Reel Repair by Alan Tani

General Maintenance Tips => General Questions and Trouble Shooting => Topic started by: LTM on November 11, 2013, 10:48:21 PM

Title: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 11, 2013, 10:48:21 PM
I would like to rebuild the drag washer to some of my lever drag reels.  The factory no longer makes drag discs for this reel.  The challenge is finding drag material thick enough for the application. Only ONE surface will be needed, the other side will be epoxyed to a metal surface.  The thickness of the drag material ONLY on a new disc is 2.0 mm, the thickest CF material Ive been able to find is 1.4 mm. One of two possible solutions that I have thought of is to glue TWO 1.0 mm washers together to obtain desired thickness.  Or the second possible solution would be to glue a 1.4mm thick cf drag to some sort of sub-strate material that is very even/flat in thickness and wont deform under pressure and heat that I can HANDILY fabricate to the correct thickness. I have no idea of what kind of material to use as the sub-strate.

Any ideas/suggestions?

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: wallacewt on November 12, 2013, 09:40:27 PM
hi leo
if that was me id glue two laminated 1.omm cf washers to gether.
gd luck
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 12, 2013, 11:12:33 PM
Thanx Wallace, Im considering that. However, Im concerned about seperation under pressure and from heat. May give it a try.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Djamiller on November 13, 2013, 01:52:10 AM
I've thought about doing exactly this for the penn 45gls. What reel are you working on?
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 02:47:05 AM
Some old Daiwa LD30H & LD50H lever drag reels to extend their usage/life span since the factory no longer has replacement drag washers and has long since discontinued the reel.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: locknut on November 13, 2013, 04:25:01 AM
I have just done this with some 6/0 Duel reels I had a Stainless steel CF plate laser cut and glued the Carbontex to it. Worked great you just need to supply the laser cut guys with a pattern.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: wallacewt on November 13, 2013, 05:21:24 AM
hi leo
a few years ago i glued washers to gether,as well as
washers straight to gear  plate,cant remember
which reels and never had any problems.
i know i did the tld series.
also glued cf to cork (abu,s)then glued cork to gear.
some are on this site somewhere.
just make sure,no glue on the face of cf
glue wont seep through the laminated cf
cheers
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Djamiller on November 13, 2013, 01:38:34 PM
3m makes a spray on glue that's often used for automobile headliners, trim, and such. I can't remember the name of it but I think that would probably be your best bet for applying an even coat of adhesive that won't bubble up in any spots and won't squeeze up over the carbon.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on November 13, 2013, 02:06:27 PM
I've used JB Weld Original with CF - it works fine and doesn't soak through the fibres. It is also very heat tolerant (over 500F :o). It also works well with compressed Kevlar (with which I'm experimenting).
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 02:44:40 PM
Thanx guys for your responses, all will be taken into consideration. My other challenge that I have is drag thickness. The factory "cork" type fiber is 2.0 mm thick. The thickest carbon fiber I can find is 1.4 mm. Without having a plate (which the fiber washer will be mounted to) custom made and using what I got. Any suggestions on how to make-up/build-up the difference of 0.60 mm to bring the 1.4 mm drag thick drag to 2.0 mm thickness? This is my major obstacle to overcome.

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 02:45:58 PM
Locknut, what did you use for glue?

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: alantani on November 13, 2013, 04:02:15 PM
the adhesive that was recommended to me was loctite depend 330.  very expensive, though. 
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 05:21:38 PM
Thanx Alan, any idea of how/what (if necessary) to use to make up the 0.60mm difference in drag material?

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: alantani on November 13, 2013, 05:37:33 PM
you may not have to.  try it with just the drag washer.  you have have enough "tolerance" in the reel that the drag will still function with less height. 
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Robert Janssen on November 13, 2013, 06:00:30 PM
The choice of adhesive here is quite important. Very few adhesives have the ability to withstand the temperatures that can arise in drags. Regular epoxies like Araldite for example, are seldom good to more than roughly 100 degrees centigrade and thusly are not to be recommended. Common contact cements and cyanoacrylates are likewise usually not adviseable. It can matter though, depending on application.

Below is the temperature / strength diagram for Loctite 330.

(http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d165/DrRob101/Skaumlrmklipp_zps88845929.jpg)

Hold on a sec; be right back

.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Robert Janssen on November 13, 2013, 06:35:14 PM
Right then...

LTM, what are you going to bond? CF to the spool, or a free-floating donut washer 2 mm thick, or a 2 mm thick washer with tabs, or cf to disc? I'm sorry; i don't know what they look like exactly.

There are a lot of suitable substrates you can use depending on what you're after, but like alan said it would be wise to check and see if it really is neccessary. (0.6 mm might not be such a big deal. On the other hand maybe it is or you wouldn't ask)

High-temperature bonding is often difficult for the average fellow to achieve. It usually ends up on some industrial-application-only type thing (and there are fantastic products available for that) but luckily there is a terrific solution which was mentioned earlier: JB Weld, the high-temperature version. This is an easily available epoxy adhesive sold in small packages for a couple of bucks, that behaves like a regular epoxy but withstands temperatures well over 200 degrees Celsius.

