Many thanks Dennis - couldn't figure out why the drag wasn't working properly on my mates lever drag reel, but your video explained how they worked perfectly and now I have fixed it! Cheers - Ray

Glad that I bought the lever drag because there's an option for me to change the drag while fighting with the fish. Thank you for the rundown on the hardware...

Another great video Dennis! I'm really enjoying all of these and I'm learning a ton...well done sir!

Great job Dennis

great video

The drag preset adjustment knob should only be adjusted (or removed/replaced) when the drag lever is in the freespool position, not like at 13:13. This goes for all lever drags regardless of manufacturer. In all owners manuals it states that adjusting the preset knob with the lever engaged can cause damage the reel. This is why you could not screw on the drag adjustment knob at 17:39 and 18:30. The lever was engaged and not in the freespool position..... just a tip for future lever drags.

Greatly appreciate the time and education put into that video Dennis. Now if only we can get out fishing. Soon I guess

Thanks Dennis, very informative, don't think I'd ever need a lever drag with the sort of fishing I do however with all that drag area and the large pressure plate,can't think of too many fish that can beat it. I'm also passing the time here in central CT. servicing my reels for the new season, (if they'll let us fish) and I have a question you've probably answered many times before, on the Mitchell 302 saltwater with it's metal drag stack, after cleaning, do you grease, oil , or just re-install the washers?? thanks again!!

The most important benefit of a lever drag reel is having CONSISTANT, REPEATABLE drag pressure. Every time you move the lever to STRIKE" the reel applies the same amount of drag pressure. If I'm fishing 40lb leader I will set my "FULL" drag to 20lbs with a scale which will make my "STRIKE" setting around 15lbs. Now when I'm fighting a fish I know at STRIKE I have 15lbs of drag and at FULL I have 20lbs of drag. I never have to worry about breaking my leader from applying too much drag. On a star drag you cannot look at the "star" and know how much drag you are applying, you have to pull some line off the spool with your hand and see what it "feels" like. I'm sure everyone has tightened the STAR all the way to break off when they got hung, only to forget to loosen it back up before hooking your next fish and either breaking the line or pulling the hook loose. That is impossible to do with a lever drag. Every time you move the lever to strike or full, your drag is whatever you originally set it to.

I have a Saltist LD. I noticed the drag washer is glued onto the spool. Do you know what glue I should use to replace it? Mine is completely worn out. Thanks.

Wonder who came up with internal drag. Lever drag seems better.

19:30 "Full lockdown is the same as tightening a star drag all the way"....... actually that's not correct. My Avet HXJ Raptors are rated at 50lbs of drag at FULL drag but those reels do not put out 50lbs when I push the lever to the FULL position. FULL drag on a lever drag is whatever you want it to be, it is whatever you pre-set it to. If I'm fishing 30lb leader I will set my FULL drag to 15lbs with a scale which will put my STRIKE setting somewhere around 10lbs. So when I'm fighting a fish in my STRIKE setting at 10lbs and he's pulling line trying to swim in a wreck I simply push the lever to FULL which applies 15lbs of drag (even though my reel is capable of 50lbs of drag) and let's me put more force on the fish without ever worrying about breaking my 30lb leader due to applying too much drag. If I'm fishing 60lb leader I set my FULL drag to 30lbs which puts my STRIKE drag around 23lbs. That's the beauty of a lever drag. I preset my drags wherever I want them based on what I'm targeting and what size leader I'm using. When kingfishing I set my STRIKE drag at 2lbs which puts my FULL drag around 4-5lbs. This lets me fight the kings with light drag so I do not pull the hooks when they go on long fast runs or when they are foul hooked....