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Posts: 106
| i was throwing bucktails this past weekend with my tranx 400 hg. I was getting a fair amount of backlashes with it. i played around with the cast control knob and it helped a little but still got some. Should I adjust anything with the variable brake system? any Help would be great. |
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Posts: 1675
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | I run 4 of the centrifugal brakes out and just use the friction knob to limit side to side movement in the spool. If I get a backlash a day, I had a bad day. Using the centrifugal brakes instead of the tension knob also is easier on the reel, bearings, shims, and a lot of parts people wear out from not properly adjusting the reel.
my casting distance does not suffer running 4-5 brakes depending on lures. Some crankbaits that cartwheel on the cast i'll run 5 brakes. |
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Posts: 261
| Howdy,
You can also add a drop of oil to the brake drum to slow down the spool a bit on the cast. I do this to my daughter's reel and it makes a world of difference.
Take care,
Ruddiger |
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Posts: 37
Location: MN | I'm also having issues with backlash in the 400 HG....Every third cast is a rats nest despite multiple adjustments....Thanks for the tips on fixing the issue.... |
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Posts: 7009
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Not to be snotty....but the spool really moves faster then we're all used to so it's time to go old school and teach that thumb! |
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Posts: 770
| Man I have never had a backlash on my 400hg... |
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Posts: 858
Location: NE Ohio | X2^^^^^^^. I have a thumb with a masters degree! |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Run 4 or 5 or all 6 spool brakes on Plus put a couple drops of oil on the spool brake brass or Chrome ring.
Keep Cast Control Knob so spool has no side play.
Do Not Crank it Down tight
Also :
Use a rod that has a little flex
XXX and heavier action rods will Backlash Casting Bucktails under 3oz
Make sure Line is Very Tight on spool.
Don’t overcast the rods action !!!!
Hope that helps
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Posts: 770
| What line are you using and how new is it? I have noticed suffix 832 is pretty stiff when new and can cause.more backlashes before broken in |
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Posts: 343
| An educated thumb is probably the first thing to work on, especially if the adjustments recommended don't help, practice makes prefect. |
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Posts: 103
| Like mentioned above. It's all about the thumb and a rod that will load when casting muskie lures. More breaks, more tension control, too stiff a rod, all work together to make the situation worse. Your thumb can apply more friction at the beginning of the cast when it is needed, little to no friction for most of the cast, and stop the spool just before the lure hits the water. Tension knobs and breaks can't do that. |
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Posts: 28
Location: Pacific Northwest | Good thread...lots of solid advice. I'd like to add that, in the interest of extending the life of the reel, open it up and make sure it's properly lubed. Perhaps you've done this already, but if not, there's an excellent tutorial over on YouTube. |
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Posts: 330
Location: SE Wisc | T3clay - 7/7/2018 7:35 AM
What line are you using and how new is it? I have noticed suffix 832 is pretty stiff when new and can cause.more backlashes before broken in
New line can definitely cause backlash, I like to let all the line off the spool on the water with a deep diving crank attached then reel it in “wet and tight”. |
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Location: 31 | Some good advice so far with the cast control adjustments, new line, and oil. I was using 2 identical HG Tranx earlier this year… one was smooth as silk the other not so much and also back lashed pretty easy until a few drops of oil.
As an aside; I ended up putting a piece of electrical tape over the hinged side of the reel, my hand kept popping it open right in the middle of a cast. |
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Posts: 239
Location: Madison, WI | i've heard that having the spool overfilled can also cause issues on these reels... i got a new one a couple weeks ago and it casts like a dream. mine from last season definitely needs a good cleaning/lube job |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | johnsonaaro2 - 7/11/2018 10:29 AM
i've heard that having the spool overfilled can also cause issues on these reels... i got a new one a couple weeks ago and it casts like a dream. mine from last season definitely needs a good cleaning/lube job
I’m running about a week out right now send it to me ASAP
$25.00 plus parts or upgrades and shipping
Richard Schmitz
Pimp My Rod and Reel
90 Hillsman Lane
Seneca IL 61360
Send reel USPS Priority Mail
Our return address and cell in box
Richard Schmitz aka PIKEMASTER |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Here are my thoughts on using my thumb
I NEVER USE MY THUMB
I set my reels up with as many Spool brakes is necessary so the reel will not backlash.
As far as the cast control knob, I will set so the spool has no side play, then maybe a 1/4 turn at the most and NEVER TOUCH IT !!!
I get lots of reels in for Service and Tuning with all the spool brakes turned off, and most of them crank the cast control knob so tight that the spool tips are flared and the washers are dimpled, then the gears are missed aligned and they sound like a coffee grinder.
I like to ask them this ???
Do you own a new vehicle ?
