Hi all
Iv just picked up a mint set of shimano ultegra 5500 xtb.
Iv only every used Shimano rear drag bait runners up untill now.
I keep seeing ice washers popping up on Facebook.
What are they for and do I need to upgrade to them?
Thanks, Chris
Iv just picked up a mint set of shimano ultegra 5500 xtb.
Iv only every used Shimano rear drag bait runners up untill now.
I keep seeing ice washers popping up on Facebook.
What are they for and do I need to upgrade to them?
Thanks, Chris
In reply to Post #1
I've got a feeling you may need to change the spool caps on that model in order to use the ice washers. Best bet is to give future fishing a ring. They will know if you can fit them as they are.
I've got a feeling you may need to change the spool caps on that model in order to use the ice washers. Best bet is to give future fishing a ring. They will know if you can fit them as they are.
In reply to Post #1
The ice washer speed the drag up making it less than a full turn from locked
Up to free spool . if you have the baitrunner 2 drag system on your reels which is the 2 drag knobs on the spool cap which you should have if it ultegra XTB reel .You already have a quick drag system on them
So no point putting ice washers in them
The ice washer speed the drag up making it less than a full turn from locked
Up to free spool . if you have the baitrunner 2 drag system on your reels which is the 2 drag knobs on the spool cap which you should have if it ultegra XTB reel .You already have a quick drag system on them
So no point putting ice washers in them
Sometimes the drag can stick when line is taken, it happened on my reels and have heard it happened on other Shimanos and Daiwia reels too. I upgraded my Ultegra 14000 ci4 with Ice washers and the drag is quicker to lock the baitrunner up and smoother too. I would recommend them myself 👍
In reply to Post #4
Thanks guys.
Mine are the older xtb's (blue body) with the 2 wheel top cap.
They lock up from free spool with a quarter turn of the larger dial so are they still worth fitting?
Do.you guys tend to use the larger dial while playing fish or lock that one up and use the smaller one?
Thanks guys.
Mine are the older xtb's (blue body) with the 2 wheel top cap.
They lock up from free spool with a quarter turn of the larger dial so are they still worth fitting?
Do.you guys tend to use the larger dial while playing fish or lock that one up and use the smaller one?
In reply to Post #5
I have 14000 XTBs and had a rod go in when the spool stuck on the take, since replaced the caps and fitted ice washers, much smoother now IMO
I have 14000 XTBs and had a rod go in when the spool stuck on the take, since replaced the caps and fitted ice washers, much smoother now IMO
In reply to Post #6
What company do people recommend?
What company do people recommend?
Why would you want to replace the washer on a ultegra 5500 xtb?
There are also Teflon washer I prefer these.
There are also Teflon washer I prefer these.
In reply to Post #7
Future fishing sell the ice washers have a look on their website
Future fishing sell the ice washers have a look on their website
In reply to Post #8
The older XTB 5500 models had the white grease softer fibre washers in them
The older XTB 5500 models had the white grease softer fibre washers in them
In reply to Post #10
Yeah, I just saw it in the manual, thought those had the Teflon washers
Yeah, I just saw it in the manual, thought those had the Teflon washers
In reply to Post #11
The newer XTC Ci4 and power Areo XTB have the Teflon washers in them
The newer XTC Ci4 and power Areo XTB have the Teflon washers in them
In reply to Post #12
They have shiny plastic washers, not Teflon.
They have shiny plastic washers, not Teflon.
In reply to Post #13
Yes they are Teflon material is what Shimano told me even know they just look plastic
Yes they are Teflon material is what Shimano told me even know they just look plastic
In reply to Post #5
As already mentioned further down dont change your felt washers for ice or any other non compression washer unless you are going to change your baitrunner spool caps for standard caps you will have very little adjustment from being able to take line to fully locked
As already mentioned further down dont change your felt washers for ice or any other non compression washer unless you are going to change your baitrunner spool caps for standard caps you will have very little adjustment from being able to take line to fully locked
In reply to Post #7
Spool Caps that's a good price as well, they were out of stock when I got mine so ended up paying lot more from Felindre
Ice Washers
Spool Caps that's a good price as well, they were out of stock when I got mine so ended up paying lot more from Felindre
Ice Washers
To the op if you do go down the road of changing the spool caps make sure you get the right ones as the pitch of the thread did change from the first xtb's to the later blackish colour ci4 xtb's
From what you describe i think you have the first non ci4 xtb's i had one of these and a set of the very first ci4 5500 the thread on those were different to the later ci4 xtb's which i still have and think they are the ones in chuffy's link i was able to buy the correct spool cap from felindre for the early 5500 xtb but they were a silver colour
From what you describe i think you have the first non ci4 xtb's i had one of these and a set of the very first ci4 5500 the thread on those were different to the later ci4 xtb's which i still have and think they are the ones in chuffy's link i was able to buy the correct spool cap from felindre for the early 5500 xtb but they were a silver colour
In reply to Post #17
Ok so is it worth changing the caps and washers?
Iv not used them yet and looking at them they've seen the bank a handful of times.
Bit worried about them locking up on a run now though
Ok so is it worth changing the caps and washers?
Iv not used them yet and looking at them they've seen the bank a handful of times.
Bit worried about them locking up on a run now though
In reply to Post #18
Hundreds if not thousands of people using these reels and never ever thought about changing washers .
Hundreds if not thousands of people using these reels and never ever thought about changing washers .
In reply to Post #18
No keep them as they are IMO when I had my first set of ci4 5500 xtb I put the speed caps and ice washers in the spool and found the drag worst found it notchie wasn't smooth . I soon changed back over to the baitrunner 2 spool cap and felt washers in the spool
No keep them as they are IMO when I had my first set of ci4 5500 xtb I put the speed caps and ice washers in the spool and found the drag worst found it notchie wasn't smooth . I soon changed back over to the baitrunner 2 spool cap and felt washers in the spool
In reply to Post #18
Its all personal preference i dont like the baitrunner spool caps so swapped my caps for standard ones but i kept the felt washers they are more than quick enough for me and i feel the bit more adjustment better, ive used felt washers for years in numerous reels and have never had one lock up
Its all personal preference i dont like the baitrunner spool caps so swapped my caps for standard ones but i kept the felt washers they are more than quick enough for me and i feel the bit more adjustment better, ive used felt washers for years in numerous reels and have never had one lock up
In reply to Post #21
Hi all, iv just had a look at my spools. these seem different to the ones iv seen online when they are fitting the kit.
mine have this top with screws and the ones iv seen have a clip.
are these standard?
Hi all, iv just had a look at my spools. these seem different to the ones iv seen online when they are fitting the kit.
mine have this top with screws and the ones iv seen have a clip.
are these standard?
In reply to Post #22
Yes, just undo the screws and away you go. Just make sure you remove all grease from the metal washers and the cavity.
Another tip someone on here gave me is you might find useful it to reverse that top rubber bevelled bush so the lip points down rather than up. I was sure the cap wasn't always going through it properly and jamming up the drag a bit, hard to explain but you'll see what I mean when you put it all together.
Yes, just undo the screws and away you go. Just make sure you remove all grease from the metal washers and the cavity.
Another tip someone on here gave me is you might find useful it to reverse that top rubber bevelled bush so the lip points down rather than up. I was sure the cap wasn't always going through it properly and jamming up the drag a bit, hard to explain but you'll see what I mean when you put it all together.
In reply to Post #23
Thanks for the help all.
Iv just fitted a set and they are completely different, so much more control in a smaller turning area.
Thanks for the help all.
Iv just fitted a set and they are completely different, so much more control in a smaller turning area.
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