I have been servicing some of my reels recently. After I did my slx, I run into two issues. 
 

1. the star drag doesn’t click anymore when I turn it to tighten and loosen the drag.

 

2. the reel isn’t as smooth and quiet as it was before.

 

Has anyone experienced the same issues?

 

I followed the below video to service the reel. I used the cal star drag grease on the gears.

 

thank you for your input!

Star drag not clicking, you might forgot/lost small pin or spring pieces. If I remembered correctly SLX star drag is not locked with clip.

Reel is not smooth and making noise, obviously you did something wrong or not fit in right. I’m not sure how much you clean, try to reassemble then put it back together again until you get it right. Otherwise time to see professional.

 

Smoothness is usually the result of bearings, not gears. How did you service those?

 

I disassembled a Shimano SLX-XT recently, which I assume has essentially the same drag mechanism as the SLX, and ended up with a tiny spring and pin leftover when I put everything back together. After some mild panic, googling, and careful study of the schematic, turns out it was the drag clicker. It's tiny and falls out easily. It was a near miracle it didn't end up on the floor or inadvertently discarded with the shop towel.

 

Sorry, can't help you with the smoothness problem - I'm not that well versed in reel maintenance.

 

 

Edit to add - iirc the plastic washer that makes the "click" is grooved on one side and smooth on the other. If you reassembled with the pin in place, but flipped the washer over so that the smooth side is against the pin, it won't click. Just something else to look for. 

14 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

Star drag not clicking, you might forgot/lost small pin or spring pieces. If I remembered correctly SLX star drag is not locked with clip.

Reel is not smooth and making noise, obviously you did something wrong or not fit in right. I’m not sure how much you clean, try to reassemble then put it back together again until you get it right. Otherwise time to see professional.

 

 Thanks! My click plate was upside down. It clicks now.

6 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

Smoothness is usually the result of bearings, not gears. How did you service those?

 

I didn’t do anything to the bearings. Like I said I followed the shimano reel maintenance video. They didn’t toil any bearings. What bearings should I oil?

7 minutes ago, Fishydishy said:

I didn’t do anything to the bearings. Like I said I followed the shimano reel maintenance video. They didn’t toil any bearings. 

 

Hmm. It wouldn't be a bad idea to oil the bearings but its unlikely thats the source of the issue since you mentioned no issues before. 

 

Some people say that gear sets wear into each other and when you align them differently you lose smoothness until it wears in ... not sure if there's any truth to that. 

 

Are you testing smoothness/sound on the water or just the reel? I've found that sometimes the feeling of the reel is magnified when its off the rod and not being fished.