Most will say yes, then I asked if it’s equipped with antilock brakes most will say yes, so I asked them do you turn off your antilock brakes on your car
Set the reel up with spool brakes, and retire your obsolete thumb !!!!il
I’m hoping Shimano will put the DC “Digital Control” Spool Braking System on the Tranx
That be Awesome !!!
I guess a lot of old die hards would still turn off the Computer Controlled Braking System in favor of there antiquated Thumb LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL |
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Posts: 103
| Using the vehicle analogy above. By turning the cast control knob a 1/4 turn you are partially applying your "parking break" to the entire cast and retrieve. Do you drive with your parking break partially applied? I will stick with the antiquated thumb. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | 39 degrees - 7/13/2018 9:29 AM
Using the vehicle analogy above. By turning the cast control knob a 1/4 turn you are partially applying your "parking break" to the entire cast and retrieve. Do you drive with your parking break partially applied? I will stick with the antiquated thumb.
So you run your cast control knob with side play and no spool brakes.
So you like your reel setup like Fred Flintstones car, No Technology !!
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
I don’t care if that is how you like to run your reels that fine !
I like to use the Technology that the reels have over my thumb.
I’m sure if you ever had the chance to cast the Shimano DC reels you would use that system over your thumb. |
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Posts: 103
| Why would you assume I have side play? I adjust it with no side play. I do not do the extra 1/4 turn. No spool breaks. Zero backlashes. Educated thumb. Why would you assume it looks like Fred Flintstone's car. I don't want any friction on the cast or retrieve other than what my thumb can do.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | If you run your reels like that your thumb get a good work out in a day of casting.
Most guys could not cast a reel setup with no spool brakes and the cast control set like yours.
I try to help the Average Joes like myself and many more that come to this Web Site for advice, my advice is use the technology that reel manufacturers spend millions on so there Reels casts smooth and care free for everyone, both novice and Guys like you with Golden Master Thumbs.
I would say that 90% of reels that come into my shop that have the spool brakes turned off, the Cast Control knobs are crank down tight, which will cause the reel to have a catastrophic failure down the road.
How do you cast into the wind with all the spool brakes Off ???
Or if you Cast a Lure that casts with lots of Drag ??? Or tumbles and catches lots of Air.
One slip of your thumb and you got a Nasty backlash that will take a long time to get
Free.
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Posts: 103
| Just wanted to say that the thumb you refered to as antiquated is 60 years old but very effective. Last trip to the woods my partner and I had one backlash between us the entire week, and that was because a boat wake hit us from behind at the start of a cast that we didn't know was coming. That is casting between 10 and 13 hours per day.
In my opinion too stiff a rod and all the breaks and controls just makes an angler cast harder which compounds the problem. I am suggesting that some anglers might want to try casting without all that stuff applied and a rod that loads for the selected lure and see for themselves.
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | You are in Class that many could not do.
Jim Saric send me his reels one time to Detail and Tune I notice that he had all the Spool Brakes on his reels, there were like 15 of them so I called him and ask why he ran the reels with all the brakes on? he said to set them up with all the brakes On !! that the size and oz of Baits he was casting, he saw no difference in distances, but just One Backlash at the wrong time could cost him a fish of a life time.
Everyone has there opinions I’m open to hear them all.
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Posts: 103
| Agreed. And as you said in an earlier post, a lot of the problem is a rod that is too stiff for smaller bucktails. When a guy jumps in my boat and says I use my xxh rod to toss everything. I know it is going to be a really long day. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Boy that is the truth !!!
I don’t own a rod over XX
Guys tell me my rods are way to light, Funny they say that when they are trying to get a bird nest out of there reels. LOL LOL LOL
Plus at lease once a day when I’m running at speed in the boat I’ll let all my line out and rewind it back tight on the reel.
Here is a complete tear down video on the Tranx 300 /400
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_9yvvvvy60 |
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Posts: 309
Location: Elgin IL | Over time I have used more brakes and glad I did |
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Posts: 145
| Practice educating your thumb and you really shouldn't have an issue with the Tranx 400. |
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Posts: 145
| I have wondered just how many fewer problems people would have casting baitcasters if they were required to practice casting a Penn Jigmaster, or simular reel, for a year before they were allowed to use any other kind of conventional or baitcasting reel.
When you take time to practice thumbing a spool properly, the over use of casting brakes, the need for Shimano's DC tech, and the need for threads about something so easy to solve just by practicing would go away.
I always laugh when I pick up other people's baitcasters and go to cast them just to realize that the mag is maxed out, all the brakes blocks are on, and the spool tension knob is set to provide more spool resistance then the reel's actual drag.
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Posts: 103
| Amen - I couldn't agree more. Train the thumb. A big benefit is that with all the breaks and tension turned off, coupled with a rod that loads, casting is basically a flick of the wrists and forearms for most musky lures. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Here is a very informative video on the Tranx 400 and 500 compared to other reels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La_i80k3xp4 |
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