Tekota Upgrade! And Saltist QUestion...

[Taz575]

Well, I ordered the Carbontex drags and upgraded my Tekota 600. I read the tutorials about the torium IIRC and it was pretty straight forward. Undo the screws on the sideplate, handle lock washer with the screw and the nut, remove handle. Spin of star drag lever thingy, remove cast control knob, undo 2 smaller screws and lift off. I kept all of the washers and stuff in order as I took them off. Lifted out the main gear, took apart the stack, cleaned metal discs, used Cals grease, wiped off excess, reassembled. Blue Daiwa grease in screw holes. VOilA!!!

Put it on my Ugly Tiger Stick, 30-60# test, 7' and went to the weight stack. 20# dead lift, no problem! Went up a couple more clicks on the drag, tried 25#, but my 50# PPro braid snapped! The drag still wasn't fully buttoned down on the 20# lift. The reel is rated for 18# drag per Shimano specs, but I don't know how they test that. I tried just tied the braid from the reel to the weights, but the braid kept snapping. I tied a snap swivel 100# test to the braid, and then did some loops of 30# mono when I tried it with the rod. Very happy with this upgrade!!

Next up tomorrow is my Daiwa Saltist 40HA Levelwind. Alan, do I need a Penn washer or something under the main gear??? I read about this, but I wasn't sure if it was all reels or some reels. The kit comes with 5 larger washers and 1 smaller Dia one. Thanks!

I'll try to get some pics of the Daiwa tomorrow if I have time. I will prob strip down and do the Tekota again, since I didn't touch the bearings or anything. I've used it for a couple seasons for stuff in the Long Island Sound, no signs of corrosion or water entering

[alantani]

very nice on the reels, but, dude, what's up with the spectra? the washer under the main gear for the daiwa should be fine. it's the trinidad that is too thin.

[Taz575]

I dunno. I've had it on the reel for a while, so it may just be getting worn. I tried just tieing the plates to the spectra and lifting with the reel alone, and with 20#, the spectra was snapping, but not at the knot. Ppro 50# people have had issues with it breaking well under strength. I have Daiwa Samurai on my Daiwa in 70# flavor, so hopefully that will work better? I tried casting with the PPro and got some birds nests, which will also weaken the braid. I doubt I will ever use that much drag with this reel anyway since I use it for Striped Bass and Bluefish mostly right now! My Saltist 40 is going to be my heavier reel for Cod and Mahi, that type of stuff, and I will prob pick up an Avet Lx or Jx 2 sp later on.

Phew! Thought I was going to have to order another washer! I saw people mentioning that they were only getting around 13# drag at full and had to add a washer to the bottom.
Taking apart these reels is fun! I've taken apart my Tekotas, the ABu 6500C3 (already has CF drags in it ) and the side of the Daiwa to try that. But then again, I take my pistols apart constantly. My record for stripping a glock down in a detail strip is under 1 minute!