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Post by wilbert on Sept 9, 2007 18:22:44 GMT -1
Anyone else had problems with the drag on the T7 reel? mine has been back for repair and was fine to start with but now has very little in the way of adjustment. Its either in free spool, heavy drag or fully locked up with little in between and all this happens in less than 1/4 turn of the drag knob. The body appears to be well made and the retrieve is smooth but the drag is just utter pants. Lets see how many other owners have had simailar problems.
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Post by lancsflyman on Sept 9, 2007 20:30:25 GMT -1
Hi wilbert
Weve all been down the same road its only when we lose a good fish we realise our mistake, its pays to buy a quality reel for fly fishing than any think.
I bought a hardy marquis 8/9 and find it very reliable, only had one decent fish so far it handled it no problem, im not trying to rub salt in mate hon'est.
PAUL
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 9, 2007 20:35:56 GMT -1
I agree wholeheartedly, here we have a good looking and apparently well engineered reel that is incapable of doing the job for which it was intended. Mine has never worked properly, when casting it can quite easily overrun if you cast a good line and it comes back onto the reel. The drag can tighten up on its own, and the full on to full off is less than quarter of a turn. it has been a huge disappointment-it was a gift from my son so I feel that I must persevere, I hate to think of the salmon that are going to be lost through the inadequances of this reel.
I would advise anyone to think seriously before buying a t7
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Post by Teifi Terrorist on Sept 10, 2007 7:36:01 GMT -1
It's the reel that I use almost exclusively for my sea-trout fishing  - as photos of the fish that I have posted would indicate. I've never had a problem with them - always found the drag to be very smooth and function correctly. Perhaps the reels mentioned need servicing or something? as I wouldn't be happy fishing with them in their current state. TT. p.s. once a fish is hooked I would leave the drag well alone. If additional pressure needed to be applied I would trap the line in my finger and apply the pressure through the rod. |
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 10, 2007 11:03:38 GMT -1
Mine is the salmon version rated 10/12, i have looked at the mechanism and everything seems o.k.- it is only two years old, and has never worked properly
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jimac
Sewin Nut
Posts: 169
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Post by jimac on Sept 10, 2007 16:21:47 GMT -1
on the subject of reels,
i have just purchased a new salmon reel vision gt 10/11# have not had it out yet but it is lightwieght and looks the part,
there is such a minefield of fishing tackle out there the choice is endless,
any comments on the VISION GT would be much appreciated.
jimac.
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Post by dai on Sept 10, 2007 16:28:01 GMT -1
I have a T7,
and its been back for repair twice, there is a kind of cork washer that breaks up in the drag system. it`s the 7/8# model, why it`s gone that way i don't know look after my gear.
Dai
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Post by wilbert on Sept 10, 2007 17:59:03 GMT -1
Dai mine is the same model as yours, I use it for reservoir trout fishing and sea trout fishing and the other day a bit of low water salmon fishing. The drag just seems to have a mind of its own and adjusts itself usually to a higher drag setting as well as having a very limited range of settings. I have been told to send it back for repair but might just have a go at modifying myself. I will be buying a new Danielsson anyway so its no loss if I cant modify it at work.
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Post by stargazer on Sept 10, 2007 18:42:55 GMT -1
Have had no problem with mine.I always set what i think is an appropriate drag before i start fishing without over doing it and if anymore pressure is needed i just add more friction to the reel spool with the palm of my hand.This way you can naturally feel how much pressure is needed!!
SG
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Post by skippy on Sept 11, 2007 19:54:27 GMT -1
Very interesting.I have a T7 bought on impulse at the CLA a few years back which suddenly decided to go unnecesary on me for no apparent reason.I was wiping it down after a trip when the drag just locked up and then promptly fell off.I couldn't believe it.
Took it back to Fishtec at the next CLA which fortunately was only a couple of weeks off and they gave me a new one without any quibble.This was really rather a result because I didn't buy it off them.But though it seems to work fine I now have no confidence it the d**n thing & rarely use it.I thought I'd just got a wrong un but clearly not.
I've since discovered the Shimano Biocraft LA.Fantastic reel with a brilliant drag and only about £85 which suits me because I will die in a ditch before I pay over the ton for any reel because I just dont think the prices of some can be justified.Each to their own however and if you can afford to pay £600 for an Abel and want one then good for you.
I also have two Scierra XDA's which are pretty ugly & very heavy but as tough as you like and have possibly the best drags on any reel I've ever owned.I have complete faith in them and they were only about £45 each.I will never part with them or my [original] Daiwa Lochmor Z's.
The T7 is proving the most expensive paperweight I ever bought.
