Just returned from Nantucket yesterday and drove back to Newton today. I arrived there at 9:30 AM with a group of friends who were into going to the beach and getting their tan on. I had my canal bike ready and couldn't go to the bait shop because the birthday girl didn't want me to go. -_- We opted on going to Cisco beach. Saw a female angler who was fishing on the beach with plugs and I couldn't fish because of my reel, the most important thing I ever had in my life, Penn704Z's cap wouldn't stay and it was spinning a lot every time I tried to twist the cap and secure it. It didn't secure. I borrowed my friend's reel and played with it. No hits. But the beach and island itself was beautiful. Had fun playing in the waves. No pictures here, sadly, it's because I felt that there wasn't much for me to snap some shots. However, I did manage to observe the island and feel that I will want to try there again and land some bass.

Did anyone ever had a problem with a reel that has a cracked cap and doesn't close it? I took it to Red Top and talked to a guy there. One of them replaced my Penn 704Z cap with a Penn Power Drag cap. It fits and secures pretty well, but the spool itself keeps spinning if you run the line with your hand. I am concerned about the bass running it, let alone a giant or small one running away from me. I don't want to say anything bad about Red Top, but if they cannot fix it and suggest me that I get a new one, then it's okay because I would rather to be told the truth by a shop worker/owner instead of feeling hopeful and excited about having a different cap to replace my original one and finding the reel to be spooling regardless how hard you tightened the cap.

If I have to get another reel, I would like it to be similar to Penn 704Z. I am not going to get a Van Stall or Zebco reel.

I cracked my 704z cap when I was on the outer cape lucky a shop out there had one left as parts, put it on and was good as new. Still fish the reel to this day and no problems with the drag.

I love the place, Nantucket. I haven't been there in years, but one day, have to get back to God's little Island.
Glad you had a good time! Too bad about the reel. Get a new drag knob!

I cracked my 704z cap when I was on the outer cape lucky a shop out there had one left as parts, put it on and was good as new. Still fish the reel to this day and no problems with the drag.

Yes, but right now, I don't think any places carry it because it's a discontinued model? I have a new drag/cap, but it runs regardless how much you tightened it up. It just bothers me a lot. I need this reel to go out and dunk.

I love the place, Nantucket. I haven't been there in years, but one day, have to get back to God's little Island.
Glad you had a good time! Too bad about the reel. Get a new drag knob!

You should go back there soon, man! It's an awesome place to swim and all. Hell, it smelled fishy. =) Like I stated before, the reel is a discontinued model and I doubt that the knob are available for this particular one??

Yeah you need to see if they have parts off an old reel. Or even buy a old 704z that doesnt work for parts.

Google Scott's bait and tackle. part number 52N-704Z. $11.05

Discontinued but still available.:uhuh:

Google Scott's bait and tackle. part number 52N-704Z. $11.05

Discontinued but still available.:uhuh:

Like this, Stewie?

http://i.ebayimg.com/09/!CB4,MCwBWk~$%28KGrHqMOKicEzRCnSwb+BNJS4yW9ng~~_3. JPG

:)Yes, those caps are even used on newer SSM reels. I sure looks like the one on my 650 ssm. The only spinning reel I use.

Notaro, your drag washers may not be put back in the stack in the correct order

Notaro, your drag washers may not be put back in the stack in the correct orderIf you put a new cap on and the spool still wouldn't lock down tight enough so you couldn't pull line off then the problem is in the drag stack or maybe a missing white nylon(?) washer behind the spool might do it. It's not the cap maybe.

Is the white nylon washer that goes under the spool there? I lost mine one night and my drag would'nt tighten to where I wanted it.
Make sure the hole in the center of the knob is big enough to fit over the brass sleeve on the spool shaft too.

If you put a new cap on and the spool still wouldn't lock down tight enough so you couldn't pull line off then the problem is in the drag stack or maybe a missing white nylon(?) washer behind the spool might do it. It's not the cap maybe.

The guys at Red Top said everything is there, but it seems that I have to adjust the spool so the cap can fit with it.

Is the white nylon washer that goes under the spool there? I lost mine one night and my drag would'nt tighten to where I wanted it.
Make sure the hole in the center of the knob is big enough to fit over the brass sleeve on the spool shaft too.

Ditto on that.

Now the reel is fine. I guess that I discovered that adjusting the spool on the reel and the cap to even up works. Now it's functional.

Cool. Still one of the best damn reels made, all things considered.
Think I'll take mine out for a nite....

Cool. Still one of the best damn reels made, all things considered.
Think I'll take mine out for a nite....

I agree with you. I wished that they didn't discontinued the model

The keyed washers in the drag stack have to line up properly for the spool to seat properly on the spool shaft. Look down the top of the drag stack when you put the spool on the spool shaft, slowly rotate the spool until you feel the shaft pass through both keyed washers.

The keyed washers in the drag stack have to line up properly for the spool to seat properly on the spool shaft. Look down the top of the drag stack when you put the spool on the spool shaft, slowly rotate the spool until you feel the shaft pass through both keyed washers.

thats what i figured out. -_-