Bad Shimano Experience

[fishking247]

I have been a die hard shimano ago for a while now. the past few days including today i have encountered my first problem, their reels dont like to be wet! my symetre started binding up in the rain and and also today even after the reel had dried out i experienced the same problem. my sahara was fine yesterday in the rain until i used it again today it began binding up where it would be harder to reel. this problem was off and on today in my 3 hour fishing outing

 

anyone else seem to encounter this problem?

 

[EvanT123]

I fished a few weeks ago in a off and on down pour. No problems; was using a symetre fl. My curado was on the ground getting dumped on still smooth like butter baby lol.

[Koofy Smacker]

Ive had it happen on a few of my Saharas. No clue what it is. Its like the handle hits a bump and you have to push it over to get it to reel again. Once its going its fine but getting the handle around is a chore when it happens

[Darren.]

I have been a die hard shimano ago for a while now. the past few days including today i have encountered my first problem, their reels dont like to be wet! my symetre started binding up in the rain and and also today even after the reel had dried out i experienced the same problem. my sahara was fine yesterday in the rain until i used it again today it began binding up where it would be harder to reel. this problem was off and on today in my 3 hour fishing outing

 

anyone else seem to encounter this problem?

 

My Stradics have been dunked. No problems with binding, although I've read of issues with older models...

[dodgeguy]

shimano has had this problem 4 a long time.they deny there is a problem.many guys at nybass have had this issue.one of my best friends switched to diawa because shimano wouldn't fix the problem..

[Hooked_On_Bass]

Never encountered this problem with any of my Shimano reels. I use casting reels primarily, but the few spinning reels I do own have been stellar - even when soaked.

[rbreedi1]

Had this happen to my older symetre 1500 that I use for crappie and trout a couple weeks ago. It had accidently took a dunk in the water when I was wade fishing for trout. A few days later I was out crappie fishing and it did this. It was pretty annoying! When I got home I broke It down and cleaned/oiled it and it seemed to be fine. Haven't fished it yet though.

[SirSnookalot]

Shimano does make a nice spinning reel, but so do other manufactures.  In my neck of the woods the most popular Shimano spinning reel is a spheros (not the most popular of all spinning reels), they are built to take it.  You won't see too many other mid priced Shimano models as they are reffered to as sand magnets. I think the stradic is a fine freshwater reel, I limit the use of my 2 stradics for jettie or sea wall use only and I like them.  I won't use them on the beach for fear of sand or getting dunked or offshore use, just have seen too many reels no longer function well in those environments, those reels are just not built to take it. There is more to a reel than smoothness and a good drag, durability under harsh conditions is also very important in my book. High end Shimanos are probably as good as it gets,  but I don't put mid priced ones on a pedestal.  Not knocking the product just saying there is a time and place for them.

[Capt.Bob]

I have never noticed it with any of my Stradics or Sustains, I have a couple FH Symetre's that have never gave me a problem either, but the newer Symetre, and all the other less expensive models use a different oscillating System, and this out of round cam system is what I blame on these reels having this problem, the FH and older Symetre's used the same spool oscillation system the Stradic, Sustain, and Stella uses, which is a worm gear to oscillate the spool up and down, have never seen these reels display this problem, these three do share the same design. It just threw the Symetre down to the lower priced reel class to separate it from the better reels, much like they are doing with the Curado in their low profile bait casting reels!! Who knows which reel will be next to downgrade.

[derekxec]

i have a couple of trinidads and i dunk them and put them in sand all the time and no problems for 12 years now lol and i also have a sedona i dunked in saltwater on accident and no problems...tomorrow im going to get a sustain for the flats rod i just built and see how that works out lol ill dunk it in saltwater and tell you what happens 

[SirSnookalot]

i have a couple of trinidads and i dunk them and put them in sand all the time and no problems for 12 years now lol and i also have a sedona i dunked in saltwater on accident and no problems...tomorrow im going to get a sustain for the flats rod i just built and see how that works out lol ill dunk it in saltwater and tell you what happens 

Probably using a rod spike and not setting them down in the sand.  Seeing as I don't bait fish when I'm fishing the beach it's 1 rod and it never gets set down.  Heading out to catch the last of the tide in a few minutes, haven't snook fished in a few days. Had monster tarpon hit me yesterday, glad it spit the lure, would have spooled me faster than I can type this post.

[War Eagle 44]

shimano has had this problem 4 a long time.they deny there is a problem.many guys at nybass have had this issue.one of my best friends switched to diawa because shimano wouldn't fix the problem..

This isn't exactly true, Bantam1 addressed this problem along with the solution on the Tackle Tour forums some time back. I can't remember the exact fix but I do recall it was fairly simple to do. Maybe you can go there and do a search of the forums and find it or if all else fails join and ask in the Shimano sub-forum and I'm sure someone will know how to get you fixed up. 

