Problem and question with a Tiagra 50W

[alphadog808]

Hi all,
   Hoping someone might know what might be wrong with a new to me Tiagra 50W.  I notice that my freespool is fine, but as I ramp up the drag setting, it gets harder to reel.  Still usable, but nowhere near as smooth as my other tiagras.

I saw a post say it's the ball bearing on the right plate(the handle side)?  I did open it up and grease it, but didn't check to see how it spun. 

Another thing I noticed, and I'm not sure if it's just how this tiagra works(I don't have any with the clicking drag lever), but for most of the throw, there is very little drag, almost like freespool.  It tightens up maybe 5-7 clicks away from strike.  Not sure of the current drag setting, but I can pull line out with one hand with not too much effort. 

If I up the drag setting, I have more drag throughout the throw, but by the time I get to strike, it's pretty tight, too tight for my comfort/line strength.  Wondering if this is normal?

[Alan M]

How many lbs of drag are you getting at strike.

A lever drag reel will get x lbs of drag at strike while maintaining freespool.

Your reel may have been set with too much drag.

[alphadog808]

Hi Alan,
   I don't have a scale to test, but as I can pull with one hand, so I'm guessing 15-20lbs?  I can go much higher if needed, where I can't pull line with my hand. 

I do get freespool where I should, it's just as I bring the drag to strike, it gets harder to reel. 

[alantani]

yup, pinion bearing.  you're in hawaii, huh.  to bad you're not local. it's a 15 minute fix.   

[alantani]

here is your schematic.  the bad bearing is likely TT 0033.  it will have to be replaced.  a simple clean and lube will not help.

https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-content/uploads/schematics/Shimano/Tiagra/SHIMANO%20TIAGRA%20TI50WLRS(2003).pdf

[alphadog808]

Got it, thanks!  I'll start hunting for that part.

[alphadog808]

Hmm, I might actually have the LRSA one as it has the click drag and the fat rubber handle.  If so, the part number is 576.  Would that be the same part as 033 on the regular 50W?

[alantani]

the best thing to do is pull the bearing out and measure it.  you can go to trbrc.com for bearings. 

[alphadog808]

Hi all, got the bearing and just installed it, looks like the 567 or 033 are the same size.  It worked!  Thank you!  Now I just need to find out if the drag should not have much effect till it's near the strike?  Not sure if that's normal behavior on these.

[alantani]

as you increase the drag pressure, you increase the axial load on he pinion bearing.  it is a simple design limitation.  i would treat the 50W tiagra as a 130 pound line class reel.  that means 800 to 900 yards of 130 pound hollow core braid and a short topshot of 130 pound mono or fluoro.  i would set the drag to 40 pounds at strike, and then check the drag at full.  i would hope to see 60 to 65 pounds of drag at full.  it's likely that you will not get that much, but that's ok.  if you check the schematic, you will see that it's a single drag system.  this reel design is 31 years old, first being introduced in 1993.  more modern reels are all double drag systems.  that puts the tiagra at a decided disadvantage.  still a great reel.  i just doesn't deliver the drag range that a makaira or visx would deliver. 

[alphadog808]

Thanks - we use this reel for smaller fish, maybe up to 30lbs max, so we used 80lb main and 60lb leader, hence why I back off on the drag.  That might explain why I don't get much drag till I get close to strike.  When I load up the drag(via the knob), the drag seems to kick in earlier, which is more expected.  Thank you!