Baitcaster drag slipping

[Justin2135]

So I recently purchased a shimano slx dc it’s only been used a few dozen times and I’m experiencing drag slipping issues. The first time it happened the spool would literally free spoil with the drag tightened all the way down, couldn’t even hold the weight of the lure. The some how it seemed to fix itself, I know it’s not possible but it started working again. Not sure what’s going on sometimes it works fine other times it doesn’t. Not sure if it’s coincidence but it seems to happen more when I leave the rod reel in my car, not sure if it’s the heat but it doesn’t happen to my other reels of the same make. Anyway I’m really trying to avoid sending it in to shimano so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!! 

[Tim Kelly]

Take the braid off and put a few yards of mono on the spool before re-loading the braid. Braid is slippery and it slips on the spool without a little backing.

[Mat_ski]

You can put a very small piece of electrical tape when you start spooling with braid to prevent any future slippage. 

 

[Bankc]

I've had this happen to me before on a new reel.  It never seems to happen on older reels, and doesn't happen to every new reel.  My theory is, if it's not your line slipping (which it very well could be), then it might be lubricant sinking down onto the drag washers.   When drag washers are new, they often have a lip around the edges from where they cut it out, and this can act as a trap for oil which keeps them from making proper contact.  So it's kind of like the washer is hydroplaning on oil instead of making contact with the gear and creating friction.  After they get a bit of wear, the lip goes away, and so does the problem.  

 

Often times reels are over lubricated at the factory.  So if you want, you can try to disassemble it, clean it out, and re-lubricate it and that'll solve the problem, assuming you don't use too much (you only need a little).  Or, you can loosen the drag all the way and retighten it.  That usually allows for some of the oil to squeeze out, allowing you to get proper contact with the gear face.  A little bit of oil on your drag washers is often desired.  It makes them smoother.  But if you get enough trapped in there so that they can't make proper contact, then you'll get the problem you described.  

 

That's my theory on it anyway.  I have yet to prove it, but my experience leads me in that direction.  I know for me it wasn't line slipping because that was my first though, And I checked for that. But I guess it could have been something else, like maybe the star drag nut binding and not allowing itself to go down far enough to create drag pressure.  It's hard to tell because it's a new reel and you're not familiar with how far it screws down before the drag is supposed to engage, and I haven't disassembled one while the problem was going on to look for clues.  

 

 

[Justin2135]

I appreciate all the replies!! It’s definitely not the line slipping, was the first thing I checked. I kinda with you on some how lubricant is getting on the drag washers. I had the issue this morning but now it’s working fine. This morning I would have some drag not as much as it should be but some but when I casted out the amount of drag would be significantly reduced when pull line from just in front of the reel. The more line I reeled in the more drag I would get, really weird!! Thanks again for all feedback 

[garroyo130]

Are you running braided line? If you haven't had line slip happen to you before, it can be hard to tell that its not the entire spool moving. 

 

Even if oil somehow did get into the drag washers, the pressure alone would prevent it from free spooling. 

[WRB]

Something is defective or not assembled correctly like the spool shaft isn't engaging. Contact DVT.

Tom

[Justin2135]

It’s not the line slipping, I don’t even think it would be possible for the line to be slipping so much that it couldn’t pick up a 3/8oz lure. Slipping while fighting a fish yes but not what I’m describing. 

 

Is there any part of the reel that could have got oil/grease on it other than the drag washers that would cause this issue?

[Bankc]

39 minutes ago, Justin2135 said:

It’s not the line slipping, I don’t even think it would be possible for the line to be slipping so much that it couldn’t pick up a 3/8oz lure. Slipping while fighting a fish yes but not what I’m describing. 

 

Is there any part of the reel that could have got oil/grease on it other than the drag washers that would cause this issue?

When I had the issue I described, it wasn't quite to the level of a free spool, but more like what you'd get if the drag was backed out all of the way.  But if yours is actually feeling like a free spool, then perhaps something isn't engaging properly like Tom said. 

