T2DM

I have both and the frame are the same size, line capacity is of course different. DC palm side plate is tiny bit wider but that's about it.

I would be surprised if they do, I think it would be discontinued along with the Chronarch MGL but they ever do update it, I hope it includes the MGL 3 Spool, 6 pin SVS infinity, Silent tune and a different color. I also hope they won't mess with the platform too much since it's the best palming reel I have.

Glad to help and I hope it all work out for you; I think it will cause I've seen a video a while back about the Shimano Saragosa doesn't have the auto close or trip feature. I myself have never liked and never use the auto close feature and wish sometimes that Shimano would just get rid of it completely.

Remove the Bail Trip Strip instead, I think its removable and should disable auto close. When you open the bail, and depending on the bail arm position, the Bail Trip Lever makes contact with the Bail Trip Strip. That's why the bail arm won't fully open and sometimes you have to twist the bail arm rotation again to fully open it and to get that full open feel and click.

This is the correct link for the parts for your Metanium: METANIUM MGL B 150XG – Shimano US Fish Shop Part Number: 10T8V 10T8V – Shimano US Fish Shop Latest JDM Metanium comes with smaller knobs Handle assembly 84MM for 6,7 gear ratio. and 90MM for the XG 20 USDM Metanium comes with bigger knobs Handle assembly 90MM for 6,7 gear ratio 96MM for the XG

I'm pretty sure it's 96MM. I have the 20 USDM HG and it's not quite 90MM compared to 22 Bantam XG which comes with 90MM handle assembly for some reason, but the difference is so small that you can't even tell.

Don't get me wrong, there is a place and time using a DC reels, I myself own a few and use them as needed but you'll get a wide range in performance using MGL reels. After years of experimenting within Shimano line of reels and while there's nothing wrong with Shimano's reel line up, I've decided personally that from now on I wouldn't buy any Shimano reel unless it's based solely in their 'Solid Core' platform non-DC or DC reel, Extra money spent is well worth it in a long run IMO.

I'd go with the 24 SLX 70, you're not really missing out on SLX DC. Even though it's equipped with a new firmware based on the MGL3 spool, it's still an i-DC4 based reel IMO. the two more bearings you've mentioned are just in the handle knobs and not in the reel so there's that. I'd suggest not to get all caught up on the DC reels marketing stuff, it's just another reel with another braking system and it will backlash just like any other reel out there. If you are really itching to get a DC reel for some reason, then I would recommend the SLX DC XT, best value for a dc reel IMO.

Yeah, it's kind of a bit confusing and misleading if you think about it, I just thought about this, and I could be wrong, you often hear MD in the JDM market and not so much in the USDM market, the only MD reel we have in the States is the Culcatta Conquest MD as far as I know. You hear a lot of TRANX in the USDM though, but they're typically marketed for saltwater to big baits use and are built a little different with less bearing, no MM Gears, some have X-Ship and some don't, water repellent etc. I guess what I'm trying to say is it's a marketing thing for Shimano like MD=USDM and TRANX=USDM both saltwater OK. Still, It's a better buy than the Curado M though cause of the price IMO. I thought about buying one, but I feel like there's no need since I already have a handful of what I can easily call the "Sleeper MD/TRANX reel" to a point which is the solid core 18 or 22 Bantam. Even better for some that have issues with MM gears if some aftermarket parts supplier would produce a non-MM gearset kit for it. Only way to find out for sure is to ask the bait monkey for advice, if you know what I mean? 🤣

I was going to buy the Ship-0, but it wasn't available anymore and looks like it's been discontinued according to Shimano US website. I know it's available in other places and probably will look into that if needed. Is the ACE-2 the same thing as the A-DRAGGR - Star Drag Grease like the one you can buy at TW?

I only own Shimano reels and have been fascinated on how they are so smooth out of the box from the factory, I usually open one up when new just to inspect everything inside just to be sure they're not dry or anything then, I typically use them out of the box as is for about a year or so before a full teardown and maintenance during the wintertime but have been puzzled by the type of grease/lubricant they've used in the factory since I can easily tell there are different types inside and out the reels. Anyway, did a lot of digging lately and purchased few different types of Shimano grease to replicate that out of the box experience, I don't have all of them yet but have the PRERMALUB for a few weeks now and it's very familiar to me, looks and feel like it's the grease they use on plastic gears inside the reel, AR-B and handle knob bearings. All I've used in the past are their A-DRAGGR - Star Drag Grease ACE2/Bantam Oil which are good and Shimano claim it's all they used here in the U.S. I've also used Super Lube stuff but it's just not the same to me specially in the different area of the reels. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who've been in this rabbit hole, cause for some reason all the grease I've ordered are very popular around Europe and Asia including Australia as far as I can tell. I know it's a little overkill and that there are tons of different Oil/Grease for reels that I can easily get but hey, I need something to do and experiment on things when the weather gets pretty bad around my area this winter. LOL! All the grease I've got coming are below and for those who've wondered about the same things mentioned above, what are your thoughts? I hope DVT don't give me hell about all this. LOL!

