I have a brand new bc SLX reel and took it out on the boat today. First 20 casts or so it was fine. Now when I reel the eyelet is going left and right but the spool is not moving and taking up line. What gives?

Do you have the drag turned all the way off?

27 minutes ago, Gsurko said:

Do you have the drag turned all the way off?

Nope

Take the side plate off and try to reseat the spool. 

Are you using braid?

Had FC on. So I was ticked and set it down. Got back to the dock and picked it up cussing it out and it was working perfectly. I don't understand but I tried for at least 90 seconds to reel it and the handles spun around normally and the eyelet went left and right like normal but the reel refused to take up line. Weird.

16 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

Had FC on. So I was ticked and set it down. Got back to the dock and picked it up cussing it out and it was working perfectly. I don't understand but I tried for at least 90 seconds to reel it and the handles spun around normally and the eyelet went left and right like normal but the reel refused to take up line. Weird.

Since the drag was at 95% (might want to try 96%) and not using braid, and it worked perfectly after the fact, I'm gonna go with base of thumb resting on release bar.

 

Nope, can't be that, just tried it with one. 

Send back to shimano for warranty. The reel is brand new and if you sure you have not loosen drag star by any mean, then must be internal which can be main gear not seated properly or pinion gear and main gear misalignment. It might be an easy fix for someone but if you are not sure about open up the reel then warranty is the way to go.

I agree it sounds like a loose drag.

 

However, I also noticed on my Antares A that there was a half-detent position on the thumb bar that caused this same condition.  Spinning the handle didn't release the thumb bar, but the gears weren't engaged to the spool either.  Was very strange.  Maybe the SLX has a similar failure mode

1 hour ago, gilkeybr said:

I agree it sounds like a loose drag.

 

However, I also noticed on my Antares A that there was a half-detent position on the thumb bar that caused this same condition.  Spinning the handle didn't release the thumb bar, but the gears weren't engaged to the spool either.  Was very strange.  Maybe the SLX has a similar failure mode

It happen sometime when thump bar doesn’t full engage normally when you spin handle while thumb on thumb bar press it down. But this can fix easily with thumb bar press and spin handle again. It happens to me a couple times.