 

In any case, if it's a common re-occurrence, then that oil thing I mentioned wouldn't be the cause.  It wouldn't take long to wear down the lip and allow the oil to squeeze out.  And even a heavily oiled drag washer will produce some drag under pressure, so long as it's able to make direct contact with the gear face.  I've only experienced the issue two or three times in my life, and after you've engaged the drag a few times, it goes away for good.  If what you're experiencing isn't going away, then I might start to look elsewhere.    

 

There's a pinion gear that connects the spool's shaft to the main gear on the handle shaft.  When you press the cast release button, it pops up and disengages to allow the spool to free spin.  It's possible it might have something jamming it and preventing it from dropping back down and engaging the main gear to the spool.  It could be packed with grease or something might be broken or disconnected.  It's hard to say.  There could be something else slipping inside there or not engaging properly.  You'd have to take it apart to find out.

 

In any case, if it's a reoccurring problem, I'd take the reel back while it's still covered by the return period.  It might be an indication of future problems to come.  Sometimes a lemon will sneak past their QC.  And that's why they have warranties.

[garroyo130]

Only time ive had anything remotely similar happen was with a bad AR bearing but the entire handle was turning as well as the spool. I think WRB is on the money. If its not slipping then its not engaging.

[Justin2135]

It’s only been to the point of free spool once the first time it happened all the other times I’ve had some amount of drag. But I leave it alone go back a few hours later and it’s fine, really makes no sense. But that’s why I was thinking maybe it’s the heat of being left in my car and the oil is thinning out enough to get somewhere it shouldn’t be. I just replaced the drag washers seemed like a excessive amount of grease on the smaller drag washer, but we’ll see what happens hopefully this will take care of the issue. Thanks again for all the response.....I appreciate the help!!

[FishTank]

I just worked a buddy's Curado B's and 2 of the five had the same issue.  What you said about the drag being ok after being left alone is what rings a bell...... My friends Curado would be ok when he would start fishing them and a few hours later he said the drag would get weaker even though the drag was tight.  When I took the two in question apart, the drag washers on one side had a raised ridge on the outside edge but his others did not.  Then I noticed that the ends of the spools seemed a little warn.   After it was all put back together, I noticed these two had only a little bit of drag but enough to get the job done.  So I gave them back to him  and told him to order some drag washers. He then put them back on the rods and I watched him tighten the drag all the way down tight (farther than you should) and that's when it hit me.  He had been tightening the drag down so tight it was causing the washers to flatten out like a pan cake.

 

I don't know if this is what is causing your issues but it would be the next thing I would look at after the line slipping as mentioned above.  The line slipping is easy to miss but easy to check.  Just tighten the drag down, pull some line out.  If  the line pulls out and the spool doesn't move, then line needs to taken off and redone. 

[jimmyjoe]

   Make sure you don't have grease on your pinion yoke or yoke springs. Grease will intermittently prevent the yoke from re-engaging, or at least slow it down.     jj

[Kevyn]

I was experiencing intermittent drag tension. It would come and go at any level of drag I applied. After reading about line slippage on this thread I checked my reel and sure enough..line is slipping on the spool. I'm still confused on how it can have total slip one minute and then work at half strength the next and then back to full drag all within 20 minutes. In the morning I'll find out if a correct line backing will correct this. Would be nice if it's just a simple fix. Thanks for all the input!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If problem persists send it in and I’ll take care of it. No amount of grease or over tightening will cause your problem and I’ll be surprised if changing drag washers corrects it. 

[Cbump]

On 7/21/2020 at 7:15 AM, Tim Kelly said:

Take the braid off and put a few yards of mono on the spool before re-loading the braid. Braid is slippery and it slips on the spool without a little backing.

I’m trying hard to visualize how this has anything to do with the drag not working and the spool turning. 

[Tim Kelly]

If the spool's turning it won't, obviously. Often people see the braid turning and assume the spool's turning, but it isn't, hence the mono backing to stop the line slipping on the spool.