I've heard it mentioned but have not been able to find anything about it. Is there really an upgrade that you can do that improves the drags on the 9500? I know they changed the drags between the ss and the ssm models but was that an upgrade or just a conversion? Is one system better than the other? What's your guys take on the matter?
The only upgrade is, if your reel does not have HT-100s installed, install them greased and you'll be good to go.
G'day reel doc,
I've done this upgrade here: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=3074.0 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=3074.0)
In the old under-spool drag set-up, the carbon plate was static (held by the keyed main shaft) and the metal plate (held in the spool) spun against it.
I upgraded to the newer 950SSm system, which requires the 6-950 HT-100 drag washer, 7-950 metal drag washer and 117-950 drag plate.
This set-up reverses the metal and carbon plates and produces a better drag configuration.
The double-dog set-up is another worthwhile upgrade.
I've used silent dogs in the above rebuild, but will be adding springs this weekend as per Sal's upgrade here: http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=2380.msg13715#msg13715 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=2380.msg13715#msg13715).
Hope that's of some assistance.
All the best, Justin
welcome! some of these reels have up to three different types of drag washers - a hard black or red fiber washer under the spool, a white teflon drag washer inside the spool, and two ht-100 carbon fiber drag washers. you need to covert the reel to a "1+3" all carbon fiber drag system. that will work the best.