Does anyone know if these two reels share the same frame or side plates? I want to try to make a PQ carbonlite hybrid by ording the parts from BP if they fit.

The first gen (gold) Carbonlite is basically a PQ with:

• a different paint job,
• different handle assembly, and
• aluminum drive gear, worm shaft, return pawl, and (IIRC) aluminum crank shaft.

The frames appear dimensionally the same.  The palm-side sideplates will swap - see photo. Although, if you look closely at the photo you can see that the sideplate pin on the Carbonlite did not snap into the PQ sideplate - it had to be "coaxed" in - I can't say if this is just a little tolerance issue at play or whether there is a slight dimensional difference.

 

The only parts that I have personally swapped between the two reel series is drive gears/pinions - I have PQ 5.2:1 gears in a Carbonlite.

 

So, I think they're twins...but can't give personal assurance that all parts will swap...

 

Good luck.

 

 

The first gen (gold) Carbonlite is basically a PQ with:

• a different paint job,
• different handle assembly, and
• aluminum drive gear, worm shaft, return pawl, and (IIRC) aluminum crank shaft.

The frames appear dimensionally the same.  The palm-side sideplates will swap - see photo. Although, if you look closely at the photo you can see that the sideplate pin on the Carbonlite did not snap into the PQ sideplate - it had to be "coaxed" in - I can't say if this is just a little tolerance issue at play or whether there is a slight dimensional difference.

 

The only parts that I have personally swapped between the two reel series is drive gears/pinions - I have PQ 5.2:1 gears in a Carbonlite.

 

So, I think they're twins...but can't give personal assurance that all parts will swap...

 

Good luck.

Wow, thanks a bunch! You perfectly answered my question and then some!

FWIW - I just checked my records and the crank shaft of the CL is indeed aluminum, as opposed to the PQ crank shaft which is brass.

FWIW - I just checked my records and the crank shaft of the CL is indeed aluminum, as opposed to the PQ crank shaft which is brass.

Awesome! Hey, so it seems you can change the gear ratio just by putting in the gearing from the different reel? What dictates the gear ratio, the main gear and the pinion gear? Or are there other factors?

The number of teeth on the drive gear and pinion gear determine the gear ratio. On swapping gear sets, sometimes other factors come into play like the components of the drag stack (a different stack height and key washer configuration might be required).  In the case of the PQ gear set into the CL, the single-disc CL drag stack worked with the PQ drive gear so it was a straight swap with no other parts required.

The number of teeth on the drive gear and pinion gear determine the gear ratio. On swapping gear sets, sometimes other factors come into play like the components of the drag stack (a different stack height and key washer configuration might be required). In the case of the PQ gear set into the CL, the single-disc CL drag stack worked with the PQ drive gear so it was a straight swap with no other parts required.

Excellent. Hey, thanks for all your help goose.