bassh8er Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I'm a PQ fan, and while I might try a Curado or Chronarch next season, this topic is what can be done to my Pro Qualifiers, I currently have 5 of them. I've read about Carbontex drags and ceramic bearing upgrades. Would these be applicable withmy PQ? I guess what I'm looking for is, what after market upgrades could I do to my PQs that would've worth it for the money? I really don't know what the bearing upgrades mean and what the benefits would be, so any help there would be much appreciated also. Thanks, Quote
Super User LgMouthGambler Posted October 1, 2012 Super User Posted October 1, 2012 Save all the money that you would spend to upgrade all 5 of the PQ's and buy a Curado or Chronarch, and then you will understand why they are highly recommended. Quote
Kevinator1 Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Hey Bassh8er I used to have some Pro Qualifiers and did upgrade the bearings just to see what difference it made. I tried the Boca Bearings Ceramics and they were a little noisy but it did make a difference on casting distance. It seemed like the spool would spin forever after I installed them. I also tried the Abec 5 stainless steel bearings and they were slightly better than the originals also. Just my observations. 1 Quote
bassh8er Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 Save all the money that you would spend to upgrade all 5 of the PQ's and buy a Curado or Chronarch, and then you will understand why they are highly recommended. Please read the first sentence of my post. YOU are the specific reason I emphasized the meaning of my post, but, obviously that initial disclaimer wasn't enough for you. 2 Quote
Ima Bass Ninja Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I have upgraded 2 Carbonlite (older gold ones) and a tournament edition with the carbontex drags which did make the drag smoother I have not tried any bearing upgrades as I feel I get good distance with the stock ones properly cleaned and lubed. Quote
ClackerBuzz Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I'm a PQ fan and also have 5 of them. I bought Carbontex washers for all of them (tks DVT) but only changed out 2 of them so far. Honestly I don't notice a difference which is why I haven't bothered changing the rest out. Ima with Ima Bass Ninja and happy with the stock bearings. I do flush them every winter with acetone. And I service my reels at least twice during the season. That keeps me plenty satisfied. Give me an update if you try the bearings. Quote
Delaware Valley Tackle Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 The PQ is a fine reel and a good value. Comparing it to a Chronarch not apples to apples. My first recommendation is always to have the reel cleaned and the bearings flushed. The PQ uses a solid spool shaft design and responds well to Super Tuning. The stock drag is better in newer versions but the Carbontex is definetely better and relatively inexpensive. If the bearings are tired and need replacing anyway, then upgrading them makes more sense. Many other Revo parts like level wind bearings and eversilk coated parts will fit but again it's only worth doing if replacing worn parts anyway. Quote
craww Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Carbon lite handles lighten em up a 1/2 oz. IIRC you can put the duralumin gear set out of a carbonlite. That with the handle swap will get it about an ounce lighter...Other than that.Drag,Polishing/bearing flush and relube are the best tangible things you can do. A guy named jason Penn did some neat mods to his family of reels a few years back. Search here and TT. Quote
Rangerjoe Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Most likely the best sub $100.00 reel avaiable. Quote
Super User .RM. Posted October 1, 2012 Super User Posted October 1, 2012 Comparing it to a Chronarch not apples to apples. My first recommendation is always to have the reel cleaned and the bearings flushed. The PQ uses a solid spool shaft design and responds well to Super Tuning. X2 Quote
papajoe222 Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I have two, and although they don't get used much anymore, I did polish the gears and spool shaft and upgraded to Boca bearings (I believe ABEC 7). I'm very happy with the results. If you do your own 'super tune' don't be aggressive with the spool shaft ends. Too much is a BIG no no. Quote
rubba bubba Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 The ProQ drags are already carbon so if you get improvement over the carbontex it's going to be small, but because they are cheap, it's something fun to try. It could be hard to gauge how much the small improvement is going to be due to greasing/cleaning the washer stack vs. the new washer itself, however. Send a reel off to DVT to have it supertuned. Clean and tune a reel yourself. Compare the 2 and see if they perform differently. Bearings have been mentioned but only if you have too many miles on your current set. Polishing the brake track is another thing to try (not just cleaning it, but hardcore polishing) The Chronarch is just a Curado, so when you get to that point of trying, pick up whichever is cheaper and the color scheme you like more. There's no need to rush - it's just another reel. Regardless of how many times LMG opens his mouth to change feet. 1 Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted October 1, 2012 Super User Posted October 1, 2012 I have four after reading this post I'm more confident than ever in them. 1 Quote
