Can't tighten drag

[moby bass]

I have an Abu Garcia 5600 round reel and i can't seem to get the drag tightened sufficiently.  There is always some slipping. I took the reel apart to see if there was any grease or moisture on the drag discs and I wiped them off.  I put the reel back together and its better than it was, but it still slips.  Any suggestions?

[Sam]

Have a pro take a look at your drag. One of the two drag "drums" may be bent and you don't notice it unless you remove them and hold them up to a light to see if either one, or both, are bent out of shape.

Send reels to the Reel Mechanic if you do not have anyone in your area that repairs reels.  

[moby bass]

What is a drag drum?

[Sam]

I call the two disks that are used to set the drag "drums" as  I equate them to auto brakes.

Just my terminology.  

[ddigit]

Check and make sure that the drag spring washers in the stack (jist above the drive gear are in the proper orientation like so () not spooned like this (( ..

[moby bass]

I went back and checked everything in the reel again, including those drag spring washers (even before you posted ddigit) to make sure I hadn't missed something. I did orient them as you suggested.  Maybe the reel has always been this way and I just never noticed it.  Frankly, it isn't

that old and I have only used it a few times.  I initially took the reel apart because the thumb bar was difficult to push down and release the spool.

That problem is fixed but I still can't get the drag right. Correct me if I'm wrong but at some point in the tightening I shouldn't be able to pull line off the spool, right?

[Marty]

Any suggestions?

If you are using braid tied directly to the spool, that could be causing the slippage.

[moby bass]

I am using braid but why would that matter?  I'm not following you. With the drag set as tight as it will go, I can still pull the line and turn the spool,

or fish could run and still pull line.

I posted the above and then went back and checked the spool.  Marty, you're a genius.  It's not the drag that's slipping its the whole spool of line. Thank you.  I will now strip off that line and either

secure it with tape or put some backing on the spool.  

I appreciate everyone's help!

[roadwarrior]

Too funny...

Don't be embarrassed, it happens all of the time.

Thanks Marty!

8-)

[The Rooster]

I used to wrap a small amount of tape on the spool before spooling up with new line.  I used the white tape you get in a pharmacy for first aid type stuff.  Seemed to provide a good grip for the line on the spool and always worked great.  

[Marty]

Marty, you're a genius.

I'm no genius, I just read it somewhere, just like you did. That's what forums are for.  

[Wayne P.]

Now you know what "Ghost Drag" is.