http://hatterasoutfitters.com/index.html

Click on reels at the top

Then click on reel candy

Anyone ever try these and did it take some of the glitchiness out of your abu's?

Xtreme Smooothie Combo Drag Washer Kit

I have them in everything. Seem to work great, I have no complaints. The Shimano drags don't seem to wear out as fast as the ABU's...

Sorry for the newbie question:

How does one know that his drag washers on an Abu (or other baitcaster reel) need replacement? Does the drag slip too easily? Drag not smooth? Drag sticks? Drag needs constant adjustment (i.e., drag setting does not stay in place)? Rust falling out of the gears? All of the above?

thanks

CHEAPSKATE

Pretty much all of the above you mentioned can be an indication the drags need to be replaced.

In my case these are brand new reels only used a half dozen times on my plug rods. After using Shimano Curados for so long I am just not satisfied with the Abu drags as they come out of the box new. Abu drags are not very smooth to begin with and are a little glitchy when playing a fish.

Chum Eater
Will they be a lot smoother then a new Abu drag washer out of the box?

I'd also love to hear about any "upgrades" people have done to their ABU's (6500's). Do the "upgraded" drag washers feel alot better than the stock washers? I need to tune-up a couple of C-3's and I'm wondering if the steel and fiber "upgrade kits" are alot better than the stock parts. Thanks, snit

Tiny amount of graphite on the fiber washers will free them up on the initial movement. Smoothies are marginally smoother in these smaller reels you are using, in my opinion. I have done extensive work on my reels to make them perform better all the way around.

I found a great website that addresses what is called "super tuning". I don't know how serious you are about making your reels the best they can be, but I have found a great deal of enjoyment in performing the "super tuning" and the upgrades to all my reels.

I put in the upgraded bearings, drag washers, Hot Sauce for the gears, yellow Rocket fuel for the bearings and pawls, graphite dusting for drag washers, dual bearing level wind kit.

All can be purchased at http://www.hatterasoutfitters.com/ Click on the Reel Candy hyperlink.

Super tuning is a very cool upgrade if you have the skills and patience for it. Shims, spool shafts, inside of pinion gearsand brake drums get a ultra polishing job, with 600, 1200, 2500 grit sand paper mirror finished with a German polishing agent. This guy super tunes reels and sells them on e-bay. For some reason I can't find his site on the web, look him up on e-bay.

The best thing you can do for immediate performace enhancement is flush all the bearings with brake cleaner...nasty shiat, warning don't even think about doing this indoors, heat up some rocket fuel in a spoon and drop the bearings in and let them bubble. Remove and place on paper towels for 30 minutes, reinstall. Secondly, clean out all the over applied grease and replace with high quality grease in very very small amounts.

I hope you have a very educated thumb!

Have fun!~

Chumeater you're right on the money about super tuning. My 5501's & 6501's are so fast now their almost scary. Those east coast surf cast boys really have the ABU's figured out.

OK I need some clarification

As my 5501c3's are on plug rods I am not that interested in how they cast. Do the recomendations you made help the casting or the smoothness of the drags?

lead Thrower, "Smoothie" drag washers will take the herky jerky out of your ABU drags.

"herky jerky "

Thanks I cannot stand the glitchy hurky jerky drags on the Abu's.

Abu drags get jerky when they get wet. The drag washers usually just need to be cleaned and dried. We have been experimenting with shimano drag grease to repel the water, so far so good. You will lose a little drag pressure when clamped down tight. Just a light coat of grease is all you need.
Randy

Chum Eater, Lead Thrower, Wolverine:

I checked out that hatteras webpage... it's definitely got my attention. A guy fishing with me last summer lost the biggest king of the trip (according to him) because of a "herky jerky" drag on an old Ambass 7000.

Do any of you guys have comments regarding the Smoothie vs the Xtreme Smoothie washers. Are the Xtreme's worth the extra money or will the regular smoothies get the job done. I'll wait to hear from one of you before placing my order.

FNP I've only used the regular smoothies. I've got them in 5501's, 6501's & 7000's. I'm going to order a full meal deal 5500 Mag from Hattaras and I'll get the supers on that one.

I'm with the eye doc too! Any more opinions on the standard smmothies vs the super smoothies for the 6500's? Did you buy the stainless steel washers too? I love "retail therapy"!!!!

Loosen the drag up and let your thumb get burnt it's cheaper than all those fancy washers your gonna need the extra money for gas anyway

my experience is with the extreme smoothies only. Sorry

My extreme smoothies for two very old 7000's (30-plus years) are on their way. Also ordered a couple of Power Handles for my 6500 C4's thru the same company. Will update with a report soon.

Got my upgrade washers and power handle in the mail today. WOW! What a difference those extreme smoothies made.... drags on my well-worn ABU 7000's are buttery smoothe... better than new!

I inherited these reels from an old-timer who also loaded me up with some old 5000's and 5500's. I replaced all the drag washers with the stock ABU ones that I got from John's Sporting Goods last spring. Drags still chattered real bad even with all new washers.

A fellow in my party lost the biggest Kenai king of the trip last July due to one of those jerky drags really binding up. The only way it would yield line was to back WAY down on the star wheel. By the time I realized I better give chase with the motor, there was 150 yds or more between us and the king swimming steadily upstream. The fish managed to run the line thru a submerged snag that eventually sawed the line clean thru over the next few minutes.

Sure wish I had heard about these Hatteras Outfitters beforehand. These washers are AWESOME, and I would recommend that any serious ABU owner change over in a heartbeat.

Power handle for the 6500 C4 also proved to be an excellent purchase.... WOW what a difference in available torque!

I have had terrible luck with my calcutta 251. I have to send it in every year to replace the drag washers. I've paid for the reel twice with the repair costs. Which upgrades would help my situation? I didn't see the drag washer upgrade for calcuttas.... would the bearings make a difference?

Sometimes a LIGHT sprinkling of graphite powder will make a Calcutta drag work better.