farmpond1 Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 Help! I have an Abu Garcia round reel. Until recently I was pretty happy with it but lately I can't get the drag to tighten sufficiently. (I have to mash it down far more than I ought and even then it isn't really sufficient). I've taken it apart and used a cloth to try to remove any oil that's gotten on the washers (I suspect this is what has happened) but that hasn't helped much. Any advice? Quote
FishDontLikeMe1301600221 Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 how old is the reel?the drag washers could be worn if its an older reel,could be dirty like you said (oil/wet).when you store your reels for the off season.do you loosen the drag b4 storing them? Quote
farmpond1 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Posted July 31, 2009 The reel is just two years old. It isn't dirty except maybe oil. It has a synthetic/cloth washer which may have absorbed a lot of oil and, hence, slips too easily but I can't be sure if this is commonplace or even occurs at all. I haven't thought to loosen the drag while in storage or over the winter but since it's only two years old, I wouldn't guess that's the culprit. Of course I could be wrong. Do you know if their are drag washer kits available? I'm unsure if having it repaired would be much cheaper than just replacing it. Quote
FishDontLikeMe1301600221 Posted July 31, 2009 Posted July 31, 2009 storing your reels in the off season with a tightend drag isnt good...it wares on the drag more and thay fail or go bad alot quicker.from now on loosen the drag during your off seasons..as for drag kits/replacements contact abu garcia or i have gotten stuff from these guys http://www.harborside.com/~alcgbor/page5.html Quote
farmpond1 Posted July 31, 2009 Author Posted July 31, 2009 Thanks for your help. I've gone briefly to the link you sent and will go back when I have more time. I've thought of getting ceramic bearings anyway, so if I can repair my drag, I might get the works. But we'll see. Thanks again. Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted July 31, 2009 Super User Posted July 31, 2009 Braided line was my first thought when reading this thread. Are you using braided line and a spool full of it? Quote
Super User .RM. Posted July 31, 2009 Super User Posted July 31, 2009 Agree with Wayne P. Then another thought. Being as you have been into the drag stack, could you have not placed the drag spring washers, back in the wrong orientation at another time when you were in the reel. They are the concave washers on the upper part of the stack under the drag star... Just a thought.... 8-) Oh BTW just in case, the proper orientation is () Not (( Good Luck & Tight Lines!!! Quote
Super User KYntucky Warmouth Posted July 31, 2009 Super User Posted July 31, 2009 Agree with Wayne P. Then another thought. Being as you have been into the drag stack, could you have not placed the drag spring washers, back in the wrong orientation at another time when you were in the reel. They are the concave washers on the upper part of the stack under the drag star... Just a thought.... 8-) Oh BTW just in case, the proper orientation is () Not (( Good Luck & Tight Lines!!! That was going to be my guess, I did that many times whenI first started taking my cheaper reels apart Quote
farmpond1 Posted August 3, 2009 Author Posted August 3, 2009 Sorry it's taken so long to reply. I don't have internet at home. Wayne P. and Reel Mechanic-How does braided line impact things? Is it just harder on the drag washers? Yes, I use almost exclusively braided line. I've horsed many a bass out of lilly pads this year. Could I have just worn out the washers? I don't remember taking my drag apart before but I'll check on the drag washers orientation. Will the ( and ) washers flatten out over time? Is that what normally happens when a drag gets "mushy"? Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted August 3, 2009 Super User Posted August 3, 2009 If you did not use mono backing or some tape on the reel spool arbor before installing the braid, you are getting "ghost drag". Ghost Drag is the slipping of the spooled line on the spool arbor which is common with braids because the braids don't have enough friction on metal to keep it from happening. Even though you may not have experienced it right after installing the line, at some point the line will get wet all the way down to the spool arbor and lubricate it enough to start the slipping, once it starts, it won't stop. If you use line lubricant, it will start sooner. edited: A simple way to tell if you have ghost drag is to look at the reel spool when you think your drag is slipping. If the reel spool is not turning and your line is, that is "Ghost Drag" Quote
