You need a new Click Pawl and/or Drag Plate. Go to https://www.onepfoot.com/Products.php?view=productListPage&category=1

The 1494 1/2 will hold 8wt line but how much backing (for what fish) will you need? Place the line on the reel backwards Scotch taping the front of the fly line on first and wind it on including the backing. That way you'll know exactly how much backing it will hold. If it's not enough change to GSP backing. Once you have it figured out put the line back on correctly. It should be fine.

For 8wt on my Medalists I'll use a 1495 1/2 for Salmon/Steelhead or the 1498 on a Spey.

-Ted

 

or the reply. Bummer. Well for a free reel I guess I can't complain to much. I'll find a use for it somewhere.

You need a new Click Pawl and/or Drag Plate. Go to https://www.onepfoot.com/Products.php?view=productListPage&category=1

For 8wt on my Medalists I'll use a 1495 1/2 for Salmon/Steelhead or the 1498 on a Spey.

-Ted

Salmon and steelhead is what I was thinking of so it sounds like the best thing would be a larger pflueger. Thanks for the help.

 

Thanks f

 

Anyone have an extra 1495 1/2 around they are just dying to get rid of?

 

Summer steel should be fine. Still great American reel. Dan from onepfoot can help you.

 

I hooked a hot Willamette fish last week with my 113-6 switch rod outfitted with a 1495 1/2 (new drag plate installed). The fish peeled off my running line and about 50 yards of backing. The old Pflueger (early 60's model) was a-singing.

Fun to play/land a fish on these American classics.

 

I've got a pflueger 1494 1/2 that only clicks one way. Is this normal and if not can it be remedied? I was also wondering what size line would be appropriate. Could I fit an 8wt on it? Thanks for the help.

What direction does it not click? There is a pin on the spool that clicks reeling in, and a little knob thing under the drag plate for outgoing click. They are both spring loaded, and not too hard to replace.

 

None of my classic drag model 1494 Medalists clicks when the line is going out, only on the retrieve. The two reels on the left are post-1938 (the year the adjustable drag was introduced) and the two on the right are pre-1938 spring-and-pawl models. I always thought the sound of the "click" of a drag-model Medalist on the retrieve was better described as a "putt". The second reel from the left is a very early drag model and only has two fly-cuts in the drag-actuation plate instead of the later four so that on the retrieve, instead of the usual "putt-putt-putt" sound it's more of a "putt---putt---putt". I don't own any postwar Medalists so I can't be certain but I'm pretty sure that when the drag is engaged the clicker (putter?) is always silent. The sound is created by the spring-loaded drag actuator pin dropping into the deep end of the fly-cut which prevents the reel from turning backward without engaging the drag

 

I just looked at one of my 1494 1/2 reels - a DA model set up for left hand wind.
I am assuming the 1494 1/2 you are asking about is a postwar model. If so, it was not designed to "click" the same on retrieve as when line is going out. You should hear four muffled clicks per complete revolution in one direction and you should hear 8 pronounced clicks per revolution in the other. This is due to the number of detents on each side of the drag plate. Perhaps the plate is worn?
Regarding the 8 weight line: In my opinion, that is a lot of line for a 1494 1/2. Not that it can't be done, however. I only go 6 weight on that reel. As suggested by others, the better reel for the 8 weight line would be a 1495 1/2 or a 1498.
Hope this helps.
Jack

 

Thanks for all your help!!! It doesn't click the same on the way out but he drag seems to be functioning so I think it might be just how it's supposed to be. Sounds like it might not be big enough for the 8wt but I'll save it for something in the future. Again thanks for all the info and advice. Much appreciated.