Red Washers, Longbeach 66, Just Wondering

[MACflyer]

Was reading the recent Bayhead post, which led me to MO65 and the Bayhead he acquired many years ago with red washers. Opened up a Longbeach 66 a couple days ago and it had a 5 stack with 5 thin red washers, and 5 brass washers, plus a slightly larger red washer under the main gear. Wondering if these red washers were ever factory installed, or did someone just use them because they fit? Thinking maybe the reel had 3 thicker leather washers originally, so the 5 stack works now? Could I get 5 CF washers in the gear, or are they thicker than the thin red washers?