esoxaddict - 11/24/2010 11:13 PM
With the washers like this: () you've got the star drag adjustment on one side, and the sleeve that goes through the A/R bearing on the other. Pretend the sleeve is the equal sign, and the asterisk is the star drag adjustment... It looks like this: *()= As you tighten the star drag, it puts pressure on the sleeve, which seats against the inside washer, which in turn compresses the alternating fiber and metal washers that make your drag do what it's supposed to do. If you put them like this: )(= you're still compressing them together on the handle side when you tighten the drag adjustment, but the inside washer isn't seated properly against the sleeve. I've never tried installing them backwards, but my guess is that you'd have to crank the bejesus out of it to get the drag to work properly, if it would work properly at all.

PIKEMASTER - 11/25/2010 1:23 AM
I guess U will have to ask a Reel Mfg Engineer that ?? all I know is that all reels that I have worked on for the last 10 years have the washers in the reel like ( ) from the factory. I do know that when guys do it the wrong way like ) ( that they loose alot of drag presure on there reels. U can do WHATEVER U like it's your reels ;)

RyanJoz - 11/25/2010 11:08 AM
The reason for putting the drag slavers in () pattern has to do with the contact point of the center part of the IAR bearing. You don't contact it at the outermost edge on the bearing with them the other way. This also gives you more adjustment and drag force.
()m Vs. )(m see how the chamfered edge of the center part of the bearing would be slightly recessed into the spacers? This is the reason why.