From 1Minute 56 Minutes To 25 Seconds

[Rudy1922]

I flushed the stock bearings on my Chronarch CI4+, lots of grease in those bearings, and timed it. No breaks, dial set to 1 and just a little side to side spool movement. It had 15 yrds of Mono and the rest was 30 lbs braid. I flicked the reel handle really hard to get it going and then hit the casting button. My best time was 2 minutes but the average was around 1minute 56 seconds and I thought to myself "Wow I like this". Then I timed it the way I normally would use it. 2 brakes on and dial set to 3 and timed it. 25 - 30 seconds was my average time and I thought to myself "Wow I don't like this". 

 

So what good does it do me to have a reel that can spin for 1:56 minutes in "5th gear" if I can only control it in "2nd gear"? The only problem the Chronarch CI4+ has with casting distance is ME. 

[ced]

Free spin is just fun to show off.

 

I guess if a person is capable of casting with no spool control or brakes it might add to your distance. 

 

I can throw with just thumb control, but it honestly doesn't end up being a longer cast than with the spool cap and brakes.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Spin times don't really mean anything other than it provides visual assurance that free-spool has been improved. Better free-spool allows for easier start up so casts take less physical force which improves accuracy. Casting distance is less of a concern as to putting more fish in the boat.

[.RM.]

Spin times don't really mean anything other than it provides visual assurance that free-spool has been improved. Better free-spool allows for easier start up so casts take less physical force which improves accuracy. Casting distance is less of a concern as to putting more fish in the boat.

X2...

Can't believe that anglers are still using the free spool spin to judge a reels casting abilities.

 

Tight Lines! 

[.ghoti.]

Ditto.. Just take that thing out and fish with it. Be a bit careful the first few casts. You may just be impressed with yourself.

[mjseverson24]

I guess I am on the other side of the argument. I find that free spool time greatly increases pitching performance of a reel, also this will make casting more accurate as less energy is needed to cast the same distance, making the whole process more easily repeatable and predictable. there are only a few instances where casting distance can equate to more fish, the first deep crankbaits, the second A-rigs, the third spinnerbaits, the fourth footbal jigs, the fifth c-rigs and so on... The point is the longer the cast with a search type bait the better you can actually search for fish. now combine a long cast with good fishing knowledge and the added distance could make a noticeable difference in productivity. 

 

Mitch

[Raul]

 

So what good does it do me to have a reel that can spin for 1:56 minutes in "5th gear" if I can only control it in "2nd gear"? The only problem the Chronarch CI4+ has with casting distance is ME. 

 

S+t happens my man.

 

Continue practicing, thousands of yards of tangled nylon made me the caster I am now.

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Spin times don't really mean anything other than it provides visual assurance that free-spool has been improved. Better free-spool allows for easier start up so casts take less physical force which improves accuracy. Casting distance is less of a concern as to putting more fish in the boat.

Free spool obviously doesn't mean much, but I do feel there is some value in it.. If you spin your spool as fast as you can and it only spins 2 seconds, there is (in most cases) something slowing down the bearings. This would also slow the spool when casting, and therefore requiring the bait/lure to have to pull more on the spool throughout the cast since the spool wants to slow down, but the lure wants to keep flying.

 

I think that comparing 2 different reel models by their free spools times is ridiculous. There are many variables, and these don't have a direct effect (most of the time) on castability. My farthest casting reel doesn't free spool as one or two of my mid-distance casting reels of different models.

 

Comparing 2 of the same reel models is a different story, but not drastically different. Say you had 2 curado's of the same series/size, both without line on the spool, and both have stock bearings. Let's say the first one free spools for 5 seconds average, and the second for 35 average. Obviously something is slowing the bearings whether it be bad tolerances or thick grease or over-lubed, etc.

The casting distance would probably be right about the same on these two reels (with same line, conditions, lure, rod, etc), but the effort needed might be different. Or maybe the pitching effort would be different.. It varies between reels.

 

I have found that with the same reel models, if one freespools drastically better than another/the others, that will usually be better for pitching and effortless shorter distance casting. In long range casting, the one the freespools better normally casts slightly better just because the bearings don't require the extra energy to keep them spinning.

Again, I have only found this when comparing reels of the same model.

[J Francho]

All a long spin time shows is that the bearings are clean, and everthing is working.

[tomustang]

Free spin allows me to know how gummed up my bearings are.

 

 

So what good does it do me to have a reel that can spin for 1:56 minutes in "5th gear" if I can only control it in "2nd gear"? The only problem the Chronarch CI4+ has with casting distance is ME. 

Go put on a 1/2oz weight on your line and cast it to find out.

[bootytrain]

If you are wanting more distance, swap out the brake blocks from red to the white ones

[0119]

You got 2 expert reel repair men and a retired reel repair expert telling you it means nothing in the real world!  I bet if a shimano reel engineer watched and studied those stupid you tube videos showing guys doing that, they'd tell you not only is it bad for your reel's internals but that it would void your warranty.

[Montanaro]

spinning your spool voids your warranty? better not take it to the lake then!

my point of view is that I've never had a cast longer than 4 seconds let alone 2 minutes. The difference is the acceleration and torque between a stock and tuned reel. A tuned reel will require less torque and effort to cast and flip. The difference in casting distance would be at best a few feet. flipping on the other hand will improve as you can get a few more feet with much less effort as its a technique that requires the spool to be fast enough to not slow down the baits momentum. As dvt stated, with less effort you can focus on accuracy (ever throw a baseball as hard as you can...very little accuracy)

so in my opinion, free spool timing is just another measurement for very modest results. It's not the be all end all.

[Basswhippa]

If you are wanting more distance, swap out the brake blocks from red to the white ones

 

Listen to the men who work on reels for a living but I believe right here is your right answer if you want to change your reel again and make it behave the way you want it.

[K_Mac]

All a long spin time shows is that the bearings are clean, and everthing is working.

 

Yep. Start up energy then is a function of the total weight of the spool, and how a reel casts in the real world is a complex equation that is a measure of how a reel is engineered and the quality of materials and construction. It is also very subjective based on personal preference and experience.

[Rudy1922]

I used the reel all day yesterday and I might have gained a couple yards in casting distance...maybe. The only time I really noticed any extra distance is when I started to slowly creep the dial from 3 to 1 but that controls the brakes and not the bearings. No backlashes the whole day but that has to do with the weight & aerodynamics of the bait I was using. So did I gain anything? I don't know...but It was fun messing with the reel. 

[Dyerbassman]

Based on the title of this thread, I thought it was about something entirely different.....:-)

[Jay Ell Gee]

If you are wanting more distance, swap out the brake blocks from red to the white ones

Ok, I really hate to ask but...

What effect would this have, exactly? I own many Shimano baitcasters but don't mess with them much beyond basic maintenance.

[bootytrain]

Ok, I really hate to ask but...

What effect would this have, exactly? I own many Shimano baitcasters but don't mess with them much beyond basic maintenance.

The smaller surface area of the white brakes means less friction on the drum, meaning longer casts, but also not as forgiving. I saw a noticeable improvement in distance but also required more thumb at times.