50 VISX Drag when reeling

[SushiKing]

I got a used 50 VISX this week and when reeling in high gear you feel drag on handle? Not so much in low gear I have cleaned reel twice and removed grease from bearing #55 When I remove #98 Anti Reverse Ratchet and #15 Dogs reel feels smoother? Could Dogs be pinching Anti Reverse Ratchet and causing drag? I have a new #55 Bearing on order this reel is like new and super clean.

[JasonGotaProblem]

All 2 speeds are a bit harder to turn in high gear because you're also turning the low gears. That resistance isn't there in low gear because the high gear is disengaged. Bet the reel is super clean now though.

[akfish]

I have what I think is the same problem with my 20VISX. The twin "Ambassadeur-type" anti-reverse dogs put slight pressure on the anti-reverse ratchet. The result is a silent anti-reverse but a little resistance when reeling. I don't like it either -- but it's unnoticeable when fishing a fish.

[Keta]

Back off the drag and see if it goes away or reduces.

[SushiKing]

Thanks for all the reply's I am going to keep working on this problem and try to find the fix for this nice reel. I really like that it's easy to work on.

[Keta]

There is a good chance it is just the naturally of LD reels.  Back off the drag and see what happens.  LD reels side load the pinion bearings and cause some load that is more noticeable in high gear.

[SushiKing]

The problem is not the drag yes it does get worse at full drag but I have the reel apart and just working with Right Plate Assembly with handle arm on the reel has drag when you turn handle? When I remove the Anti Reverse Ratchet-Dogs and Pinion High-Low Gear set no drag on handle? I am going to clean out #55 bearing again and lube with TCI-321 and work on the Dogs something in this area is causing drag in the reel.

[Keta]

Obviously not a side load issue then.

[SushiKing]

50VISX Update!!!, I stayed up late last night determined to find and fix the problem with this reel. I have had this apart 7 times I removed #55 Pinion bearing cleaned and lubed with TSI-321 Polished #134 Gear Stud I could feel things were getting better but not enough. I removed Anti Reverse Ratchet - High-Low gear set and Dogs like 8 times started playing with the Dogs they were really tight on Anti Reverse Ratchet when you would turn reel handle no noise from reel so I got the Dogs to slide on Anti Reverse Ratchet loosely. I put reel back together and night and day difference reel feels normal no drag on handle!!! Dogs move on Anti Reverse Ratchet and make clicking sound now I have a new #55 Pinion bearing coming this week even after cleaning old bearing you can feel a little rough spot maybe Blue Grease would help but I want no drag while turning handle. So glad I found the problem and real happy with the reel now!!!

[Penn]

Careful, the more you open up those springs the greater chance they don't catch the ratchet causing the handle to go backwards. 

tony

[boon]

Bearing #55 should be greased, not oiled.

[SushiKing]

I degreased and took off the shields to see if the bearing was causing the drag.

[boon]

That bearing would only cause drag if it was faulty or damaged. Not due to lubrication or shields. An ungreased, unshielded pinion bearing in a game reel is, erm, going to have a short service life.

[SushiKing]

That was only a test to see if bearing was causing drag I have a new bearing coming in a couple days.

[Benni3]

I put it in free spool pushed back on the spool pushed forward then in gear pushing back then forward ? Had it for 7 years no problems after that,,,,