Skippy
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Post by silver1 on Sept 11, 2007 21:43:08 GMT -1
the drag system on the t7 appears exactly the same as the greys g-lite, i have two greys g-lites 7/8 and both are totally shagged after a season and as dai said the cork type clutch plate has tured to mush and washed out, one of which happened as i was fighting the biggest sewin ive ever landid, luckly i did land it but no thanks to my real almost seizing up half way through the fight. I have now replaced them with vision koma's and could not be happier, the drag was always jerky on the greys and should have known they would have gone right from the start. All that said i also have a T7 in the salmon version after being assured by the guys at fishtech that they do not come of the same production line and so far i have had no problems.
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 12, 2007 6:54:49 GMT -1
Salmon version rated 10/12, has exactly the same problem, so don't expect the drag to work when you get that fish of a lifetime on. It is great to see how a forum like this can highlight problems with fishing tackle, we should all send back our reels, has anyone got an address, and how long does it take for a repair?
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Post by peterross on Sept 12, 2007 7:39:20 GMT -1
Hi Jimac,
I have used the Vision GT 11/12 hard for 2 seasons now without any problems at all, good solid reel, unlike my snowbee XS which drag failed after half a dozen outings.
I will say though that i agree with Steff, i never play fish using the drag i always apply pressure either through the rim of the reel and / or the line running between fingers and rod, its far more precise. Bring back ratchet and pawl!!
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Post by shocker on Sept 12, 2007 7:52:55 GMT -1
I also have two Scierra XDA's which are pretty ugly & very heavy but as tough as you like and have possibly the best drags on any reel I've ever owned. I second that on the XDA,a very nice reel spoilt by the weight,mainly due to the unecessarily huge triangular drag control. Like many Im on vision komas now and no probs so far Had a look at the T7 at last years CLA fair and it looked and felt very nice;.........just goes to show the proof of the pudding is in the etc,etc. Given that you can get a shakespear trion or a shimano for a lot less (if you like CNC milled ally) or a koma for even cheaper,is it worth it?TT knows what hes on about and he's had no trouble with his......maybe a bad batch? Would be interested to hear from airflo themselves......seems a shame to write off a seemingly good product  |
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 12, 2007 8:06:40 GMT -1
Steff and Peter ross, I agree with you, its easy enough to palm a reel when fighting a fish, but it gets quite difficult when the drag suddenly locks on half way through! can remember losing a huge salmon whilst palming when my index finger got caught in the reel cage [ryobi]
so I now prefer to use a drag [if it's reliable!!!!!!!!!!]
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Post by wilbert on Sept 12, 2007 13:16:41 GMT -1
I had to adjust the drag mid fight as the drag was too low ( the reel seems picks its own drag settings ) and was starting to over run and I added I click of drag which is less than 1/10th of a turn. It was a very fresh salmon of 15lbs+ which was hooked approx 2 miles above the tide and was heading back to sea at a great speed.
I used to Palm the rim of all my reels when playing fish but since being spoiled with a Danielsson HD 11/14 salmon reel which has a super smooth and 100% reliable drag I have gone onto adjusting the drag as and when required at different stages of the fight.
This is the first time that I have ever been broken whilst fishing for salmon other than on 1 occasion when a fish went round a rock and shredded the leader. A totally new experience and not a nice one.
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 12, 2007 14:03:27 GMT -1
Have e mailed airflo, and they've told me to send the reel back to them-I also told them to have a look at this web site, they need to know what anglers think of their reels-watch this space and keep the comments coming!
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Post by skippy on Sept 12, 2007 19:26:20 GMT -1
What really niggles me about the T7 is that I dont think its a particularly cheap reel and I expected better for that price.You can put a line through a rod & cast it before you buy but there's not a lot you can do to test a reel in the shop.The first real [sorry] test it gets is when its in action and then its too late.I dont hook so many fish that I can afford to lose even one through a bad reel.
Skippy
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Post by johnriverlune on Sept 13, 2007 11:42:45 GMT -1
My airflo t7 is, as we speak, winging its way, first class post, back to Deepest South Wales. I have asked them to sort out the problem with the drag and tell me what was wrong with it. Watch this space!
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Post by dai on Sept 13, 2007 13:14:10 GMT -1
johnriverlune, Whats the bet, that they tell you you have put oil on the disc system. Thats what they told me,TWICE and that is one thing i have not done. who with half a brain would put oil on such an item, when you know that it should be clear of oil to work   Dai |
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- as photos of the fish that I have posted would indicate. I've never had a problem with them - always found the drag to be very smooth and function correctly. Perhaps the reels mentioned need servicing or something? as I wouldn't be happy fishing with them in their current state.
