Lew's way overbraked

[Lmsmbassaddict]

I recently started trying other reels out. I'm tired if being a stickler and while I really like mbs I find it's just way too over braked. Nothing like the old pro qualifier even if they're made in the same factory. 

 

The pro qualifier I could run and get a backlash but it seems like the lews with any amount of braking is just a little much for me. But that could also be from years of using better stuff. 

 

Lesson learned. I'm gonna keep the Lew's as a beater, it didn't perform terrible, my expectations were way too high. I could with some work get it going like my shimanos or daiwas but that takes time and money. 

 

Perfect little project tho.

[Lead Head]

My experience has been the opposite. My MB reels out cast everything else I own (pro qualifier, Daiwa, older shimano, and a bb1). I can dump over half the spool with 50lb 832 and a pad crasher on my frog rod. 

[ironbjorn]

Opposite experience for me as well.

[Lmsmbassaddict]

Yeah we all have different experiences, this happened with multiple Lew's reels. Not just one. It's ok, again I don't want to completely trash the reel it just isn't any comparison to me versus any Shimano and most daiwa reels. Maybe I just enjoy a really loose reel. My thumb game is up there.

[dodgeguy]

3 hours ago, Lmsmbassaddict said:

Yeah we all have different experiences, this happened with multiple Lew's reels. Not just one. It's ok, again I don't want to completely trash the reel it just isn't any comparison to me versus any Shimano and most daiwa reels. Maybe I just enjoy a really loose reel. My thumb game is up there.

Try lubing it with really thin lube. Maybe bearings are dry.

[ironbjorn]

3 hours ago, Lmsmbassaddict said:

Yeah we all have different experiences, this happened with multiple Lew's reels. Not just one. It's ok, again I don't want to completely trash the reel it just isn't any comparison to me versus any Shimano and most daiwa reels. Maybe I just enjoy a really loose reel. My thumb game is up there.

Your post doesn't indicate plurality, but ok.

[Lmsmbassaddict]

4 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Try lubing it with really thin lube. Maybe bearings are dry.

It's not just one Lew's reel, but yeah I'm gonna tear it down and upgrade the bearings. It's a new reel pretty much. 

[Lmsmbassaddict]

2 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Your post doesn't indicate plurality, but ok.

Just because I started buying other reels doesn't mean that's the only experience I've ever had with Lew's. I'm not even saying there terrible reels it feels good, it's nice and small, I generally like the reel. I'm just not getting the performance I had hoped for. I've used several Lew's products because most of my friends buy Lew's.

 

I bet I can get this reel going pretty good with some bearing upgrades, or soak the bearings and use better oil. 

 

I have a feeling you think I'm trying to dump on Lew's products and I'm not. I am no elitist. Generally I save up for months in order to buy good products. This was no different. If it was really that bad I'd be taking it back. I just don't think Lew's mbs is as refined as the magforce z/svs infinity. 

 

I'm gonna update this after I've upgraded the bearings.

[redmeansdistortion]

Which Lew's is it?  If it has a mag brake, you can always experiment with removing magnets until it suits your tastes.

[TOXIC]

I’m not being snarky, really I’m not but if it’s distance you want can’t you just put it into freespool?

[redmeansdistortion]

4 hours ago, Lmsmbassaddict said:

I'm gonna update this after I've upgraded the bearings.

Instead of upgrading the bearings, you could try deep cleaning and lubricating the factory bearings.  Often times, they come overly lubricated from the factory.  If you feel the brake is what's holding you back, upgraded bearings aren't going to do much of anything except lighten up your wallet a bit.  Factory bearings are plenty good for most with few exceptions.  

[Boogey Man]

How many of the 4 internal centrifugal brakes do you have on and what setting is your external mag brake set on?

[Lmsmbassaddict]

6 hours ago, Boogey Man said:

How many of the 4 internal centrifugal brakes do you have on and what setting is your external mag brake set on?

I have 2 on 2 off, mag dial set to 0. 