farmpond1 Posted August 3, 2009 Author Posted August 3, 2009 If you did not use mono backing or some tape on the reel spool arbor before installing the braid, you are getting "ghost drag". Ghost Drag is the slipping of the spooled line on the spool arbor which is common with braids because the braids don't have enough friction on metal to keep it from happening. Even though you may not have experienced it right after installing the line, at some point the line will get wet all the way down to the spool arbor and lubricate it enough to start the slipping, once it starts, it won't stop. If you use line lubricant, it will start sooner.edited: A simple way to tell if you have ghost drag is to look at the reel spool when you think your drag is slipping. If the reel spool is not turning and your line is, that is "Ghost Drag" Huh!!! Ghost drag! Makes me want to go home right now and check this possibility out! (Well, I would prefer to be home anyway). It did seem like the drag started slipping all at once. Thought that was kind've weird. Thanks for the idea and the help! Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted August 3, 2009 Super User Posted August 3, 2009 If you fillled the whole spool with braid and did not use backing or tape, you don't have to check, you do have ghost drag. Quote
farmpond1 Posted August 3, 2009 Author Posted August 3, 2009 If you fillled the whole spool with braid and did not use backing or tape, you don't have to check, you do have ghost drag. Thing is-I don't remember if I loaded braided line on top of mono or not. I'm sure I didn't tape it. But this certainly gives me hope. Quote
farmpond1 Posted August 5, 2009 Author Posted August 5, 2009 To all who helped me out earlier: The problem with my reel was, indeed, "ghost drag". I was amazed that an entire spool of braided line could so easily "spin" on a spool. Problem solved. Thanks again. Quote
suenrod Posted August 14, 2009 Posted August 14, 2009 I recently filled my spool with EZbraid and missed 2 fish last night due to poor hook sets. After some head scratching, I gave the drag a pull and the line just spun on the spool. Ooops. Guess the mystery is solved. GOTTA unspool and tape. Other than this quirk, I have to say....I love braid!! The feel of the lure is magnified 10X due to the low stretch of the line. I tried Spiderwire when it first came out and was impressed but it tangled alot. It also slipped back then but I had forgotten about that problem. RoD If you did not use mono backing or some tape on the reel spool arbor before installing the braid, you are getting "ghost drag". Ghost Drag is the slipping of the spooled line on the spool arbor which is common with braids because the braids don't have enough friction on metal to keep it from happening. Even though you may not have experienced it right after installing the line, at some point the line will get wet all the way down to the spool arbor and lubricate it enough to start the slipping, once it starts, it won't stop. If you use line lubricant, it will start sooner.edited: A simple way to tell if you have ghost drag is to look at the reel spool when you think your drag is slipping. If the reel spool is not turning and your line is, that is "Ghost Drag" Huh!!! Ghost drag! Makes me want to go home right now and check this possibility out! (Well, I would prefer to be home anyway). It did seem like the drag started slipping all at once. Thought that was kind've weird. Thanks for the idea and the help! Quote
Carter Clark Posted May 27, 2022 Posted May 27, 2022 I have a Lews American Hero speed spool and the drag will not stay tight on it. I have 30Lb spiderwire braided line in it. I don’t know if it’s the line or I got a bad reel please help me with this I’m so frustrated???♂️. Quote
mrpao Posted May 27, 2022 Posted May 27, 2022 Did you tie the braid directly to the spool? If so, the line could be slipping on the spool. Quote
Super User bulldog1935 Posted May 27, 2022 Super User Posted May 27, 2022 12 years, that's old @Carter Clark on your reel, I'm talking about curved washers 71 and handle spring spring 77 and while you're in there, replace drag washers 45 and 48 on Ambassadeur The two concave washers, 5131 - - they're springs that load both the drag stack and the star drag nut. Sometimes they're installed so they curve in the same direction. To get maximum tension, install them so they curve in opposite directions - the ends on the long slot touching each other and forming a football shape together. Curved spring 5115 can also get flattened if the drag is opened up and left relaxed for long times (as often gets recommended on this forum for no good reason). If you want to put some spring back in it - I use bending pliers - but put some curve back in it, then stick it in your oven at 350 - soak it for 15 minutes to get a set temper that won't creep back to flat. These are the pliers I would use. Quote
Super User WRB Posted May 27, 2022 Super User Posted May 27, 2022 Not sure if Lews uses CarbonTex Smooth Drags? This is the first thing to do, replace the drag washers with Smooth Drags. Cupping in lieu of nesting belleville cupped washers will give you more linear adjustment, not more drag force. 2009 original thread. Tom Quote
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