Help!! Lews Drag Problems.

[James Long]

I need some help guys and gals. I recently took apart my lews real to clean, oil and grease it. Well it’s back together and feels as if I cannot cast as far and I have to really tighten my drag all the for it to have no pull. I know it sounds crazy but it doesn’t feel the same. I don’t know if this is normal seeing that this is the first time I have cleaned it or any reel of the matter but I made sure to get decent oil and grease. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It’s impossible to say without seeing it. Possibly over oiled spool bearings and grease where it doesn’t belong on the drag. 

[James Long]

I put oil on the bearings. And grease on the gears. 

[Deleted account]

54 minutes ago, James Long said:

I need some help guys and gals. I recently took apart my lews real to clean, oil and grease it. Well it’s back together and feels as if I cannot cast as far and I have to really tighten my drag all the for it to have no pull. I know it sounds crazy but it doesn’t feel the same. I don’t know if this is normal seeing that this is the first time I have cleaned it or any reel of the matter but I made sure to get decent oil and grease. 

Is it normal for a reel to not feel right after cleaning and lubing?..... No.

Is it normal for a reel not to work properly after someone who doesn't know what they are doing takes it apart and puts it back together?..... Yup.

[GreenPig]

Washer stack improperly installed? It can affect the drag. Seen it before. Shorter casting distance is likely from too much oil.

[Log Catcher]

I can't help you with the drag problem. To help the casting I would take the non handle side plate off. Take out the spool and take a rag and and wipe off the edges of the spool and the areas the spool edges are next to in the reel. This will get rid of any excess oil in these areas and improve your casting distance.