I saw recently where a poster stated that you want an odd number of centrifugal brakes on your baitcasting reel so that it wears more evenly. However, I thought in the video posted on here the instructions were to have an even number and have the brakes be across from each other so as to not off-balance the reel.

 

 

 

So, what's the correct answer for baitcasting reels with centrifugal brakes: even or odd number turned on?

The correct answer is as many as you need. Generally I would recommend 4 to start, but as you get more

proficient you may want to drop down to two or three. Some guys can use zero, but that's not me.

I wouldn't worry about even or odd and go with what roadwarrior said. If the idea of wear bothers you, you can put a tiny amount of oil in the brake race.

They don´t need to be on pairs or something like that, the right number is not determined by the reel, it´s determined by you,

 

The JDM Scorpion 1000 and 1000 Mg had external and internal braking system, external by a 0, 1, 2, 3 dial and internal by 3 blocks, you could adjust the braking on the outside by dialing and add more breaking by activating the internal blocks. I own several of those reels and have never seen or experienced any problem when I actívate either the internal blocks or dial the external setting.

 

For example, you can actívate 1 block internally and have it dialed at 0, so you have 1 block, you dial to 1 then you have 2 blocks activated. The reel functions perfectly with odd numbers, more it brakes more.

Two brakes on on all of my Shimanos and it works great.  They have been like that forever.

The correct number is the number you need to cast without having problems. The brakes have nothing to do with balance of the spool.

The breaks are part of the spool that runs on a shaft that is supported by bearings with very little play, the weight doesn't cause wear because it doesn't create an out of balance condition unless the bearings are bad.

Number of weights only changes the amount of breaking material to slow down the spool speed; 1 break is half as much as 2 breaks, the reel spins faster with 0 breaks, but doesn't slow down when the line slows down = backlash. How many breaks you need depends on your casting skill, lure weigh/wind resistance, line type, head wind and rod action, everyone is different.

Tom

There are to many factors that can contribute to how you should set up a reel.  In general I use one break on my Shimano Core and two on everything else but if it is windy or I have just put new line on I might use 3 or 4.  For my Daiwa Zillion, I leave it on 5 most of the time but I change it more based on the weight of the lure rather than conditions.

if your good enough -0- I usually need 1, just don't use any more than necessary or you will loose efficiency!

i just make sure the pattern of whichever brakes are on is symmetrical