Setting The Drag On A Lever Drag Reel

[Frank]

Guys, help me out here. I can't wrap my mind around this process. So I use a scale and set my strike setting. While I'm out fishing I feel the need to push the reel to full drag because I'm getting spooled. How do I know that my strike drag setting won't side load the bearings when the lever is pushed to full?

Thanks,

Frank

[alantani]

check it at different places along the quadrant.  ideally, you would have a 30% drag setting at strike, then push to full and get 50%.  a smooth progression all the way through the arc is best. 

[Rivverrat]

As Alan said, you need to know the drag level at every position of the lever. You will feel the resistance in the handle as drag increases. Some can be pushed farther than others.

It would help us give you more & better info if we knew what reel your talking about... Jeff

[reel man]

Never considered side load issues, but if you slowly ramp the drag pressure up till the spool doesn't free spool then back off the drag to get the free spool back it usually will be at it's maximum at strike. Put the reel on the rod you plan to fish with and use a spring scale to see how many pounds of drag the reel is producing.

[Frank]

Thanks Jerry, that's a simple enough procedure.