/nut from the other end as the counter weight.

It's a great reel and should handle all you can throw at it. You'll be very pleased with it.

You should also be able to get spare drag washers and an extra spool for short $.

[QUOTE= I don't like the fact that the line roller on the conversion is like three times the size of the original and spools the line in a cone shape.[/QUOTE]

Mine, also from Scotts is fine with no difference in roller size. I spoke with them directly when I ordered the kits for my 710 and 704. I recall that there was an issue of the age of the reel to determine if it would fit right. Perhaps that is what happened to you.

I also spoke with them directly and also discussed that their were two different rotor cup/bail arm configurations. I know of several other guys that posted on another site about the same issue. Wonder if the person filling the order sent the 704 conversion instead of the 710.

Roger the original line roller on the 710 is quite small, are you sure the conversion you have is the same size as the original?

Not sure if you are using braid but wouldn't the larger roller be preferred for that??

This is the link I originally PM'd Clogstan.

http://www.scottsbt.com/catalog/store/69-710-bOptionalb-Manual-Bail-Kit-P68063C5924.aspx

This is cool to post this I hope?

This is the link I originally PM'd Clogstan.

http://www.scottsbt.com/catalog/store/69-710-bOptionalb-Manual-Bail-Kit-P68063C5924.aspx

This is cool to post this I hope?

Thats fine, I encourage people to share info, just not to spam for themselves or others...

Roger the original line roller on the 710 is quite small, are you sure the conversion you have is the same size as the original?

I just checked and you are correct about it being larger. The original is .19" and the new is .28".

The line i used, .015 mono (about 14#), spooled on fine though. In fact, I just pulled off all of the line and rewound it in the name of science (plus I'm easily distracted from my work).

Now I can't remember if it piled on the top of the spool before I converted to the manual bail.

FWIW, my 710z is probably 20 years old, if that matters.

That is the kit I have and it may not be three times the size but it is larger. It isn't a drastic cone but because of the larger roller it spools more line onto the bottom of the spool than the top. Not the biggest deal but it isn't level like a 706 wraps line which is why I was thinking of taking a factory original and modifying it.

I just got mine put together and it spooled pretty evenly as long as I went pretty slow when cranking the line on. I put 20# fireline on it. I just wanted to post as a heads up for anyone else who buys the kit. I found that I had to add a small lock washer to the screw that connects the bail arm to the rotor in order to get a tight fit and another lock washer on the counterweight screw to prevent the end of the screw from occasionally rubbing on the spool during retrieve. Just thought that might help someone if they run into trouble making the kit work - I know one member here that snapped the screw on the bail arm trying to get it tight enough :hidin:

Guess there isn't much in the way of quality control in those items when manufactured. I didn't have those issues plenty of clearance to the spool and the star washer held it in place firmly. Glad to hear it spooled on ok, not sure if keeping tension on the line while spooling may have helped. Hopefully when your fishing it and reeling under normal circumstances it continues to spool evenly. I had spooled my line previously with the bail still in place then made that mod. The cone shape (more line spooled on the bottom than the top) was definately noticeable on my spool of 40 lb power pro after fishing it a couple of times.

I just made my latest mod earlier this week. I bought another bail arm, roller and lock nut. I cut the bail arm similar to the factory bail less mod and bolted it back in place, screwed in the original nut from the other end (the one from the bail arm after it was cut free) for counterweight. Now it is back to the smaller original size roller. The size difference in rollers is more than double. I like my new mod now respooled with 20# fireline.

Looks like the majority of the manual kit for the 6500SS are in this 710 kit. If you have one of these, I'd cut off the little micro bail wire poking out of the roller and ground it down.

What I did was make sure I had a newer style bail wire (not the roller with the conical base that tapered into a thin wire , but the one where the wire is pressed into the head of the roller on an angle. This is the newer style wire.

Cut & file the roller and remove the wire. Reassemble. The 6500 ss counterweight actually made my reel wobble, so I just left the normal locknut on the opp. side of the roller. You can just cut the older wireto about an inch long, but you need to grind the tip round & smooth.

Now the 712 cannot use the latter wire mod because the angle of cone would prevent the line from getting caught up for retrieval. At least on my reel. So I used the 1st recommended method and left the other bail wire arm flappin in the wind. No balance issues here.

Will try and post pics later... too sleeeppy

This is the link I originally PM'd Clogstan.

http://www.scottsbt.com/catalog/store/69-710-bOptionalb-Manual-Bail-Kit-P68063C5924.aspx

This is cool to post this I hope?
Thanks for the info. I just ordered 2. I converted both my 704s but haven't used my 710s in years. Now I will again. Nice reel for the small 9' rods and when I don't need the VS 250

Fianally got around to downloading what was in the camera so I figured I'd take a few more to show the difference in size of line rollers between the conversion kit and the original.

Ok where are the photos? Will try again.

couple more