The Eclectic Angler
mhackney@eclecticangler.com
http://www.EclecticAngler.com
Click Drag Instructions
(These instructions can be downloaded here: http://eclecticangler.com/content/instructions/click-drag.pdf)
The Click Drag is designed to retrofit on one of our Reel Kits. The mechanism is simple, trouble free and
effective. The drag components are made of Delrin with a Nylon clicker. You should start with a completely
assembled and adjust Reel Kit and then follow the instructions below. These instructions use the Brass Click Drag
kit for an example. The Aluminum and Bi-metal Click Drags are assembled the same way.
Click Drag Parts
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
three 3/8” 4-40 machine screws
two 5/8” 4-40 machine screws
three 1/8” x 3/16” standoffs
one 1/4” x 1 1/8” or 1 3/16” aluminum spindle
one click bracket and clicker
one click wheel
Brass Kit: parts 1, 2 and 3 are brass, part 4 is 1 1/8”
Aluminum Kit: parts 1 and 2 are stainless, parts 3 are
aluminum, part 4 is 1 3/16”
Bi-metal Kit: parts 1 and 2 are brass, parts 3 are aluminum,
part 4 is 1 1/8”
Parts shown in italics will replace parts on your existing reel.
Figure 1: Click Drag Parts
Tools
‣
‣
‣
‣
‣
‣
1/8” flat bladed screwdriver
1 sheet each: 600, 1200 grit wet/dry sandpaper
Xacto knife or single edge razor blade
smooth flat file
Blue Loctite™
light machine oil
Assembly
Start with a completed Reel Kit. If desired, gently sand the surfaces and edges of the Delrin parts to smooth
them. In particular, make sure the “teeth” on the click wheel are smooth. Then follow the steps below.
Disassembly
Save the parts as you remove them, you will reuse a few parts in re-assembly. Mark the back frame ring and
back plate so you can reassemble them in the same orientation. A marker works well. Remove the spool from the
reel and set it aside. Remove the spindle from the frame back plate. Do not loose the spring and phosphor bronze
washers. Now, unscrew the frame back plate from the pillars. It is attached with three short screws and two longer
screws (reel foot attachment). There will be five small washers sandwiched between the back plate and back frame
ring and two 1/4” x 3/16” standoffs for the reel foot. Make sure to save the standoffs.
Frame Reassembly
Now you will reassemble the frame by replacing the spacer washers you removed with three 1/8” x 3/16”
standoffs (part 3) and click bracket (part 5). Refer to Figure 2 to see how the parts are oriented. You also need to
use the longer screws provided in the kit (parts 1 and 2) to replace the three short and two longer screws you
removed in Disassembly. Reassembling the reel foot bracket mount may be a little tricky since you need to align
Version 1.2!
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Click Drag
the original 1/4” spacers, click bracket and clicker (part 5), frame back plate and ring, and reel foot mounting
holes. I find it easiest to do this with the reel laying on its face (on a rag or towel). Insert one of the 1/4” reel foot
bracket spacers, and then the click bracket, making sure the clicker (thin Nylon rod) is facing to the inside of the
reel. Then, insert one of the supplied screws (part 2) and loosely fasten it. Repeat the process for the other foot
attachment screw. Gently snug all of the screws but do not over tighten them. Reattach the new spindle (part 4) to
the back frame plate with the washer and screw you removed during Disassembly.
Clicker Adjustment
The clicker (blue line in Figure 2) must be carefully trimmed to proper
length. Hold the reel in your hand with the spindle pointed toward you. Place
the click wheel (part 6) on the spindle and push it down until it touches the
clicker. Align the click wheel so one of the valleys in the “teeth” as shown in
Figure 2. Mark the clicker with a marker or pencil and then remove the click
wheel. Trim the clicker a little longer than the line you drew with a single
edge razor blade or Xacto knife. Now replace the click wheel. It should press
flat against the frame back plate and the clicker should fit in to the valley of
one of the teeth without bending. Rotate the clicker with your fingers to
determine that the click wheel rotates freely and the click works properly. The
clicker should bend and snap in to the next valley without binding. If it is too
long, trim a little (less than 1/64”) off its tip and retest. Repeat taking very
thin slices off the tip of the clicker until it fits and works properly.
Figure 2: Click Drag Assembly
Click Wheel Assembly
Remove the three flat head screws that attach the spool back plate to the spool hub. Reassemble the back
spool plate with the click wheel using the same flat head screws. Make sure the countersunk holes are facing out.
It is helpful to remove the spindle from the backplate to use to align the hub, spool plate and click wheel.
Final Assembly
Replace the spool in the frame (reattach the spindle if you removed it in the previous step first!). Don’t forget
to install the spring washer and the phosphor bronze washer before adding the spool. Test the length of the
spindle by pressing the spool in to the frame back ring. If the spindle projects above the spool front plate, make a
mark flush with the front plate and then file the spindle to proper length. This is the same process you used to
resize the spindle when you built the Reel Kit.
Test the clicker by pressing the spool into the frame back plate and rotating it. You should hear a satisfying
“click” and should not feel any binding. Reattach the spool with the retaining screw and washer you removed in
Disassembly. Test the reel to make sure the clicker works properly. Use a little Loctite on each screw that you
replaced.
Troubleshooting
✴
If the spool seems to snag or “hang up” as you rotate it, the clicker is probably too long. Revisit Clicker
Adjustment and readjust.
✴
If the clicker does not seem to engage but the spool rotates freely, the clicker is probably too short. In this
case, you can remove the spool and gently pull the clicker about 1/32” out of the bracket using pliers
(needle nose work best). Revisit Clicker Adjustment and retest.
✴
If the spool makes a grinding noise, you most likely need to realign the hub, spool plate, and click wheel,
revisit Click Wheel Assembly.
✴
If the spool is much more difficult to turn than the unmodified reel, you have several options. First, you
can remove the spring washer and retest. You can also gently sand the surface of the click wheel to make
it slightly thinner.
Version 1.2!
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Click Drag