Chinese Jigmaster drag

[Brett DeNicola]

Mostly a surf guy but needed a boat reel for a trip picked up a chinese made jigmaster and the range of drag seems low. It goes from loose to tight with like 6 turns of the star drag point to point. I checked my dads chinese jigmaster a few years older amd it get like 9 turns. I opened it up and cant find anything wrong though im not very experienced st talking reels apart. Drag also feels crunchy on the low end of the drag but i bought it at a shop supposedly new and dont see anything inside to male me think it was used amd returned

[foakes]

Easy fix, Brett --

Sand or grind -- then smooth down the ground edge on the drag stack spacer about 3/32".

Then grease the fiber drag discs with Cal's drag grease.

This will do (2) things -- allow more travel rotations of the drag star -- plus smooth out any jerkiness in the drag system, and allow it to last nearly forever.

There are many other things that can be done -- fine thread sleeve & star, thinner drag discs, etc...

But this is a quick and easy adjustment.

Got to remember -- these are high quality reels -- but not expensive.  So a few adjustments could be warranted.

There will be others with more exotic, technical, and expensive solutions.  And they will debate the merits of Asian vs. U.S., materials, and a dozen other possibilities.

However, this is just what I would do for an effective and capable fix -- without getting too technical or spending any $$$.

Many other remedies could cost more than the reel, in just parts...

Best Always,

Fred

[oc1]

You could also add another wavy washer (tension spring part no. 8-60) or change their orientation to get drag compression over a wider range.  Since the drag is not smooth you will need to break it down to grease them anyway and can address the wavy washers at the same time.
https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/Parts/8-60.aspx
-steve

[Brett DeNicola]

Thanks guys will sand them and add cals and see if that improves it

[Ron Jones]

The above solutions work just fine, of course, but the fine tooth sleeve makes a nice reel so much nicer.
The Man