5500 C 3 Reel

[skeeter4848]

I have several 5500 C 3's that I use on a regular basis. I am having trouble getting the drag tight. I have had several fish hit my lure and pull drag without getting hooked. emoRedface I have tried adding shims under the star drag without too much luck. I tested the drag on a direct pull using an electronic fish scale. The drag broke lose at 4.7 pounds every time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. emoScratch

 

[puddle jumper]

Skeeter,,,
There are a couple of things you can do to, fist I would try pulling all the washers and cleaning them with brake cleaner, they have a tendancy to get grease on them from the gear box, then they wont hold,, also they sell a drag upgrade from smoothy washers that the stripper guys love,,
http://www.smoothdrag.com/price.html check them out...read the instalation instructions they talk about some of these problems..

And as a preventive measure for the future when you put the reels away for the day back the star nut off to take the pressure off the washers, that should help them last longer...

Hope this helps,,,
Puddle...

 

[Guest]

I would say that on a 5500 that 4.7 pounds is not too bad. The reel is rated for 14 pound or less line I believe. If that is the case then using the 1/3 rule for drag would be about right. Like PJ said back the drag off everytime you are done fishing. It won't make the washers last longer but it will prevent them from getting flat spots and causing the drag to be jerky and inconsistant. Smoothie washers are the best you can get. I have also changed over to carbon matrix drag washers on most of my Abu reels, very smooth.

 

[skeeter4848]

Thanks guys. I will probably order a set from Smoothdrag.

 

[SpurHunter]

For some of the reasons listed, I will never have another catfish reel with a star drag. I am going to switch over to a lever drag system. After using them on a cat trip in Alabama a few moths back, its a no-brainer. Check one out next time your in a Bass Pro or similar.

 

[Guest]

Lever drag reels have drag washers just like a star drag reel. They are just actuated differently. The lever drags need to be "released" just like the star drags do.

 

[SpurHunter]

10-4, 100% correct Cheezmo. THe lever acts as both drag and brake, and is 10000% easier to use than star drags.