Drag stack retainer

A fishing reel comprising:

• a frame with a cover;
• a rotatable spool;
• a crank handle;
• a first shaft with a first axis and a free end operable by the crank handle to cause rotation of the spool and to thereby direct line onto the spool;
• a gear mounted on the shaft for rotation relative thereto about said first axis;
• drag applying means on the shaft including at least one drag washer for applying a frictional force to the gear to thereby cause the gear to follow rotation of the first shaft,
• at least one gear and one drag washer being movable axially off of the free end of the first shaft;
• a drag actuator for the drag applying means,
• said drag actuator being selectively movable between a no drag position and a full drag position;
• and
• means separate from said drag actuator, frame, and cover for blocking axial movement of the at least one of the gear and one drag washer axially off of the free end of the first shaft,
• wherein said first shaft has a radial undercut and the blocking means comprises an element extending into the undercut.

A method of assembling drag structure on a shaft on a fishing reel with a free end, said shaft having an outer surface, said method comprising the steps of:

• placing at least one drag washer and a gear to be driven by the shaft over the free end of the shaft;
• sliding the at least one drag washer and gear axially in a first direction relative to the shaft;
• providing a retainer/blocking element having a curved inside surface;
• placing the retainer/blocking element on the shaft so that the inside surface on the retainer/blocking element extends around the shaft outer surface to prevent the at least one drag washer and gear from sliding axially oppositely to said first direction and off of the free end of the shaft;
• and
• assembling a drag actuator on the shaft.