Hello all.

I have three Daiwa Windcast 5000QDA reels (quick drag). I do like them and for the last 12 months they have been faultless. However, a few weeks ago one of them ended up being dunked in the lake.
I think the water got to the felt clutch material causing it to swell up and tighten the whole clutch up. Despite me keeping it in a dry and warm it is still not as free as it was.
Would replacing the felt washers for carbon be a good move here?
Would the quick drag be as good as the original?
If yes to the above then can anyone recommend a supplier?

Please, no "buy another type of reel" type answer. A pension does not really allow that sort of extravagance 😃


Many thanks

In reply to Post #1
I would look at Weston Developments,give them a call they are extremely helpful

you could order some new clean washers from daiwa then felt washers need to be oiled. Normal reel oil is fine

Or you could take yours out soak in WD-40 to clean any possible contaminants from the lake water then dry to a bone then re-oil.

In reply to Post #1
These reels have very nice drag to start with...If you replace the felt with carbon they will be like a light switch...either drag on or off !
I'd be replacing the washer with new from Daiwa....and depending on the price I'd get a few spares.

If it ever happened again..remove the spool straight away and then remove the washers and dry before re-assembly.
Compressing waterlogged felt is a recipe for disaster.

In reply to Post #1
Have you tried tightening the clutch fully and leaving the reel for a day or two? I have had a similar problem caused by excess grease in the felt washers on Entohs and Tournies. Tightening the clutch for some time solved the problem. I doubt it could do any damage to try.

In reply to Post #5
Thanks for your help and advice. Very useful.

Thanks men