Triton Troller vs Beastmaster vs TLDs

[TangoDelta1981]

Which were the better reels out of these 3 Shimano lever drags?

[boon]

I think it was the Beastmaster that had the weird gel disc in the drag that turns to goop?

[redsetta]

I've had a soft spot for the Beastmasters since the early '90s and have owned all bar the 80/130 over the years.
They were the prototype for the Tiagra line and were a different proposition to the graphite-bodied Tritons and TLDs.
There's no denying their heft relative to newer all-alloy game reels, but the quality of their manufacture back then - tolerances, alloys etc - means they're still great reels today.
As Logan noted, the silicon compound was compromised and eventually melted into a sticky goop that takes some work (and a lot of acetone) to remove.
But high-quality replacement rings are easy to find/make and epoxy in.
Once done, along with a carbon drag washer and handle upgrade, they're good to go on pretty much anything out there.
This was my Beastmaster line up for the past decade or so.
They took kings to nearly 100lb, bass to 150lb+, YF and BFT to ~130lb and assorted marlin to over 400lb.

Shimano BeastMaster 4/0
Jigging Master 53B PE4-8 250-450g rod
550m 100lb Power Pro hollow-core
Drag: 35lb/16kg [25lb strike/35lb full]

Shimano BeastMaster 30/50
Shimano BeastMaster 30/50 rod
Backing - 300m 80lb braid
Topshot - 500m 50lb Suffix mono
Drag: 44lb/20kg [30lb strike/40lb full]

Shimano BeastMaster 50/80
Kilwell Gladiator 37kg Stand-up fully-rollered
Backing - 800m 100lb braid
Topshot - 200m 80lb mono
Drag: 53lb/24kg [40lb strike/50lb full]

Hope that's of some assistance.
Any queries, let me know.
Cheers, Justin
PS The 4/0 doesn't have the silicon-ring pressure plate...

[TangoDelta1981]

I've had a soft spot for the Beastmasters since the early '90s and have owned all bar the 80/130 over the years.
They were the prototype for the Tiagra line and were a different proposition to the graphite-bodied Tritons and TLDs.
There's no denying their heft relative to newer all-alloy game reels, but the quality of their manufacture back then - tolerances, alloys etc - means they're still great reels today.
As Logan noted, the silicon compound was compromised and eventually melted into a sticky goop that takes some work (and a lot of acetone) to remove.
But high-quality replacement rings are easy to find/make and epoxy in.
Once done, along with a carbon drag washer and handle upgrade, they're good to go on pretty much anything out there.
This was my Beastmaster line up for the past decade or so.
They took kings to nearly 100lb, bass to 150lb+, YF and BFT to ~130lb and assorted marlin to over 400lb.

Shimano BeastMaster 4/0
Jigging Master 53B PE4-8 250-450g rod
550m 100lb Power Pro hollow-core
Drag: 35lb/16kg [25lb strike/35lb full]

Shimano BeastMaster 30/50
Shimano BeastMaster 30/50 rod
Backing - 300m 80lb braid
Topshot - 500m 50lb Suffix mono
Drag: 44lb/20kg [30lb strike/40lb full]

Shimano BeastMaster 50/80
Kilwell Gladiator 37kg Stand-up fully-rollered
Backing - 800m 100lb braid
Topshot - 200m 80lb mono
Drag: 53lb/24kg [40lb strike/50lb full]

Hope that's of some assistance.
Any queries, let me know.
Cheers, Justin
PS The 4/0 doesn't have the silicon-ring pressure plate...

Ok - so the Beast Master is a metal/ alloy frame and the TTS and TLD are graphite is that correct?

Can one get Carbon Drags for all ten Beastmasters? I see quite a few still in use out here where.

[redsetta]

The Triton Trolling Series were good reels too, but not a range I've owned.
I think early ones had alloy frames, but I've only ever worked on graphite versions.
There's a great thread here, that may be illuminating:
https://alantani.com/index.php?topic=13145.0

PS Cutting carbon drag discs is easy, but Dawn at Smoothdrag will sort you out with the best starting point...

[thorhammer]

I have a TTS 50' good reel and all aluminum, just kind of a murdered-out stealth flat black. I used it most recently as planer reel which it did fine with, but retired it from that constant stress as parts may be hard to get on that 30 yo winch.

John