Improve drag on spinning reel

[digitalvoid]

I apologize if this is in the wrong section, but it is reel related. 

 

I have a BPS Micro Lite Elite spinning reel. It's not that bad of a reel; small, light, looks nice, smooth and performs reasonably. 

 

My issue(probably others as well), is the drag is pretty bad off. It's either too loose or too tight. Doesn't seem to a good in between setting. Is this something that can be changed, such as using different drag washers or adding/taking them out? Thanks and tight lines!

[garroyo130]

I'm guessing it has felt and metal washers? I would start by polishing the washers which should give you easier start up. Also use a quality oil on the felt. I'm not saying it's right, but for a smooth drag (probably with less total drag though) I like a small amount of hot sauce oil. 

The other option is swapping the washers to carbon but last I quoted for a small reel it was more expensive than the reel itself. 

[WRB]

Smoooooth drags are only a few $.

The issue with lower rating nd spinning reels is the drag tension knob adjustment isn’t fine threaded, a 1/4 turn increase forces too much and doesn’t stay adjusted.

Tom

[king fisher]

Make sure the roller bearing on the bail is working properly. If it is sticking it is almost impossible to get a drag to work properly.

[newapti5]

Carbon drag washer is the most obvious way to upgrade. Besides that, you can also install a drag bearing if the reel is using a stock bushing. Check the schematics.  That bearing would improve drag smoothness under loads, especially heavy loads. 

[garroyo130]

When I tried ordering carbon drag washers a while back I was told the smaller reels needed a custom size and was quoted around $30 by smoothdrag.

[newapti5]

6 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

When I tried ordering carbon drag washers a while back I was told the smaller reels needed a custom size and was quoted around $30 by smoothdrag.

 

I am not sure what the $30 comes from, but you could always get a cheap large one and cut it yourself. It's not that complicated.  

 

 

 

And here's the drag bearing. It's usually right under the drag stacks, like part #8 here:

 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

Besides that, you can also install a drag bearing if the reel is using a stock bushing. Check the schematics.

I took a look online - Micro Lite Elite has a bearing in the line roller.

 

4 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

When I tried ordering carbon drag washers a while back I was told the smaller reels needed a custom size and was quoted around $30 by smoothdrag.

You can order small sheets of carbon fiber - about $7.50 on Amazon, enough for 3-4 reels.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carbon+fiber+sheet+for+fishing+reel&i=sporting&crid=3CD8AAPNQ0J2I&sprefix=carbon+fiber+sheet+for+fishing+reel%2Csporting%2C116&ref=nb_sb_noss

 

Then cut them out yourself...I did that for several of my spinners and a baitcaster. Make sure you get the correct thickness, then use the fiber washers as templates.

[newapti5]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I took a look online - Micro Lite Elite has a bearing in the line roller.

 

Roller bearing is one part to upgrade like mentioned above, but actually I was talking about the drag bearing. It won't make much difference under light load, but it'll make the drag smoother under heavier loads. 

[digitalvoid]

14 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Roller bearing is one part to upgrade like mentioned above, but actually I was talking about the drag bearing. It won't make much difference under light load, but it'll make the drag smoother under heavier loads. 

I feel like maybe I didn't explain myself well enough. But I'm not sure. Not so much that I wouldn't consider the drag to be "smooth", but when adjusting the drag it goes from super high to super low with adjustment or vice versa. Like a small bluegill pulling drag, when it probably shouldn't. Then when I adjust to be higher and hook a bass, feels like the line is going to snap. Like there is no in between setting, but maybe that is what you consider not "smooth"

[garroyo130]

2 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

I feel like maybe I didn't explain myself well enough. But I'm not sure. Not so much that I wouldn't consider the drag to be "smooth", but when adjusting the drag it goes from super high to super low with adjustment or vice versa. Like a small bluegill pulling drag, when it probably shouldn't. And then having 2lb bass making the line feel like it will break.

 

The 2 lb bass making the line feel like it will break could be the result of higher drag at start up which smoothening the drag will help solve. 