 

I'm sorry I can't remember what the fix is so I could be of more help to you here but at least maybe I have pointed you in the direction of someone who can. Don't worry though because there is indeed a fix for your reel.   

[derekxec]

Probably using a rod spike and not setting them down in the sand.  Seeing as I don't bait fish when I'm fishing the beach it's 1 rod and it never gets set down.  Heading out to catch the last of the tide in a few minutes, haven't snook fished in a few days. Had monster tarpon hit me yesterday, glad it spit the lure, would have spooled me faster than I can type this post.

 

haha never had a rod spike im far to lazy to bring those haha only the cast net bucket to lay the rod against only problem ive had with the trinidads was one of them i moved the handle position and stripped the nut on accident but that was my fault lol

 

but then again i dont fish normal beaches only the one thats behind the jupiter lighthouse visitor center but on that small beach is fishing the inlet so the line doesnt have to be over waves and such

 

and speaking of tarpon went to the lake worth spillway tonight and caught some small tarpon and lost a slot snook

[dodgeguy]

This isn't exactly true, Bantam1 addressed this problem along with the solution on the Tackle Tour forums some time back. I can't remember the exact fix but I do recall it was fairly simple to do. Maybe you can go there and do a search of the forums and find it or if all else fails join and ask in the Shimano sub-forum and I'm sure someone will know how to get you fixed up. 

 

I'm sorry I can't remember what the fix is so I could be of more help to you here but at least maybe I have pointed you in the direction of someone who can. Don't worry though because there is indeed a fix for your reel.   

 

 

 

 

at the time my friend had his shimano reels it was absolutely true.since then they may have changed their position.bantam 1 wasnot yet on this forum.

[.RM.]

Your right on Shimano has had a problem with the spinning reels.
What we found in our shop: Customer complaints binding when cranking....Hard to crank....Not cranking freely, etc.
We found it to be the Friction Rings behind the rotor's. On the older reels it was a light weight black rubber ring (some part numbers below) they use behind the rotors to prevent rotor run away (free wheeling rotors's on casting, cranking, etc.) they tend to get soft in the heat of summer, and will lose shape and start to ball/bind up behind the rotor causing the binding feeling, when hit with water they bind hard and break up and turn into a hard ball behind the rotor.
If this is the problem with your reel, 2 fixs:
Remove the rotor and remove the old lose/balled up Friction Ring and leave the rotor to free wheel..
Call Shimano order a new ring, that are now a light blue silcon that doesn't change shape in the heat of summer.

Symetre
RD7804 Friction Ring
Sahara
RD6698 Friction Ring
Stradic
RD7804 Friction Ring
etc................
 

Tight Lines!  

[Capt.Bob]

Your right on Shimano has had a problem with the spinning reels.

What we found in our shop: Customer complaints binding when cranking....Hard to crank....Not cranking freely, etc.

We found it to be the Friction Rings behind the rotor's. On the older reels it was a light weight black rubber ring (some part numbers below) they use behind the rotors to prevent rotor run away (free wheeling rotors's on casting, cranking, etc.) they tend to get soft in the heat of summer, and will lose shape and start to ball/bind up behind the rotor causing the binding feeling, when hit with water they bind hard and break up and turn into a hard ball behind the rotor.

If this is the problem with your reel, 2 fixs:

Remove the rotor and remove the old lose/balled up Friction Ring and leave the rotor to free wheel..

Call Shimano order a new ring, that are now a light blue silcon that doesn't change shape in the heat of summer.

Symetre

RD7804 Friction Ring

Sahara

RD6698 Friction Ring

Stradic

RD7804 Friction Ring

etc................

 

Tight Lines!  

Good point .RM., but this is no longer available for some of the FH and older Symetre's and Sradics, I don't remember  the model but the FB or FD on older Sustains are also unavailable on some models, and the part suppliers I usually turn to that supply discontinued parts no longer are available either. If you choose to leave it out be prepared to have the bail slam closed on harder cast. The newer reels as .RM. said can be replaced but if you run without a friction ring it is best to open the bail, and turn the rotor till you feel it just contact the ramp that closes the bail, then trip it closed by hand after you cast, as the momentum from the cast wont close it as easy, but you wont have any momentum when you start to crank and it will be harder to turn the handle as you will have no momentum as you are already up against the ramp to trip the bail closed...... and there are different parts for the diferent size frames, the 2500 will be different than the 4000, 6000, etc etc. 

[Greeneye8181]

I have a Sahara. Haven't used it much...

Never had any issues with Shimano. They make a great product. I LOVE their older baitcasters especially. Their rods are reasonably priced as well.

[War Eagle 44]

Friction Ring, that's it!! Couldn't remember glad someone else did.