Cabo 70, Saragosa and Penn 950 Drags

[pametfisher]

When I've been asked to add Wind-On leaders to some spinning reels for friends, one of the things I do is check out the drag. The reason is to make sure that it's performing well if someone is going to use/evaluate a leader.

Yesterday, a Charter Captain gave me a couple of Quantum Cabo 70 PTs--photos below. As I tested the drag, it seemed to grab and release. When I disassembled it, I found the drag washers soaked in WD40. This led to a suction effect and really poor drag performance. So I cleaned the washers, lightly greased them with drag grease and put it back together. The grab-iness was gone, but the drag started high and then dropped down. That turned out to the be plastic (not sure what material) non-drag washer on the bottom of the spool. It needed more than a thin coating of grease. When it was done, a reel that has a 30 lb. max drag spec put out about 13 lbs.

My overall impression is that this reel was designed for lighter use than Bluefin tuna. The bottom washer support was light metal, the bottom drag washer was not a drag washer at all, the top drag washers were a synthetic woven fabric, and the advertised Ceramic Drag system turned out to be one washer at the top which is probably to insulate the Drag Cap from whatever drag heat is produced. The Drag Cap itself was "inexpensive" in design, with a weak drag spring that had little range. My impression is that the Cabo 70 might put out 30 lbs. of drag with a nearly empty spool for only a short time. (Photo below)

About a month ago, I was setting up a Saragosa 18000 (14000 photo below) with Wind-Ons, although the drag washers are all top mounted, they are graphite impregnated material, after cleaning and light greasing, the reel put out 22-25 lbs. This is a more expensive reel but in my impression, every aspect is higher in quality. (Note: The Shimano Spheros appears to use the same drag washer system.)

I've also included a couple shots of one of my Penn 950 SSMs as a comparison to the Cabo. It has one large bottom washer, one small top washer, but a very strong, well-built drag cap and spring that is heavy, solid metal. The result is a reliable 16-18 lbs. To me, this is a much better budget reel than the Cabo.

I've also added a close-up photo of the 950 drag cap spring. My method of measuring Max Drag is to turn the cap until that spring is fully compressed and then measure the drag output with a scale. Turning the cap more than full compression of the spring means that the Spindle Threads are being used for drag pressure. That's okay as a last measure to boat a fish but not a fair comparison of Max Drag specs.

[bmac]

Dang it Pamet. If you'd have posted that a couple months ago i think I'd have made a different decision than I did. Very informative post. Thanks.

[Sea Draggin]

Unbelievably help and informative post right here.

The only jig spinner I have is an Expedition, so that stuff is all foreign to me.

PS. Have you had the Okuma's apart yet?

[DoubleA_FL]

im glad i read this 2 hours after buying a Cabo 80 :/

AND i cant find any aftermarket drag washers for it

[pametfisher]

Sorry I wasn't able to post this sooner. I literally got the reels last Saturday and tried to get it posted right away. I was pretty surprised at the Cabo, the fabric drag washers, short/weak spring. My suggestion would be to keep them well maintained.

I have not taken an Okuma apart. As I convert spinners for accepting windon leaders by adding hollow, I'll keep an eye out for other reels and try to take photos of those drags too.

[NoExcuses]

Good stuff pamet. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.

[DoubleA_FL]

pamet, obviously im not mad or upset with you, i am mad at myself. I was back and forth between a Penn and the Cabo and went with the cabo because i thought it would perform better.

I was wrong

Now i sort of want to buy a Penn as a back up for when my Cabo blows up.

Is there anything i can do with respect to upgrades? better springs, etc? I am going to try and find carbonex washers that will fit, eventhough they dont officially make them for the cabos.

As always, i appreciate any and all the info i can get!
Thank you for the reviews.

[Sea Draggin]

Aaron,
you can get carbon washers for your cabo from www.smoothdrag.com

Just call them on Monday. You will probably have them by Wednesday.

[DoubleA_FL]

thanks jim! i had actually written their number down and was just going to ask if they had washers the same dia. of the ones in my 80 eventhough they dont list that particular model on their site.

is the install something i can handle myself without damaging anything? or should i take it to my local reel guy and let him do it?

thanks for the help guys!

[Sea Draggin]

No you can easily do it. Pop out the retaining ring and pull out the stack.

I forgot to mention to tell them to send you a small thing of cal's drag grease when they send your washers. They will have washers cut exactly to fit.