8 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Instead of upgrading the bearings, you could try deep cleaning and lubricating the factory bearings.  Often times, they come overly lubricated from the factory.  If you feel the brake is what's holding you back, upgraded bearings aren't going to do much of anything except lighten up your wallet a bit.  Factory bearings are plenty good for most with few exceptions.  

The spool just feels slow. I used to love the pro qualifier, i prefer to run my reels loose, and I think possibly it's just going from magforce z to a linear brake. I can't say that if I used a pro qualifier now I may feel the same way. 

 

Daiwa really does have the best mag brakes available.

 

10 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I’m not being snarky, really I’m not but if it’s distance you want can’t you just put it into freespool?

I don't get my feelings hurt easy and I appreciate any input. 

11 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Which Lew's is it?  If it has a mag brake, you can always experiment with removing magnets until it suits your tastes.

Tournament SLP, I've also had this issue with other Lew's reels but let's focus on this one. I'm pretty knowledgeable about gear. I could run it super loose but this style mag braking is always on. I'm thinking that's the issue. It being always on plus 2 centrifugal on 2 off used to be how I would go on the pro qualifier. I never tighten my spool passed just taking away any side to side play. Maybe the magnets the old pro qualifier used were much weaker therefore it felt better. So I might actually try doing this.

[desmobob]

I have reels from all the big name manufacturers, including probably a half-dozen Lew's Tournament Pros (older MBS models) a BB1 (fully centrifugal) and a Tournament MB.  My Lew's reels seem to cast as well as others brands.  I've enjoyed easy casting with two of the four centrifugal brakes set and the magnetic braking set for conditions.

 

One thing about the older Lew's with MBS... the centrifugal brakes tend to be noisy and that might make them seem like they're being over braked.  Sometimes they'll even squeal or shriek if the brake drum is dirty.  I occasionally take a cotton swab moistened with a drop of reel oil and run it around the inside of the brake drum to clean and lube it.

 

I think maybe the fact that our casting hand can sometimes feel centrifugal brakes working might also give the impression of over-braking.  I have never done a reel-to-reel distance casting comparison but I always thought my Lew's BB1 (centrifugal brakes only) might be the longest casting reel I have, while the Magforce-Z reels might feel the "smoothest" casting (can't really feel the braking).  The only reel I have that I feel might be over-braked is a Daiwa Alphas SV105.  It's braking is magnetic and smooth, but seems to really squash distance cast attempts.

 

When I get out later this morning, I'll try to remember to do some comparisons.

[Lmsmbassaddict]

11 hours ago, desmobob said:

I have reels from all the big name manufacturers, including probably a half-dozen Lew's Tournament Pros (older MBS models) a BB1 (fully centrifugal) and a Tournament MB.  My Lew's reels seem to cast as well as others brands.  I've enjoyed easy casting with two of the four centrifugal brakes set and the magnetic braking set for conditions.

 

One thing about the older Lew's with MBS... the centrifugal brakes tend to be noisy and that might make them seem like they're being over braked.  Sometimes they'll even squeal or shriek if the brake drum is dirty.  I occasionally take a cotton swab moistened with a drop of reel oil and run it around the inside of the brake drum to clean and lube it.

 

I think maybe the fact that our casting hand can sometimes feel centrifugal brakes working might also give the impression of over-braking.  I have never done a reel-to-reel distance casting comparison but I always thought my Lew's BB1 (centrifugal brakes only) might be the longest casting reel I have, while the Magforce-Z reels might feel the "smoothest" casting (can't really feel the braking).  The only reel I have that I feel might be over-braked is a Daiwa Alphas SV105.  It's braking is magnetic and smooth, but seems to really squash distance cast attempts.

 

When I get out later this morning, I'll try to remember to do some comparisons.

I prefer centrifugal brakes, but am fond of the magforce z style magnet brakes. I am a neat freak when it comes to my gear and before I go fishing I always clean my gear and get it ready for the morning. I appreciate the advice and thank you for taking time to respond.