So, I've been fishing with a Plueger Patriarch for about 6 years and I picked up a new Abu Garcia Revo SX last year and two Abu Garcia Revo Rockets this year. The Revo SX doesn't have adjustable centrifugal brakes, but the Patriarch and Rockets do.

 

So, I haven't been happy with my casting lately and I thought I had the Rockets set right. I opened them up today while fishing and I had all of the brake pins out except 2. So I pushed them all in and left one pin out. I had a KVD Sexy Dawg tied on. I was casting about 10-15 yards I'm guessing. After I changed the brakes I casted a country mile! I must have been casting 25-35 yards. I couldn't believe it. What a difference. So I guess with the Rockets, pins in is brakes off and pins out is on. I had that mixed up.

 

 

I wonder if it's the same with my Patriarch. I haven't checked it yet.

 

 

 

So, for all baitcasting reels is it this way for their centrifugal brakes:

 

 

Pins in  =  Off

 

 

Pins out  =  On

 

 

 

 

?

Your owners manual should have covered braking adjustments to both the centrifugal and magnetic, as well as spool tension.    You are correct with pin in = off.

Yep that's the way they are on almost all centrifugal reels. If they are clipped in or towards the center of the reel they are held there and not allowed to be moved by centrifugal force. When they are unclipped and moved to the outside, they are free to move in and out. When you make a cast the centrifugal force pushes them outwards (Think of kids on a merry-go-round when it's being pushed fast) and they exert the force on the small metal ring on the inside of the side plate creating friction to slow the spool. 

Thanks, this is a good reminder for me. I don't remember when was the last time I played with pins for my shimanos.

Yep, pins out means brakes on.  This suddenly becomes very obvious once you understand how centrifugal forces work.