Just sitting here playing with some reels after working on the boat...
Holding a 501, cranking it in gear with about 3/4's of the drag tightened down. Oddly it cranks along real smooth for different amounts of time. At a certain point, it puts the brakes on the spool by itself somehow???? Lasts for three or four turns, then lets off for a few turns, then mildly puts the brakes on.
I can't picture in my mind what could cause the intermittent slow down.
Any idea where I should start looking? Greased standard drags, stainless spacer, AccuFrame, stock sideplates is the set up.
If I back off the tension knob, it stops, but not until I introduce spool slop side to side. I don't understand how it can come and go. It does not go away if I back off the star drag. Hmmm.
Hold the spool from turning with your thumb and turn the handle and see if this fixes the problem.
Nope. When I release my thumb it cranks a bit and then.....brakes.
Ok this morning I pulled off the sideplate and crank and it's obviously in my gearbox/drag stack.
Now two minutes later it has stopped. Great - a reel with a mind of its own.
Now when I hold the spool, crank and release, the problem is back. And gone........
What were you thinking with your question Lee? Since my answer is both yes and no now? :o
Look at the spool engagement slot on your main gear and see if the ears are straight and the reinforcing ring is in it's proper place and sittin pretty. I had a Bluefin Tuna freight train my 146 Squidder and all that got rearranged. Did exactly the same thing. It was rubbing on the spool shaft. About drove me to *%$*@&*) off!!!