Question about drag and free spool

[Surfer]

I'm learning about lever drag reels and sent one out to be fitted with special drag washers. Here is what came back with it:

1) "Over 20#'s of drag at strike before loss of free spool."
What does that mean? (loss of free spool)

2)"45 seconds of freespool at 8# drag setting"
Huh?
Free spool usually meant nasty backlashes, like trying to cast a big Penn from the San Clemente pier...

Buzz

 

[Surfer]

Anyone??????
Buzz

 

[Sandy]

1) The smal drag preset knob is used to adjust the pull needed to release line when the drag lever is at the stike position. What they are telling you is you can preset up to 20 lbs drag at the stike position before you will lose free spool ("essentially" no drag with the lever all the way backed off.) I say "essentially" because at most normal use preset drag settings there will still be some minor free spool friction that you would not normally notice letting out line with a lure on it.

2) I'm not exactly sure how they they start the spool spinning( maybe wind on the spool a short line with say 1oz sinker and let it fall from specific height?), but they are saying it is so well adjusted (high-quality drag parts) and lubed that if the preset drag is lowered to 8 lbs, drag friction really is miniscule if it will keep the spool spinning that long for test purposes only.

In some cases you may not want or need complete freespool when the lever is all the way back to help prevent potential birdsnests, but most use the clicker to help avoid that.

 

[Surfer]

thanks Sandy. I get it now.
This guy uses greased carbon fiber drag washers that he says bascially are guaranteed forever. We'll see..
Buzz

 

[Thudpucker]

I guess I'm a little late here, but I had Penn Reels for Salmon fishing.
Silvers and Kings will test your drag. In all the years we fished with those Penn reels we never ever had a problem with the drag.

The Jap copy's of the Penn are a different story though.