Cork Drag Question?

steel_beaver · 11-09-2009, 11:01 AM

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine just bought a brand new Bauer Reel and I got to try it over the weekend. I noticed that when you strip line out it makes a wierd noise that I haven't noticed with my carbon fiber drag reels (it sounds like a low rumble). Is that normal for cork drag or is there an issue with the reel? It is brand new out of the box.

Thanks

TZ

Orange Heron · 11-09-2009, 02:11 PM

That sounds very unusual for a Bauer. They are a very quiet reel other than the factory click which is quiet also. The cork disc drag itself would be quiet.

Rich

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine just bought a brand new Bauer Reel and I got to try it over the weekend. I noticed that when you strip line out it makes a wierd noise that I haven't noticed with my carbon fiber drag reels (it sounds like a low rumble). Is that normal for cork drag or is there an issue with the reel? It is brand new out of the box.

Thanks

TZ

camA · 11-09-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orange Heron

That sounds very unusual for a Bauer. They are a very quiet reel other than the factory click which is quiet also. The cork disc drag itself would be quiet.

Rich

my friend has a loomis venture. it makes a clicking sound when you take out line, but silent when you reel in. its a cork drag as well.....

steel_beaver · 11-09-2009, 07:10 PM

No it's not clicking. It sounds like the drag is surging. It only happens when you strip line out quickly. There is quite a bit of vibration too. It was raining and it could have gotten wet but even then it shouldn't be doing that.

shawn k · 11-09-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine just bought a brand new Bauer Reel and I got to try it over the weekend. I noticed that when you strip line out it makes a wierd noise that I haven't noticed with my carbon fiber drag reels (it sounds like a low rumble). Is that normal for cork drag or is there an issue with the reel? It is brand new out of the box.

Thanks

TZ

lube the reel with a white lithium grease and see if it corrects the problem.

richleblanc48 · 11-10-2009, 08:22 AM

Mine does the same thing...usually only when it's pretty cold out and stripping line very quickly. I'm sending it back this winter to have them do some overall maintenance.

I've heard they're great about fixing em up and getting them back quick (and only paying for shipping).

Newbs · 11-10-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawn k

lube the reel with a white lithium grease and see if it corrects the problem.

Shawn...Is there a reason you use the lithium grease? Just curious.

Orange Heron · 11-10-2009, 10:50 AM

Try a little neatsfoot oil on the cork. Just a little. It will waterproof, preserve and lubricate the cork. I don't the issue with your reel is the cork disc but this would be a starting point.

Rich

feldenzer · 11-10-2009, 07:36 PM

I have the same problem with both an ABLE and the BAUER .... use neatfoots oil. Go to the "ABLE REEL" site and they have a page that deals with this problem ... it is a normal thing with cork drags. John

shawn k · 11-10-2009, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldenzer

I have the same problem with both an ABLE and the BAUER .... use neatfoots oil. Go to the "ABLE REEL" site and they have a page that deals with this problem ... it is a normal thing with cork drags. John

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbs

Shawn...Is there a reason you use the lithium grease? Just curious.

that is what Bill Archuleta who is the best reel repairmen says to use.
He also says neetsfoot doesn't last as long as lubriplate(lithium grease)

Zugbug66 · 11-15-2009, 11:14 PM

One of my spey reels is a Terry Hayden, saltwater reel with a cork drag, it clicks in the retreive, and silent on the pull. As long as the cork stays lubricated, it's super smooth. If not lubricated, it's grabby and has a tendency to over-run on a hot fish. Your Bauer should never have a vibration. I'd get it checked out.

Newbs · 11-16-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawn k

that is what Bill Archuleta who is the best reel repairmen says to use.
He also says neetsfoot doesn't last as long as lubriplate(lithium grease)

Not to disagree...just trying to satisfy my curiosity.

Lithium is very effective at heat transfer witch makes it a very effective lubricant for bearings in a high heat environment. I use a lot of it on large air conditioning units. But...lithium (soap) also breaks down in wet environments.

I don't know about you guys but my reels get wet sometimes. That is why I have always stayed away from lithium based grease and used a synthetic or a petroleum based grease for my reels.

