Shimano Calcutta Drag Probs

[Big_Kev]

I have a Shimano Calcutta and the drag use to be spot on and as smooth as silk.
It got sticky in the drag and was not what it use to be so I had the reel serviced and highlighted that the drag was not what it should be but has come back the same.
Any recomendations from the experienced Calcutta users, good or bad comments will be taken.
Cheers Kev.

[cHiCo]

What drag washers are you running on it kev?Maybe a bit of over oiling if you oil it after use.Try and cut the oil down,get some top of the range washers and see what happens.Take it back to the tackle shop if its still rooted.

[mackmauler]

Kev, nothing that cant be smoothed out over a couple of beers, usually its the metal washers not being flat, 400-600 grit paper and a good rub of the washer on a flat surface like glass for 20min should have them going well, if it doesnt ill stop round soon for a few beers

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

and a good rub of the washer on a flat surface like glass for 20min

what's that bit do rob - is it like ultra fine honing, getting a polished surface ?

is it possible to get calcification from washing in tap water on the drags ?

[mackmauler]

chris, all star drags get cupped washers, its just a matter of how much drag is applied to them and for how long, it can take minutes with small reels, the pressure of pushing them down onto a flat surface while honing gets them flat again, it may be a few minutes it may be a few hours, its not till you start honing that the imperfection is as noticeable, calcuttas are affected badly by to much drag pressure as the metal washers are only thin. no idea about calcification.

rob

[Steve_Ooi]

Replace with smooth drag washers or xtreme smooth drag washers.(Xtreme drag washer run dry)
Dont overload the reel with grease , only a small amount is needed to work properly, same applies to oil used in bearings.
Use "Cal's universal grease" or "reel power power lift grease", All products are avalaible from Jack Erskine precision engineering...(www.jackerskine.com)
Either purchase yourself , or get your local reel service to use these products , or better still send your reel to Jack... and you wont regret it...
currently i use reel power grease on all reel i service and find
it to be a awesome product , silky smooth and stays where you put it .(less migration in drags washers) .
Keen to try the new cal's grease that is formulated as a universal grease that works great on gear , and also equally as good in drags , will be awesome for wet drag systems where cross contamination can be a problem..

Poon

[SNELLY]

Kev,

If you get some gear from Jack get hold of some Rocket Fuel as well - The yellow label is for smaller baitcasters . Clean your bearings and put some of that stuff in them and see how much better the reel is

Snelly

[lordy]

I concur with Poony. I've got the extreme smoothies and its the ducks nuts now. The Extreme smoothies only run dry and I wonder if I'm using enough grease on the shaft sometimes. The only thing I'd change would be to go to Jacks newer drag washers which can run dry or wet so you can use more grease and not worry about it.

[lordy]

I concur with Poony. I've got the extreme smoothies and its the ducks nuts now. The Extreme smoothies only run dry and I wonder if I'm using enough grease on the shaft sometimes. The only thing I'd change would be to go to Jacks newer drag washers which can run dry or wet so you can use more grease and not worry about it.

PS might also pay to look at a new metal washer if its worn or warped. I redid my old one on a bit of 400 then 1000 grit sandpaper to make sure it was a good solid match on surface area to the drag washer. Either that or save yourself the hassle and buy a new one (what I'll do next time).

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

wasn't my post but ta guys, I learnt something today.

chris

[Kev_McC]

Send the reel to Jack and get him to trick it up. It'll come back significantly better than brand new
cheers

[Cloud_9]

gaday Kev
dont have calcuter but have pflueger Trion, has the same drag set up and had the same thing happen, drag was like silk, get sticky after service , it ended up being oil on the grag washers that should have been dry.
tried to clean and replace, but the oil had penetrated the washers they where throw away. put in smoothies from calais, problem solvered.
Cheers cloud 9

[rick_k]

I have an old 200 that has a single soft washer that developed problems after 'rinsing' with a 19mm hose. Water got in and made the drag very jerky.

It's been to Jack E's precision reel engineering since (at least one of us got a holiday in Cairns) and has an extreme smoothy and other work done. Very nice now, and I'll be more careful in future not to drown it.

Rick k