114H drag upgrade

[elcarlstono]

I did not have a felt washer.

[Brewcrafter]

Ecarl - If I understand correctly, you have the assembled drag stack, then a thin wavy UNDER the Drag Hat between it and the top drag metal.  I will defer to wiser minds on here with more experience, and I do have a preference for "external drag" models like what you have (don't ask me why; I don't have an answer!)  Anyhow, I want that "hat" to have full, even contact with the top washer of the stack, and a wave washer will not allow that unless fully compressed.  I want all of the "slop" to be taken up between the star and the top pressure surface of the hat (wave washer, belleville, whatever). And as The Boss says, having that extra thread gap in there the fish will not know.  What I have done (situations can vary) is thrown in an extra keyed metal on the top of the drag stack (does NOTHING for drag, but takes up space) and then have any bellevilles, wavys, etc between the star and the top of the hat (or for non external drag models, the top of the spacer sleeve).  Not saying my way is the only way, just the way I approach it. - john

[Keta]

That is how I set up my open drag reels too John. The top washer can not rub on the side plate on this type of drag setup.

[Donnyboat]

Yes john & Lee are correct, I also like to have delrin washer between the wave washer & the star, it doe`nt have to be very thick, that will make it easier to screw the star down in a hurry, a wave washer above the star is a waste of time, & they tend to go rusty, keep well have fun, & leave some fish in the water for us, cheers Don.

[Maxed Out]

Yes John,Lee,and Donny are correct. And the wavy washer I see above the star, would be better served under the star

[Keta]

My poor tired old eyes did not see that Ted. 

[elcarlstono]

Ecarl - If I understand correctly, you have the assembled drag stack, then a thin wavy UNDER the Drag Hat between it and the top drag metal. 

No, I have a thick metal wavy on top of the drag stack, under the hat.  Then the thin is under the handle.

Yes John,Lee,and Donny are correct. And the wavy washer I see above the star, would be better served under the star

I'll give it a try, but I was just following the diagram on that one.  It fit my understanding that the purpose of the thin wavy was to keep tension between the star and the handle when the drag is engaged.  If the wavy is under the star then my first few turns of the star will be puttimg more work into flattening the wavy instead of engaging the drag. 

[Keta]

Spring washer are to put pressure on the dragstack.  Wavy washers do not work as well as bellvile washers. My personal reels have bellvilles.

[Brewcrafter]

It fit my understanding that the purpose of the thin wavy was to keep tension between the star and the handle when the drag is engaged.

Yes, and also in the event that you back the star off too far (jammed against the handle) it helps prevent you from actually jamming the star against the handle.

If the wavy is under the star then my first few turns of the star will be puttimg more work into flattening the wavy instead of engaging the drag.

That is what you do want to happen, and here is why (hoping I don't cobble the explanation): Any drag has a fixed range, all the way from Zero (no drag) to eyeball popping tight (maximum drag).  Having a spring (in the form of a wave washer, belleville, whatever) increases the number of turns of the drag star to go from minimum to maximum since until that spring is flattened you will not be having full clamping load applied.  So in theory you will have more/better control of how you increase/decrease drag during a fight preventing one from accidentally making a small turn of the star and massively increasing drag beyond the desired level (and possible pulling hook) or backing drag off too far (instant backlash/rat nest). 

[Maxed Out]

It seems you are missing the thick wavy washer under the star

[Keta]

Part # 8-115

Ted prompted me to look at the 114H schematic and it shows a thin wavy washer (part #  8-114) between the star and handle and a thick one (8-115) under the star.

[Maxed Out]

 That's the one Lee

 8-115 is the thick wavy washer that goes under the star

[Gfish]

You could play around with the drag washer placement e-c-s, test various arrangements and see what you like...