Question re: Draw-Bar Drags
- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated Nov 22, 2006 at 5:35 am by
.
-
Posts
-
I have the feeling this is a dumb question, but here goes: I just bought a used Abel reel, and this is the first time I’ve had a reel with a draw-bar type drag. When I back off of the drag completely (the drag knob is still attached to the draw bar by the retaining screw, but is no longer touching the back plate), the reel free-spools and you can’t here the clicker. In fact, you can actually move the spool out from the frame a little. I assume this is by design, and that being able to really loosen the drag helps preserve the cork and the spring. But since it is a used reel, I just want to make sure my reel isn’t doing something weird. Can anyone confirm that what I have described is normal? After I tighten the drag a few turns so that the knob touches the back plate, the clicker engages and all seems fine. Thanks for the help.
JG
thats cool, those older ones with the solid backs are great, I’ve been keeping my eyes open for one for a while now.
The Abel Big Game series is an excellent reel, one tip is to remember to back off the drag pressure when the reel is not fished. Leaving the drag compressed with deform the cork surface and eventually give you problems with uneven drag resistance. Once a year add a small amount of neetsfoot oil or superlub to the cork surface,,,if it dries out the drag will not be smooth.
I have fished the Abel reels for many years and they are bulletproof,,,,I traded all of my FinNor and Ross salt water reels for the Abel Big Game series. One guide I have known for years on Cape Cod stated that he has seen all of the reels fail in the salt except for three,,,,,Abel, Pate/Tibor and Charlton. All of the other brands have crapped out for various reasons with N.E. stripers.
One long time friend is a saltwater fanatic and makes more trips in a season than I would in 5 years,,,,he never cleans his equipment and just throws the rod/reel in his trunk all year. Well, he came into the local FF shop when I was with him and complained his Abel No.3 was noisy,,,it worked O’K but was making strange noises,,,,the reel was about 3-4 years old,,,never washed or cleaned,,,it looked like a hull from a WWII submarine,,,,covered in green slime and gunk. We took off the spool and he had two leaders wrapped arround the brake/gear plate,,,,some windex and paper towels cleaned up the crap accumulated inside the frame, added some neetsfoot oil to the cork and the reel went out fishing the next day,,,working fine.
Regards,
FK
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.