Calcutta Drag Upgrade

[flybloke]

Just picked up a new 101B and Im interested in finding out what and where the sepos have got as far as drag washer upgrade?
Couple of years ago I read that people were buying in "smoothies" from the US.
Are they still good, Or turn out worthwhile?
Im running 10pnd Finns (about 260 yds) , with a 20pnd nittlon leader. over a 4 piece 3-6kg travel baitcaster.
This setup is for taking with me everywhere I go, So it could end up with anything on the pointy end.
Should I bother to upgrade? It sure did tidy up an old ABU five I have

[Apollo]

I recently got some carbontex washer from Smoothdrag (same people that sell smoothies) in the US. Took a bit of fiddling to get them right, but they seem to be much better.

[Horse]

I got mine from Jack Erskine . They make a great improvement
http://www.jackerskine.com/
Cheers

Neil

[childers]

flybloke ,you can also send jack your reel he will fit them for you tune it ,they also give you some other choices to improve your reels performance ,ive sent a few up to him before and things went well,cheers.

[flybloke]

Thanks guys, Those places will do fine. I since did a test over the scales and , as standard the little 101b would only pull 2.4 kg s or 5 pnd.
Not enough if I haplessly hook an average Jack or good Queen or Trev.
I know im asking a lot from a little reel but its for poking into a suit case or backpack . So I figured buy something small but good quality and SUPE it UP
BTW, I ordered a Carbontex kit and ill run it dry. If I can get 5 kg s out of it (or even 4) , Ill be happy.

Mick

[ctwaddle]

I got mine from Jack Erskine's as i live in cairns they where $17.50 for Culcutta 250 and would have to say that they are a great investment.

[ronnien]

yeap, cant go past jack erskine did all my abu's with them carbontex one's, you get a hell of a lot more drag.

ron.

[flybloke]

Just an update
I installed the Carbontex washers on the 101B with a very light smear of Cals grease on the metal surface and not pushed into the washers themselves.
It now pulls 4kgs of the scales. Im happy with that

[Roo]

The drag will improve with a few runs on the board too.
to "wet out" the carbontex washers with grease, you just put a light smear on your fingers and rub it in. they should look slightly glossy but not show any excess grease. same with the metal washers, just the grease left on your fingers is all it takes. The little tub of Cal's will last me a century i reckon.

Cheers Roo.

[2manylures]

Thanks guys, Those places will do fine. I since did a test over the scales and , as standard the little 101b would only pull 2.4 kg s or 5 pnd.
Not enough if I haplessly hook an average Jack or good Queen or Trev.
I know im asking a lot from a little reel but its for poking into a suit case or backpack . So I figured buy something small but good quality and SUPE it UP
BTW, I ordered a Carbontex kit and ill run it dry. If I can get 5 kg s out of it (or even 4) , Ill be happy.

Mick

Bearing in mind all you've said & others also, I think you're all forgetting the most important thing when it comes to drags & drag settings.

But if you want to blow your good little reels to smithereens & then have a think about what went wrong go for it. Don't forget about the rods capabilities either while the caps on.

I'd personally have the think 1st. My opinion only!

[flybloke]

Ill take your criticism on board, However I think that I need not worry about my reel blowing up, Im am confidant in the upgrade and Im a big boy now.
Still cant "lock up" the drag and 4kgs is not all that much. Considering that Most cases, I only dial up 2 pounds of drag (same as my fly reels).
She,ll be right mate

[2manylures]

Ok, I wasn't criticising but why ask in the 1st place?

[2manylures]

Im running 10pnd Finns (about 260 yds) , with a 20pnd nittlon leader. over a 4 piece 3-6kg travel baitcaster.
This setup is for taking with me everywhere I go, So it could end up with anything on the pointy end.
"Should I bother to upgrade?"

Simply put with this combo as it stands NO it's over kill. 2kg drag through this combo is plenty & possibly a little more than maybe the finns {depending on actual B/S} could possibly handle.

5kg of drag would be more suitable to a 15kg outfit not a 6kg. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

5kg is a hell of a lot to hang onto, even 2kg of drag through a rod for prolonged periods is no easy task unless you are into weights.

[Steve B]

Simply put with this combo as it stands NO it's over kill. 2kg drag through this combo is plenty & possibly a little more than maybe the finns {depending on actual B/S} could possibly handle.

5kg of drag would be more suitable to a 15kg outfit not a 6kg. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

5kg is a hell of a lot to hang onto, even 2kg of drag through a rod for prolonged periods is no easy task unless you are into weights.

Have to agree 2manylure. Further to your thoughts, remember your running 10lb line with 20lb leader. The drag of a calcutta would be plenty with that pound line. Any more drag would be flirting with danger on 10lb line.

again just my opinion, but something to think about.

Steve

[flybloke]

No probs guys, Im hearing what your saying.
Its 4kg not five and Ive really got to wind up the drag hard to get it. Not something you do when on a fish.
Ill do a test on the 10pnd Fins but Im sure it breaks well above with a bimeny.
The reason for the question mate is that I wanted to find out the latest on what upgrades there are out there. As stated, I did it years ago on an ABU five with smoothies and made a huge difference.

Maybe I should clarify that its not just a little extra drag pressure that I was after, But also start up inertia and heat keeping quality's
This upgrade has come up trumps