Spinning Reel Drag - Clean & Lube ?

[ChrisD46]

Something I never thought about doing - but notice now that a couple of spinning reel drags are a little jerky / not smooth when pulling out line to set the drag (i.e. drag discs dried out ?)  ... Any tips / techniques to making spinning reel drags happy again ?   Thanks in advance !

[bulldog1935]

If you go to that much trouble, I would replace the carbontex drag washers - they're cheap from many ebay suppliers.  

Make sure you film them completely, including inside and outside edges with Cal's grease - I think it's hprbearings on ebay (or his website) that can sell you both carbontex and a small Cal's tin.  

(yes, not spinning reel)

[garroyo130]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

If you go to that much trouble, I would replace the carbontex drag washers - they're cheap from many ebay suppliers.  

 

^ in my experience if youre dealing with felt drags they are almost impossible to clean without swelling them and creating a jerky drag. Im sure DVT has a method for these but I haven't found it. 

[jimmyjoe]

   I went with Carbontex, too. I got mine (and the Cal's grease) from Dawn at smoothdrag.com       jj

[TnRiver46]

I fish in canoe, kayak, bass boat, Jon boat and off the bank. And I don’t have a garage, needless to say my reels take a severe beating all the time. I can make almost any reel issues go away by taking my reels apart and cleaning them (I usually find sand and rocks inside! Haha) 

[bulldog1935]

Mine is oyster shell

[ChrisD46]

I appreciate the replies - my spinning reels are clean and well taken care of (never been dunked , dropped in mud , etc.) so I believe I am going to carefully take apart and simply re-lube with Cal's . 

If that doesn't do the trick - then I will explore new carbontex drag washers for my Daiwa and Abu Garcia spinning reels . 

[Guitarfish]

I used the same size drag disc as a Penn Squidder in a lot of my Stradics.  I used the thinner version, used in the 5 stack drag upgrade.  In really small reels upgrading from felt isn't really necessary.  The felt can be cleaned and re-oiled and work fine.  After all it only needs to put out a small amount of drag for the 6lb test I use most of the time.

Dawn at SmoothDrags is the queen of quick if you do order from her.

[J Francho]

I run dry Carbontex in all spinning reels (which all but one are OG CI4 Stradics) and have had zero maintenance to do on the drags in almost a decade.  

[ChrisD46]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I run dry Carbontex in all spinning reels (which all but one are OG CI4 Stradics) and have had zero maintenance to do on the drags in almost a decade.  

J Franco : You have my attention now !!

[J Francho]

Some people don't like how it feels, but there's no sticking, no freezing up, doesn't even matter if you don't loosen them up in storage.  They are very consistent.  The feel when the drag slips is a little different.  A little like the difference between mono and braid running through the guides without the sound, if that makes any sense.  It has worked for me as well as many customers of mine.