I’m curious if there is something else that I'm not aware of about lithium that makes it more effective for use on reels???

reel guru · 11-16-2009, 07:21 PM

As a reel tech at Ollie Damon's, we recommend using reel-x for bearings and worm gears, shimano grease for the drive gear, pinions, and idler gears. Another great drive gear/pinion lube is chevron grease No.612. It is a light wheel bearing grease. Great for those brass gears.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbs

Not to disagree...just trying to satisfy my curiosity.

Lithium is very effective at heat transfer witch makes it a very effective lubricant for bearings in a high heat environment. I use a lot of it on large air conditioning units. But...lithium (soap) also breaks down in wet environments.

I don't know about you guys but my reels get wet sometimes. That is why I have always stayed away from lithium based grease and used a synthetic or a petroleum based grease for my reels.

I�m curious if there is something else that I'm not aware of about lithium that makes it more effective for use on reels???

DirectDrive · 11-16-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

No it's not clicking. It sounds like the drag is surging. It only happens when you strip line out quickly. There is quite a bit of vibration too. It was raining and it could have gotten wet but even then it shouldn't be doing that.

Vibration :
If the spool in this reel is bearing-supported it could be a dry bearing.

Surging :
Worn or dry drag washer(s)

I service reels for myself and my friends and I love to experiment with lubricants.
I used to used Lubriplate but it does eventually dry and cake. I'm on board with reel guru (Corrosion-X, Shimano drag grease) haven't tried the Chevron product.

I'll bet some Shimano drag grease would work wonders for those dry drag washers (cork). There is a chance, I suppose, that SDG could break down the bonding agent in the cork. Drag washers are usually inexpensive so if it were mine and the washers were cheap, I would try it.
Another good drag grease is Cal's drag grease.

Some interesting water-resistant greases can be borrowed from the mountain bike community....Phil's and Finish Line come to mind. I would still use a bona fide drag grease on a drag washer, though.

clarkman23 · 11-17-2009, 05:50 AM

you know, one way to solve the problem is to go get yourself a good old fashioned click/pawl reel with an exposed rim and utilize the drag setup that almost everyone has: the palm of your hand. I feel like I'm more in tune with everything going on with that. That, and I've never had the drag fail me (just other things)

chromeseeker · 11-17-2009, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clarkman23

you know, one way to solve the problem is to go get yourself a good old fashioned click/pawl reel with an exposed rim and utilize the drag setup that almost everyone has: the palm of your hand. I feel like I'm more in tune with everything going on with that. That, and I've never had the drag fail me (just other things)

A good click/pawl will never fail you. Once while fishing the Snake, my buddy's 60+ year old Hardy Perfect was put to the ultimate test when his fly became inadvertently attached to a jet boat going about 25mph (don't ask!!). Anyhow, his Perfect made sounds he'd never heard before and hit some pretty sick RPM's. What happened to the reel??? Nothing, didn't even blink. Most cork/disc drag reels would probably have melted and would have been a much newer reel. My buddy, on the other hand, foolishly forgot to pack a second pair of underwear.....

C

PacificCoastSteel · 11-17-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chromeseeker

A good click/pawl will never fail you. Once while fishing the Snake, my buddy's 60+ year old Hardy Perfect was put to the ultimate test when his fly became inadvertently attached to a jet boat going about 25mph (don't ask!!). Anyhow, his Perfect made sounds he'd never heard before and hit some pretty sick RPM's. What happened to the reel??? Nothing, didn't even blink. Most cork/disc drag reels would probably have melted and would have been a much newer reel. My buddy, on the other hand, foolishly forgot to pack a second pair of underwear.....

C

the real question is.....

did he land it??

there are some sweet videos on youtube of some guys testing reels with a motorcycle... they're pretty much all drag reels i think - i don't remember any clickers being done. Some reels do melt the drag, others work fine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWlGS...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqb8_...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6hy9...eature=related

Spade · 11-17-2009, 11:51 AM

Not a fly rod but some pretty serious reel burning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcIM2ckxH1c

DirectDrive · 11-17-2009, 12:57 PM

hehe
I love the smell of burning drag grease in the morning

kilchisfisher · 11-17-2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine just bought a brand new Bauer Reel and I got to try it over the weekend. I noticed that when you strip line out it makes a wierd noise that I haven't noticed with my carbon fiber drag reels (it sounds like a low rumble). Is that normal for cork drag or is there an issue with the reel? It is brand new out of the box.

Thanks

TZ

If it is new can he return it and exchange it for another? Or contact the company per warranty?