Drag question

[jaypeegee]

Hi

I have an original Penn 525 mag slider model
Mechanically it is in good condition but I notice that while the drag is smooth it doesn't release when undoing the star.
If I undo the star from tight to completely off, the drag remains at tight.
When I turn the handle a couple of times the drag releases.
I assumed that the spring washer was to blame but having replaced it the issue remains.
It fishes well and as I am used to this oddity I work around it.
But I am annoyed that I cannot identify and remove this behaviour

Any thoughts as to what I am missing?

Hmmm....

Is it this?

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=15044.0

"Well, it turns out this works great most of the time but trouble can arise when it is time to loosen the drag with a fish on. What happens is the AR sleeve is tightly gripped by the clutch which restricts it's movement. We all are familiar with having no trouble tightening the drag as the star easily moves the sleeve to compress the drag even with a fish on. But if we need to loosen the drag (ie big girl dives under the boat and we want to avoid rod breakage) the OWC has a death grip on the sleeve and loosening the star has no effect. Once we set or increase drag we have kinda determined our fate in that particular fight with that particular fish until it stops it's run and releases the pressure on the Clutch. Only then can the drag loosen. "