I upgraded the OEM Rulon drag system in my Lews speed spool LFS 2nd gen and can’t seem to get the right amount of drag pressure. When fully locked down with the other end of the line tied to a scale with a direct pull I get only 1.94-2.00lbs of drag. The carbontex drag washers are from HPR bearings. Can’t seem to figure out what’s wrong.

I would measure the thickness of the stock drag washers and the carbontex.

You may be running out of travel when tightening the drag star, if the carbontex is thinner.

You can shim a taller drag stack with M8 brass washer at the top of the drag stack (0.5-mm thick). Only example I have is old Ambassadeur.

Carbontex isn't known for big drag numbers, but for smooth drag without ratcheting feel.

My surf Ambassadeurs use blue corundum drag washers, and carbontex doesn't come close.

Just a thought, but did you make sure you have all the drag washers in the correct order? I have made that mistake myself on one of my reels after a cleaning and it turned out i had the washers out of order so only one of the three drag washers were engaging.

20 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

I would measure the thickness of the stock drag washers and the carbontex.

You may be running out of travel when tightening the drag star, if the carbontex is thinner.

You can shim a taller drag stack with M8 brass washer at the top of the drag stack (0.5-mm thick). Only example I have is old Ambassadeur.

Carbontex isn't known for big drag numbers, but for smooth drag without ratcheting feel.

My surf Ambassadeurs use blue corundum drag washers, and carbontex doesn't come close.

So there is a thick washer under the sleeve that slides inside the one way clutch and a thinner washer on top of the sleeve. I added an additional washers same size and thickness as the existing and there was no change in drag pressure. Only thing noticeable was I lost star drag travel, significantly. Just eyeballing the oem and upgraded drag washers they look the same thickness.

17 hours ago, Dog said:

Just a thought, but did you make sure you have all the drag washers in the correct order? I have made that mistake myself on one of my reels after a cleaning and it turned out i had the washers out of order so only one of the three drag washers were engaging.

Yes I assembled the drag washers properly.