Ima Bass Ninja Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 The ProQ drags are already carbon Are these the newer versions?? I have not had any of my PQ's come with carbon drags. Even the carbonlites (gold ones) that i have did not have carbon drags. Quote
Super User retiredbosn Posted October 1, 2012 Super User Posted October 1, 2012 Mine have carbon drags, not the multi stack though. If I remember two carbon discs one metal Quote
Ima Bass Ninja Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Ahh cool! My actual pqs must be older versions. Thanks! Quote
Dave P Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I have four after reading this post I'm more confident than ever in them. And another one coming in the mail! Quote
bassh8er Posted October 2, 2012 Author Posted October 2, 2012 Thanks for all the replies guys. I sent my reels to a different guy last year I found on a different site and was happy, but maybe I'll send some off to DVT this off-season. Thanks again everyone. Quote
ChiCityBasser Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 I have one and only had it out a couple times this year as it is my deep cranking reel but it performed well. Quote
cody161 Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Save all the money that you would spend to upgrade all 5 of the PQ's and buy a Curado or Chronarch, and then you will understand why they are highly recommended. I know this has already been stated by the OP, but is it really that hard to answer the simple question he ask? As soon as I read the first post I knew why he specified that this thread was about PQ mods and not Shimano fan boys....And that it was directly related to you. There are different strokes for different folks, so why do you always, and I mean ALWAYS, try and push everyone towards Shimano? I can confidently say that I will never own a Shimano reel because of you and the way you try to force their product on people. Rant off. 5 Quote
Super User rockchalk06 Posted October 2, 2012 Super User Posted October 2, 2012 I know this has already been stated by the OP, but is it really that hard to answer the simple question he ask? As soon as I read the first post I knew why he specified that this thread was about PQ mods and not Shimano fan boys....And that it was directly related to you. There are different strokes for different folks, so why do you always, and I mean ALWAYS, try and push everyone towards Shimano? I can confidently say that I will never own a Shimano reel because of you and the way you try to force their product on people. Rant off. I am now dumber after reading this post. I have lost 10 seconds of my life. If a person seriously would never buy a companies product because of one guy pushing it is absurd. The OP did say he would consider one next season. I do believe LMG said to save all the money he would use to upgrade the PQ's and buy one. How is that pushing the product? Me personally and this is to the OP, I would suggest saving all your money on upgrading them. I am a die hard Abu man. I do own one PQ in 4.7:1 and I seriously don't think upgrading it would matter much. I would buy another PQ, rod, another brand of reel or more tackle. Quote
Super User *Hootie Posted October 2, 2012 Super User Posted October 2, 2012 I am now dumber Nuff said. lol Hootie Quote
shootermcbob Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 Thanks for all the replies guys. I sent my reels to a different guy last year I found on a different site and was happy, but maybe I'll send some off to DVT this off-season. Thanks again everyone. I have sent reels in to Mike at DVT and have been extremely happy with the results. Quote
cody161 Posted October 2, 2012 Posted October 2, 2012 I am now dumber after reading this post. I have lost 10 seconds of my life. If a person seriously would never buy a companies product because of one guy pushing it is absurd. The OP did say he would consider one next season. I do believe LMG said to save all the money he would use to upgrade the PQ's and buy one. How is that pushing the product? Me personally and this is to the OP, I would suggest saving all your money on upgrading them. I am a die hard Abu man. I do own one PQ in 4.7:1 and I seriously don't think upgrading it would matter much. I would buy another PQ, rod, another brand of reel or more tackle. He directly ask for opinions on PQ's, not on a Curado or Chronarch. Is it really that hard to give the man what he ask for? Obviously his mind is already made up about Shimano so why would LMG even mention them? 2 Quote
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