I know it does, because i have used it for years for any number of applications to laminate friction materials and bonding drag washers, and tested them to extremes. Trust me; it is very good.

About substrates, it kind of depends on what you're making. Have a look at industrial gasket materials if you're just making a donut. Widely available in a range of thicknesses and temperature ranges, usually cheap and easy to cut. Not so good for tabbed washers though.

.

.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 07:13:21 PM
Gentlemen thanx for responding, Alan and Robert as well

Robert I was just pondering this thickness challenge and I was wondering what your specific thoughts might be on the subject. Here's the situation. I have a 3" metal disc which a 2 mm thick cork-like drag material is adheared to. The challenge is that the thickest carbon fiber replacement drag material I can get is only 1.4 mm thick. So my options are glue two 1.0 mm drags together and glue that combination to the metal disc that I bolt to the reel. The unknown element here for me is can this be done effectively so that the heat and pressure from no more than 15# of drag destroy the bond.  The other option is to by some means find some sort of level substrate that I can fabricate (with normal power tools) that will be a flat surface that is 0.6mm to bond the 1.4 mm thick drag washer to. Thanx in advance and I will watch out closely for your responses,

Leo

PS  My middle name is "JB Weld" Im a big fan of the product, didnt think of using it as a bonding agent for this application. Always have some on hand. What do you think about me using the quick set version?
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Robert Janssen on November 13, 2013, 10:19:14 PM
QuoteWhat do you think about me using the quick set version?

I don't. There are many types of JB Weld, sometimes sold with different badges. Stick to the original basic, two-part high-temp epoxy. Read the label carefully. Not these other kwik-set, putty, all in one yadayada versions; dunno know them.

As for the rest of it, use 1 mm hi-temp gasket sheet (ask at the hardware store. They might even have pre-cut 3" diameter) and 1 mm cf. Or 1.5 + 0.5 then if that feels better. Or almost anything you like.

Heres a tip though... Not so fast. Bond only one thing at a time. Washer today, disc tomorrow. Keeps things clean & under control.

Incidentally, what is keeping you from adding say 0.5 mm of cf to your existant drag washer?

.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 13, 2013, 10:23:32 PM
Robert,

Are you referring to the high temp gasket material that resembles cork?

Thanx Robert, will update this post when completed testing for this project.
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on November 14, 2013, 12:48:47 AM
Use JB Weld Original - >500F and almost 5x the bonding strength of the high temp putty they sell (the putty seems to be more of a quick set thick gasket/auto fix putty :-\, check their own specs http://www.jbweld.com/products/surface-applications/automotive/ (http://www.jbweld.com/products/surface-applications/automotive/)). I have personally tested the Original epoxy to >250F,single plate 75mm diameter drag and large aluminium heatsink. If your drag is regularly going to exceed this you have other problems :o.

Also, the thickness of the final bond (from experience) is approx .5 to .7mm - Just take your piece of CF and twist and turn the thing to bed it into the epoxy (and/or clamp it - not too tightly!) - clean off excess with acetone - wait 24 hrs before trimming to size and testing!
The thickness should be close enough  :).
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 14, 2013, 01:53:03 AM
Tiddlerbasher/TB,

This is just the info that I needed. With the thickness of the JB Weld of .5-.7 mm being just the amount of added material plus the 1.4mm disk I will achieve the desired drag height of 2.0mm that I need without adding a substrate to the equation. For my original premise didnt take into account the thickness of the bonding agent which would have made the height too much. There is trully nothing like experience and many councels.

Thanx guys, I have a solution now that I feel will totally work.

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Robert Janssen on November 14, 2013, 05:07:20 PM
Quote
Robert,

Are you referring to the high temp gasket material that resembles cork?

No. I'm referring to flat, hard, stiff cardboard-like material, available in more types than can be explained. Google.

Quote
...With the thickness of the JB Weld of .5-.7 mm being just the amount of added material plus the 1.4mm disk I will achieve the desired drag height of 2.0mm that I need...

At risk of a misunderstanding haven arisen, i beg to differ. If you add .7 mm of total thickness, you are using way way way too much. The cf is not supposed to be floating on a bed of epoxy. Very little epoxy, and clamp between flat Surfaces. Total increase of thickness due to epoxy should be negligible.

I had a meeting about this and other things with the company that makes HT-100 a long while back.

i gotta go

(http://i00.i.aliimg.com/img/pb/257/709/541/541709257_279.jpg)
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: LTM on November 15, 2013, 12:59:04 PM
Got it Robert, and thanx to all for your feedback.

Leo
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: Bunnlevel Sharker on November 17, 2013, 11:25:03 PM
What about a fiberglass core like the one in the ht-100s?
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: bluefish69 on November 18, 2013, 12:16:50 AM
The rings in the picture look like plumbers composite gasket material. There are different thickness.

Mike
Title: Re: DIY LEVER DRAG CF WASHER
Post by: locknut on November 19, 2013, 07:13:32 AM
Sorry been away hunting for a week. It looks like you have got all the answers this place is the bomb. I used the JB Weld original good to 550 F 2 part epoxy it worked a treat.
Jeremy