I always liked my Chronarch MGL for jerk bait fishing specially during the cold months due to its CI4 construction but at the same time kind of hate it due to its size, I've always thought about guys with big hands would love the reel for winter jerk bait fishing but the price of it, not so much.

Got this in today from Digitaka, my third one but in a 6.2 speed, tried it already and this thing is a winch!!!

Good thing you called them about it and hopefully everything is ok with it once its fully dry. I looked the parts up on their website and the DC assembly (144NU) alone is listed for $213.94 and the whole side plate assembly including the DC module (1469S) is listed for $350.06!!! Yikes! Was it hard to access the bearing by the way?

Recent DC modules should be sealed, if it's a 24 Metanium DC then this video might help. FF 0.53 sec. Hard to say what kind of debris got in there, the only thing I would be concern about in the DC module assembly is the spool bearing. I would make sure everything is functioning normally after it's completely dry before doing anything, then just a drop off oil in the bearing and call it a day. If not, then proceed with the disassembly with extreme caution or send it in to someone who knows what they're doing. I've ruined one of my 17 Scorpion DC module due to not being patient enough and lack of experience, made me sick for a while🤮 I blame this guy for everything, he told me I should be able to do it!

One of my super smooth 7 speed 22 Bantam finally went Geary on me yesterday luckily, I know exactly what to do and have done it quite a few times on most of my reels and that is replacing the X-Ship bearing and everything is back to normal. This procedure has been pretty consistent at least in my case. I've even swap gear set in the past just to be sure. I never had a problem with MM gear, the only time I had a problem with it was when I bought a new gear set to slow down my Chronarch MGL and Shimano sent me a defective set, not sure if it's the main gear or the pinion but they ended up replacing both. The problem was after installing new the gear set there was ticking noise on the same spot every handle rotation. I've read somewhere that Culcatta series reels even uses a much finer MM gears and to be honest, My 17 Scorpion DC which has the HEG gearing is more geary than my MM gear reels. Just sharing my experience that's all.

Yep, this guy won't leave me alone last night! So same here, from same place, also 6 speed but LH.

I like the looks of the 18 better but there are 3 major improvements compared to 18 Bantam, 22 Bantam is worth the upgrade IMO.

This is from Shimano Japan website and might help a little. You might have mis type 03849 as supposed to 03859, USDM 18 and 22 Bantams are exactly the same reel as JDM, just brought over as "USDM version". I have two 18 USDM Bantam, 1 is a 6 speed and one is a 7 speed, and they match Shimano product codes in the picture above as well as my two 22 Bantams. So, the only way to tell really is through the packaging and manuals, paperwork in the box. If it's all in Japanese, then it's obviously a JDM reel. Silver box is 18 Bantam MGL.

I think 13 Met is 100 size spool and 20 Met JDM is 70 size spool.

Yep! I strongly agree! I like my setup a lot!

Expride B 72MH-Moderate is not really a full glass rod, I think it's a blend of glass and carbon/ graphite materials, but someone in here that owns one will chime in soon, I'm sure. I do have the A and B Expride both in 72MH-Fast and they're fine with chatter bait and more versatile than the glass version of. This should help:

Overall, Yes, but I don't use all of them at the same time, half of them are my winter reels and half are summertime reels and on rotation most of the time, so they don't get used a lot if you know what I mean, but I can tell you this based on my experience that my none "Solid Core" reels loses that out of the box smoothness quicker by a little bit overtime. When they start to sound "Raspy or Geary" then I just replace the X-ship bearings and they're back to smooth and quiet again, it's kind of a repeat process on some of them that is why I keep a few of those bearings around. Maybe it's a byproduct of the whole double bearing supported pinion thing? On the other hand, My Solid Core Reels gets smoother the more I use them which I find strange cause all these reels basically use the same internal parts. This experience makes me want to stick with Core Solid Reels on future purchases, but then again, in some case, no reels that are identical feels the same. Nothing wrong with non-solid reels but the quality just feels more consistent on Solid Core reels IMHO.

Yes, I replaced the stock T handle with a factory casting knob typically found in Curado K, Curado MGL 150. All my reels both casting and spinning have the same knobs, I just like them all to feel somewhat the same.

My new Twin Power C3000XG on GCX 853S.