NEED HELP: LEVER DRAG UPGRADES/MODS

[LTM]

IM LOOKING TO UPGRADE MY 20-40# LEVER DRAG REELS. CURRENTLY MY LD'S ARE:

1. AVET SX 5.O SINGLE SPD 12/15#
2. DIAWA LD3OH 20#
3. DIAWA LD50H 25#
4. DIAWA LD50H 30#
5. AVET LX6/3 (1ST GEN) 40#
6. AVET EX PRO 4/0-2 60#


FIRST-OFF; I DONT BELIEVE IN GROSSLY OVER-STRESSING THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF MY REELS (IE 40# ON SAY AVET SX, ETC) UNLESS MODIFIED TO HANDLE THE EXTRA LOAD. IMO JUST DESTROYS BEARINGS AND FATIGUES STRUCTRAL INTEGRITY OF FRAME, ETC. ALL OF MY GEAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FOR IM A FIRM BELIVER IN PM (PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE). I HAVE LOWER BACK PROBLEMS AND ENTERING MY TWILIGHT YEARS, THUS LOOKING FOR LIGHT-WEIGHT, SOLID LEGACY TYPE OF REELS, BUT OPEN TO SOME NEW-WAVE GEAR IF SOLID. I ALSO DONT MIND SPENDING THE EXTRA CASH TO GET A BETTER REEL IF ITS WORTH IT, THEREFORE IN YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS IF YOU LIST A SUPER-EXPENSIVE REEL PLEASE LIST THE NEXT LOWER PRICED REEL. IVE READ APPROX 75% OF ALL THE POSTS ON THIS SITE; SO ASIDE FROM ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS (COMMENTS WELCOME), YOU CAN JUST REFER ME TO THE LINKS. THAT SAID I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW:

1. HOW SMOOTH IS THE AVET ALASKA/FLORDIA CAM CURVE FOR THE REELS #1? I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE IT TO 12# TEST?

2. I KNOW AT (ALAN TANI) DOESNT THINK MUCH OF THE DIAWA LD30/50H REELS, HOWEVER THEY HAVE SERVED ME WELL (LOTS OF FISH W/THEM). I HAVE SEVERAL EXTRA DRAGS FOR THEM AND WONDER IF I CAN GET, CARBON FIBER DRAGS AND GLUE THEM IN PLACE OF THE FACTORY DRAGS?  MAY END-UP SELLING THESE TO PAY FOR MODS TO OTHER REELS.

3. LOOKING FOR A 2-SPEED LD THAT I CAN USE AS A PRIMARY FOR THE DIAWA LD'S AND MAYBE THE LX6/3 (THE LX6/3 IS TOO BIG FOR OVER-NITER'S). THIS LD SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE UP TO 40# WITH GOOD DRAG, AND NO KNOWN ISSUES (DOGS, BEARINGS, ETC). THIS WILL BE MY GO-TO 40# REEL AND THE DIAWA'S AS BACK-UP'S. I WOULD USE THIS ON THOSE BIG HOME-GUARD SAN CLEMENTE & CATALINA WSB'S AND 2-3 TRIPS FOR YT'S AND LR TRIPS.  I KNOW YOU GUYS LIKE THAT OKUMA ANDROS 5II (SO DO I), HOWEVER I'VE READ SOME POSTS ABOUT BEARING ISSUES, ETC.  NOW THAT YOU GUY HAVE FISHED WITH THEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

4. WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY LX6/3 IN REGARDS TO MODIFYING IT? I WOULD LIKE TO USE 60# RELIABLY ON IT IF POSSIBLE.

5. AT (ALAN TANI), YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR EX 4/0-2 HOT ROD POST THAT IN THE LOWER POST DRAG SET-UP THAT IT JUST GOES FROM FREE TO ~30#; DO YOU THINK THE ADDITION OF THE ALASKA/FLORDIA CAM IT WILL MAKE IT MORE FORGIVING IN RESPECT TO DRAG RANGE'S ASIDE FROM FREE AND 30#?  IF SO, THAT WOULD BE MY 80-100# CLASS REEL AND FOR-GO ME PURCHASING A NEW REEL IN THAT WEIGHT CLASS.


IM NEW TO THIS FORUM (HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR JUST A FEW YEARS NOW AND HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS WHICH I AM POSTING. I'VE DECIDED TO POST THEM BY SIMILAR TOPIC INSTEAD OF ALL AT ONCE. I ENJOY YOUR INSIGHTS AND COMMENTS AND CREATIVITY (CANT WAIT TO TANK MY 4/O'S).



LEO

[LTM]

Bryan,

Its been brought to my attention that this post is too lengthy. So Im asking that you remove this post and I will revise/shorten it and possibly spread it out over several posts.  As I said Im new to forums.

Thanx,

Leo

[Brendan]

A self moderator, got to love him. Most of you're questions are beyond me but you came to the right place.
Brendan.