Brand new reel, drag is not right

[Luke Barnes]

I bought another Lews Speed Spool LFS last week from Academy. I spooled it up with 15lb yo-zuri hybrid, check the drag and tighten it down and it is so loose. It took minimal effort to pull it out when all the way tight. Went fishing, caught one, checked again and the drag will not get any tighter than it is and I'm suprised the 1lb bass I caught didnt pull a ton of line out. Is this common, should I return it, is it a super easy fix? Ive never had this happen before and I don't know the inner workings of baitcasters so I need advice. 

[bulldog1935]

I'm from Academy country - the first store was army surplus at IH-35 and 45th under the Austin elevated highway.  

Every Academy here at least has qualified reel technicians working behind the counter, and I would definitely tell them this reel arrived with a problem.  

If it's short a drag washer, they may be able to fix it while you wait, or give you a warranty exchange.  

The reel is spec'd for 15-lb drag, which is 3 times as much as anyone should ever need.  

[Bluebasser86]

I would exchange it. No reason to deal with getting a brand new reel repaired. Who knows what else might be wrong with it that hasn't malfunctioned to the point that it's noticeable yet?

[Jaderose]

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I would exchange it. No reason to deal with getting a brand new reel repaired. Who knows what else might be wrong with it that hasn't malfunctioned to the point that it's noticeable yet?

This.  You bought it and it isn't right.  Take it back and get another one.  Not sure how this is even a question.

[Luke Barnes]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I would exchange it. No reason to deal with getting a brand new reel repaired. Who knows what else might be wrong with it that hasn't malfunctioned to the point that it's noticeable yet?

Ive only had it a week. Just the drag isnt right. I dobt know that I'll get it exchanged today or tomorrow and Friday me and the wife are staying at a cabin on Grand Lake in OK and really wanted to use it, but if it's not right I definitely want it replaced. I just didnt know if this was common and super easy to fix.

[Bankc]

It probably is easy to fix.  But on the off chance that it isn't, you don't want to open it up to fix it, find out there's something seriously wrong with it, or not be able to get it back together right.  Because then, if they can tell that you've been inside the reel, they may not want to honor the exchange.  So I'd just go do the exchange for now.  That's your safe bet.

One thing you can try, is to back all the way off the drag and then tighten it back down.  I had a new reel, a BPS PQ II, which is a pretty similar reel and made in the same factory, do that to me.  It did that several times to me, but backing off the drag and then re-tightening it always seemed to fix it.  After about a month of that, I took it apart, cleaned and lubricated it up real good, and it's never done that again.  I couldn't see anything wrong with it.  Everything looked fine.  But I guess something wasn't aligned properly or there was a blob of grease or something where it shouldn't be.  I don't know.  I never did find out why, but it's fixed now, as it hasn't done it again and it's been a few years.  

[MAN]

Not common since your using a coploymer line.   Just take back to Academy an get another reel.  

[Luke Barnes]

1 hour ago, Bankc said:

It probably is easy to fix.  But on the off chance that it isn't, you don't want to open it up to fix it, find out there's something seriously wrong with it, or not be able to get it back together right.  Because then, if they can tell that you've been inside the reel, they may not want to honor the exchange.  So I'd just go do the exchange for now.  That's your safe bet.

One thing you can try, is to back all the way off the drag and then tighten it back down.  I had a new reel, a BPS PQ II, which is a pretty similar reel and made in the same factory, do that to me.  It did that several times to me, but backing off the drag and then re-tightening it always seemed to fix it.  After about a month of that, I took it apart, cleaned and lubricated it up real good, and it's never done that again.  I couldn't see anything wrong with it.  Everything looked fine.  But I guess something wasn't aligned properly or there was a blob of grease or something where it shouldn't be.  I don't know.  I never did find out why, but it's fixed now, as it hasn't done it again and it's been a few years.  

See I was wondering if it was over lubricated or something is sticking. I will try this tonight and if it doesn't help I'll return it for a new one. My luck they won't have the gear ratio I want and I'll have to wait for them to order a new one in. 

[jbrew73]

 Just be sure the line isn’t slipping on the spool before you return it.  It is a common problem with braid but not with single filament line.

[dodgeguy]

Did you tie a scale to it and actually measure pounds of drag ?

[Luke Barnes]

3 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Did you tie a scale to it and actually measure pounds of drag ?

No, I never thought of that. With the Star turned all the way tight I figured it would be just like my other LFS and barely move with alot of force but it pulls line out like its barely tightened at all. 

[HaydenS]

29 minutes ago, Luke Barnes said:

No, I never thought of that. With the Star turned all the way tight I figured it would be just like my other LFS and barely move with alot of force but it pulls line out like its barely tightened at all. 

If that drag star is tightened all that way down I highly doubt you will be able to pull very much drag out, if any.  Take it back and exchange it for a new one.

[desmobob]

8 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

 Just be sure the line isn’t slipping on the spool before you return it.  It is a common problem with braid but not with single filament line.

Every time I've ever thought I was experiencing a drag failure, it was braid slipping around the spool...

[shackman]

When and if they exchange the reel, before you leave the store, tighten the star drag and hold thumb pressure on the spool while turning the handle. Handle should be tight turning it if the drag is working properly. 

[Luke Barnes]

Finally got around to exchanging the reel yesterday. New one works like a charm. I got an extra discount because I am a bet, so i got some 3" Gulp Minnows and some BBQ peanuts for free out of the exchange! Haha.