Shimano Gear Set Replacement

[Maico1]

I have been having to replace the gear sets in my curado/chronarch e's on just about yearly intervals due to the retrieve getting rough and geary feeling.  I called shimano today and they said that was normal... that's hogwash imho.  I have curado b's and calcuttas that I've had since i was a teenager (33 now) that feel the same or better than when new.  I'm a weekend angler with  a few afternoon trips during the week.  have they gone to a different alloy?  I clean and re-lube every 3 months and take extremely good care of my gear and I always back off on the drag when i'm not using them.  I've got 12 curado e's and 4 chronarch's so this is getting expensive. it's especially annoying on chuck and wind rigs but I can deal with it on bottom contact rigs.  I have a curado 50 e that got really noisy on the retrieve and replaced that gearset with a core 50 7:1 set.  now the core 50 drive gear is aluminum and this set up has proven to last so far and that little rig gets some serious use. maybe that supports the idea that maybe they're using a softer alloy now.  anybody experiencing this.  Colt Manning

Could you post a pic of the gears you have had to replace.....

[Maico1]

For such an arrogant response you would think you would have not mentioned the same things you disrespect me over. So I will try to explain to you how I gave any knowledgable response to the OP about these reels. I have owned most shimanos for freshwater use. and since I have serviced these reels for my customers, for decades,(over 30 years) and an owner of more shimano reels than many have used, and owned Shimanos mainly all the way back to their introduction of the Speedmasters and Super Speedmasters series, both spinning and casting, and serviceing and modifying those reels, lets just say I am familiar with them. I am sorry if it offends you, I answered and yes THE OP "DOES"  MENTION THE REELS I REFERED TO!! BOTH THE CURADO B, AND CALCUTTAS!! which I have years of daily use with!  but after over 50 years using every brand from one time or another and multiple models of most, as well as servicing many I don't own,  I do think I have a better knowledge of these reels than someone who sends their reels to someone like me to take care of them. I guess that;s why I think the reel I mentioned was cheapened, I have seen their history of advancements since the first Bantam Curado was introduced, which I also owned and have serviced year after year. since you asked Yes the Core is an Aluminum and brass alloy drive gear. 

 

Since you wanted to know, I thought I would address your request about the reasoning of my answer, in the same manner you responded to me. Try and remember, there are Manny here who do more than just fish! This isn't the first time you have directed your arrogant responses to my post to others, not you, and I would ask if you would please try and use a little more tact from now on! If you can do that I would be glad to extend the courtesy!

With all due respect how can you make an assumption with all your experience and not ask for more info from the OP. I would think you would want to see a picture of the gears at least in question to see what kind of condition they are in order to make an educated evaluation of them. Instead you go off on this tangent about Shimano and everyone else making cheaper reels. Look I know you love your Lews Reels but in my opinion you leave yourself open to response's like this.

[Capt.Bob]

With all due respect how can you make an assumption with all your experience and not ask for more info from the OP. I would think you would want to see a picture of the gears at least in question to see what kind of condition they are in order to make an educated evaluation of them. Instead you go off on this tangent about Shimano and everyone else making cheaper reels. Look I know you love your Lews Reels but in my opinion you leave yourself open to response's like this.

With all due respect! The response started out praising there gears, if you read everything??? It is one of their  assets smooth and durable, pretty clear if you read it!! They have cheapened many reels to put space between higher costing reels, it's a fact! This is a trend that started 12 or so years ago and where most couldn't detect it. I won't go into details and I am not slamming them, just stating well known facts. The comments the OP stated their CS made are on par with many I have received on a frequent basis recently last 2 or 3 years, I deal with them often. One thing I have experienced in the past 3 years or so is they have been less accommodating. Shimano fanboy's like it when anyone says something good about Shimano, and think it's expected, as I did mention  about there track record for cutting smooth reliable gears, but not when I mention the downgraded G or their deteriorating CS, they hate REALITY IF IT'S NOT PRAISE!  I do notice that!!  Get over it Shimano is backing up, when Lew's does that, I'll be the first to let anyone know that!! Right now Lew's CS is better  than Shimanos, and every bit as good as Shimano's was a few years ago. They are a new company and bend over backwards to make customers happy, fact! when I see them offering less for the same price, or making models with lower quality than previous models, or weaseling out of backing their product I will post my thoughts!! Lastly I am more proud of the Shimano spinning reels I own than the few Lew's baitcasters I own!!! That should be obvious by the ,,,,  2 Stradic FH's 3 Stradic MFGB's 2 Sustains, 3 Stradic FJ's, 1 Stradic FI, 1 Saros, 3 Symetry's, ,,,,,,,and 2 Super Speedmaster!!   I don't buy any others because I don't think anyone makes a better spining reels than Shimano, far more reels I own are Shimano than any other make, I have made that clear in the past, they are my choice in spinning gear!! FAN BOY I AINT!!!  I buy what I believe is the best bang for my buck! Period! But that can change at any time, it's up to Shimano!

[Basswhippa]

War Eagle, what do you mean by "connected feel" as opposed to smooth? I have never heard of this. I find it to be an interesting concept. Is a smooth retrieve not as conected? Thanks!

[War Eagle 44]

It's kinda hard to explain, I have a harder time feeling exactly what a squarebill is doing when fishing it on my CH101A than I do when using my Citica E. I personally feel that the smoothness of the 101A "deadens" some of the feel of what the bait is doing compared to some of the newer reels that aren't as smooth. Just my opinion, could be total BS, this is just how I feel about it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Anyone wishing to send reels can ship to:

Delaware Valley Tackle

2739 Gold Key Lake Est.

124 Gap View Rd

Milford, PA 18337

Enclose a work order from my website or a note with contact information and any pertinent details.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I can see drag washers wearing especially that mushy stuff they call Dartanium. I upgrade them regularly with Carbontex. If you fished so hard as to wear out gears in one year the level wind, clutch and AR would likely be toast as well.

[Basswhippa]

Interesting!

[Basswhippa]

Interesting!

[barroncooper]

ok gentlemen,  I've replaced 6 gearsets over the last few days and they beel brand new or better.  finding these gearsets has been like finding needles in haystacks.  my question is, how long should these reels keep this new feeling?  4 reels were for bottom contact and 2 were for winding baits, traps etc.  I understand that the winding bait reels will see much more wear and tear.  thank you all so far for all of your help!

[adam32]

I know this thread is old but i had to reply.

I had 4 curado e's a 6 citica e's and they all had that same gear to gear feeling and noise that the op is talking about. I replaced a few of the gearsets and they were back to super smooth but after a few months they had that rough gear feeling again. I sent some of them to shimano and they came back the same. I finally got tired of it and sold all of them.