vb4me 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Has anyone had any experience with these drag washers.? Will they fit any reel or are they model specific? Is the upgrade worthwhile? I suppose that depends on the reel being upgraded. Just after peoples thoughts.Cheers Vb4me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ranger 48 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 You will lose a degree of drag pressure, but will have a much smoother drag for it.I have changed all the drag washers in my Shimano Calcutta's for Jack Erskine Smoothies, and I'm happy with the change.Drag washers are model specific, although I guess anything can be made up (or cut down) to fit.I have no expertise on the subject, but I've been "told" that in some reels you cannot change drag washers (TLD's, Charter Specials). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vb4me 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Ok. Smoothness is the key factor I was asking about them. They do seem to be mainly for overhead reels from what I can find. Was hoping they may have been available for spinning reels. So you feel they are worth the time to change them over then Ranger? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ranger 48 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 I'm happy with the results. Very smooth! Jack Erskine also makes another range known as "Extreme Smoothies" too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vb4me 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Cool. Thanks for that ranger. Looks like a phone call may be in order. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
coight 0 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 bream basher changed the washers in his tld, i couldn't believe it.. increased the drag massivley and super smooth too. tho i dunno where he got them from. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
afishyfish 4 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 vb4me wrote:Cool. Thanks for that ranger. Looks like a phone call may be in order.If any drag pressure loss isnt an essential consideration, I'd definiteley do it VB. Ive had it done on a couple of my reels and its been great .Just make sure ya find someone to do it who knows what they're on about Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vb4me 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Definitely will be looking into it now i think. Got a little daiwa reel that the drag is a bit shuddery on so I ll have to see if there is something that will fit.Thanks guys Quote Link to post Share on other sites
1ONMEPILLIE 0 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 One person i know that can make/replace drag washers in tld's is Rob Wilson (south oz rods). Have played with some of the one's he's done and are incredible :ohmy: Also does his own teflon washers which seem to work quite wellNow all i need to do is get my drag washers upgraded in my saltist 40'sCheers adam Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vb4me 1 Posted August 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Rob Wilson may be the bloke to call then. Mmmm you'd reckon teflon would have to feel smooth. So far all the info I have come across is that these upgrades are for overhead reels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Sounds like the Jack Erskine washers are a re-branded version of the Smooth Drag products, here's their link:http://www.smoothdrag.com/I've used the carbontex drags along with the flat-ground metal washers and it increases both drag range and smoothness. This upgrade makes reels with notoriously crappy drags like Abus instantly better. I've never used them, but I've been told by many that the smoothies and extreme smoothies are crap, get the carbon fiber ones.As far as what reels can have their drags replaced, here's the link to Alan Tani's site. This guy is the authority on rebuilding reels and upgrading drags.http://alantani.com/Most of the time you only see upgrades for overhead drag systems, but there must be some kits for threadlines in the works now that they have become much more high performance styles of reels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ranger 48 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 plankton wrote:As far as what reels can have their drags replaced, here's the link to Alan Tani's site. This guy is the authority on rebuilding reels and upgrading drags.http://alantani.com/What an informative site!I just read through a thread on stripping down a TLD (including replacing the drag washers) and have decided that I wouldn't even risk messing with this myself. A job for the experts! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted August 23, 2009 Report Share Posted August 23, 2009 Yeah Ranger, I'm a very do-it-yourself kind of guy, and I enjoy rebuilding the majority of my own reels, but there's a time when it's well worth the money to let someone else deal with it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vb4me 1 Posted August 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Hey plankton good link. Read a few posts and this guy knows his stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pescados 1 Posted August 24, 2009 Report Share Posted August 24, 2009 Thanks plankton, very good tip off.Have bookmarked it for future reference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chuckemback 0 Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 hey plankton thanks for sharing the tani site ! Are the carbon fibre drag washes the same as HT 100s?heres a photo of the HT 100 i have 9/0 ones i think, and the smaller stock ones outa a penn 6/0 wich have been replaced with ht100s. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
plankton 725 Posted September 3, 2009 Report Share Posted September 3, 2009 HT-100 is Penn's own proprietary brand of drag material, and in my humble opinion is the best drag made. The washers are usually a bit thicker than carbontex so it's not always easy to make the swap between the two. I think the Tani site has a thread about the size of various HT-100 washers for reference of using them in other brands of reels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cal 480 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 G"day lads,I have an ABU 6500 that i want to upgrade the drag on,any suggestions on whereabouts in adelaide you can get an upgrade kit?Cheers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Live Fibre 1 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 What about Rob at South Oz Rods?He got drag kits for my 9/0 and 6/0 a couple of years back........also an old Daiwa Sealine 450H I had laying around as well........smooth as now Could be worth a shot. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cal 480 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Sorted,Darren @ SFS has carbontex washers,I will go with that, should smoothen the old girl out nicely Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rollas 2 Posted November 2, 2012 Report Share Posted November 2, 2012 I have done the drag upgrade for all of my reels over the years.TLD's 15 - 20 - 25. Did the Alan Tani upgrade on the 25 and the difference is incredible. Everything from my 1500's through to the 6500's on Spin and Light baitcasters through to lever drag. Costs a bit but if you do a couple every month it works out. I also run them wet with Cals Grease. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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