[digitalvoid]

2 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

The 2 lb bass making the line feel like it will break could be the result of higher drag at start up which smoothening the drag will help solve. 

Ok. Just wanted to make sure I was clear. I know it's certainly not a high end reel by any means, but it also wasn't cheap. It's a $50 reel, regardless of the name on it, I would feel that for $50 you should be able to get a nice reel without problems like that 

[newapti5]

3 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

I feel like maybe I didn't explain myself well enough. But I'm not sure. Not so much that I wouldn't consider the drag to be "smooth", but when adjusting the drag it goes from super high to super low with adjustment or vice versa. Like a small bluegill pulling drag, when it probably shouldn't. Then when I adjust to be higher and hook a bass, feels like the line is going to snap. Like there is no in between setting, but maybe that is what you consider not "smooth"

 

Yes, all the above drag upgrades can help exactly that. 

 

Also I forgot to mention, the quickest way, probably the cheapest way, to smoothen the drag, is put enough grease on the drag stacks. Did you check the grease level on them drag stacks? Grease may lower the maximum drag force a little, but it'll make it smoother for sure.  

[digitalvoid]

2 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Yes, all the above drag upgrades can help exactly that. 

 

Also I forgot to mention, the quickest way, probably the cheapest way, to smoothen the drag, is put enough grease on the drag stacks. Did you check the grease level on them drag stacks? Grease may lower the maximum drag force a little, but it'll make it smoother for sure.  

I didn't check that. I just figured that's the way it is. Any particular grease I should be using? I did get a Reel Butter kit last year for some of my other reels, not sure if any of that stuff would work.

[newapti5]

Just now, digitalvoid said:

I didn't check that. I just figured that's the way it is. Any particular grease I should be using? I did get a Reel Butter kit last year for some of my other reels, not sure if any of that stuff would work.

 

Reel Butter works just fine.  Some might suggest Cal's drag grease, but there's no need to buy a new grease just for a couple of reels.  The more grease on the drag stacks, the smoother it would become, but also the lower maximum drag would be.  Usually, you should re-apply drag grease once a season. 

[garroyo130]

15 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

 

Reel Butter works just fine.  Some might suggest Cal's drag grease, but there's no need to buy a new grease just for a couple of reels.  The more grease on the drag stacks, the smoother it would become, but also the lower maximum drag would be.  Usually, you should re-apply drag grease once a season. 

 

This is a micro spinning reel. He probably has a felt drag. Those take oil, not grease.

[digitalvoid]

2 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

This is a micro spinning reel. He probably has a felt drag. Those take oil, not grease.

According to their website it's a carbon fiber drag system.

[garroyo130]

3 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

According to their website it's a carbon fiber drag system.

 

Well then ... grease her up and you should be good!

 

I assumed micro meant micro but apparently thats about a 2500 size reel. 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

According to their website it's a carbon fiber drag system.

 

1 minute ago, garroyo130 said:

 

Well then ... grease her up and you should be good!

Schematic I looked at didn't specify - but it does only have one steel and one carbon-fiber disc...so there is that.

[digitalvoid]

4 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

 

Well then ... grease her up and you should be good!

 

I assumed micro meant micro but apparently thats about a 2500 size reel. 

1000

[digitalvoid]

15 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

 

Schematic I looked at didn't specify - but it does only have one steel and one carbon-fiber disc...so there is that.

Would changing the steel one to carbon fiber help anything? 

[WRB]

You will not be putting more the 1 to 2 lbs of drag force with the 1000 size reel. 50% adjustment is 1/2 to 1 lb difference very small adjustments make a big difference. 

Try cleaning and lubrication, should make a difference.

Tom

PS, a little dab will do it.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, digitalvoid said:

Would changing the steel one to carbon fiber help anything? 

Make it worse. You need steel both sides so it will slip. Make the steel one Carbon Fiber and it'll lock up tighter than....well...no...don't do it.

[J Francho]

Learn to back reel lol. 

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Learn to back reel lol. 

Getting harder to do that with more reels missing the AR switch.

 

(I gotta find something other than my Pfluegers if I want to upgrade...they've joined the 'missing AR switch' ranks)