I Sense A Disturbance In The Force…

[Fishwhittler]

21farms asked about this reel after I posted a pic of it in another thread.  Here it is:

 

 

 

 

 

Reel:  Shimano Citica 201E.

 

Modifications:

 

 

Replaced stock Dartanium drag washers with carbontex washers

Replaced stock 6:1 gears with 7:1 gears from Chronarch E

Replaced stock plastic brake case with metal brake case from Chronarch E (then polished the new brake race)

Replaced stock handle with 102mm Hawgtech swept carbon-fiber handle, w/ Shimano Power Grip II knobs (not stock knobs)

Replaced stock graphite drag star with aluminum star from Core 101MG

Replaced stock silver spool-tension knob with black knob from Chronarch E

Replaced stock crankshaft bushing with ball bearing

 

Drilled holes in thumb rest for weight savings and looks (mainly looks—I was going for something similar to Daiwa's Type R reels)

Drilled holes in crankshaft for weight savings

 

Polished spool shaft ends

Polished key washer & anti-reverse ratchet surfaces for smoother drag (haven't polished the drive gear—it's brand-new and doesn't really need it)

Polished clutch bar for smoother clutch engagement and disengagement

Polished crankshaft just for the heck of it—I like shiny brass

 

Flushed and lubricated all non-handle bearings

 

The paint is Calfish's work and is the only modification I outsourced.  

 

The difference in how this reel handled before and how it handles now is night and day.  The retrieve is silky smooth and at the same time feels very connected.  So far I've only been able to test it out in the yard.  Next year is gonna be a lot of fun.  Still haven't decided on a rod for this reel, but I'm thinking a *** Black might be the ticket.

 

Speaking of which, here's my next project reel:

 

 

Still gathering funds for the upgrades I have planned.  Going to give it basically the same treatment as my first reel, though this one isn't going to have the same Darth Vader theme.  Not quite sure what I'll do just yet, though I've got a couple ideas.

 

Tight lines,

 

Ben

[The Rooster]

Very nice job! Looks super sharp. Did you put bearings in the paddle grip knobs?

[Fishwhittler]

Thanks!  Hawg Handles come with four bearings, so each knob has two.  You get the bearings even if you don't buy Hawgtech cork knobs with your handle, which is really nice.

 

I did find that my handle needed a single Shimano shim washer in each knob to eliminate lateral knob play.  That's something that probably varies depending on the handle itself and each set of knobs.

[rippin-lips]

If you don't mind me asking what did he charge to paint the reel? I just sent him an email early tonight asking about it. Also did you tear it down before you shipped it to him or ?

I bought those same knobs for my HT handle. I like them better then the cork knobs.

[Fishwhittler]

Calfish's original quote was $65, but he wasn't quite satisfied with the paint after it was finished so he only charged me $55.  All I can say, if this is a subpar paint job I can't imagine what one of his good ones would be like.  I'd have been perfectly satisfied paying $65.

 

Expect to pay more for a multi-colored paint job, or if you want a color that's hard to get or difficult to mix.

 

I took the reel apart and sent only the shell.  I sanded the reel myself prior to shipping, though I don't know if that made much difference.  If you leave the reel together, there'll probably be an extra charge for teardown and reassembly, not to mention it'll cost quite a bit more to ship the entire reel due to weight.

[rippin-lips]

Yeah I just wanted to get a general idea on what I might be looking at. I'll be tearing it down myself too. It looks good. Coming from an automotive background I can say black is the hardest color to paint. Prep work is key to a good finish with black.

[kickerfish1]

Never gets old seeing this beauty!

I will second Calfish's work. Very good product he puts out there.

To be honest I am not even sure he would handle a disassemble. I am almost 90% sure it must be done prior to sending it in for painting by the owner or by a reel tech.

[KritterGitter]

Thats a helluva reel man! How do ya know what parts are interchangable between the Shimanos? Also how did ya go about drilling the lighting holes in the thumb rest?

[The Next KVD]

My question is where did you get the gear-set from?  I've had a pinion gear for the 7.1 gears on back order for an eternity!  Or did you just go out and buy a chronarch e and swapped the gears between the two reels?  Otherwise that is ONE Awesome looking reel!  I don't suppose you got a chance to put it on a scale of some sort and see how much of a difference the mods made the reel weigh?

[Fishwhittler]

Thanks guys.

Thats a helluva reel man! How do ya know what parts are interchangable between the Shimanos? Also how did ya go about drilling the lighting holes in the thumb rest?

Just about all parts will interchange between any 200E-series reel from Shimano (the Curado 300E and 50E are completely different reels from the 200E and have few interchangeable parts). The Curado and Citica 200E were the same reel, only the Citica used plastic in a few places where the Curado had metal, as well as having fewer bearings and other minor downgrades. The Chronarch E is essentially a Curado E with new paint and a few tweaks, so again, almost all of the parts are interchangeable. I think the only one that can't be swapped directly is the drag star; the Curado 200E used a metal drag star instead of graphite and needed two additional parts to accommodate it.

I marked the locations for the holes on top of the thumb rest and drilled the holes with a 1/8" drill bit. No drill press, just freehand. I'm sure there are better ways to do it, but I don't have access to them. I don't recommend trying this mod unless you're willing to risk destroying your reel frame. You can buy a replacement frame from Shimano, but that's $75 or so down the drain.

My question is where did you get the gear-set from?  I've had a pinion gear for the 7.1 gears on back order for an eternity!  Or did you just go out and buy a chronarch e and swapped the gears between the two reels?  Otherwise that is ONE Awesome looking reel!  I don't suppose you got a chance to put it on a scale of some sort and see how much of a difference the mods made the reel weigh?

I ordered the gears directly from Shimano. My reel is a lefty, it's the RH gears that are out of stock.

Just a suggestion, but when you're able to get your pinion gear ordered, I'd go ahead and replace the drive gear as well. If you're replacing the pinion gear because it was grinding, the damage is already done to the drive gear, even though it might look fine.

It weighs about the same as before, or at least I don't have a scale precise enough to measure whatever tiny difference there may be. I figure the bulky knobs cancel out the carbon-fiber handle; the custom paint cancels out the holes drilled in the frame; and the addition of a crankshaft bearing and the metal brake case cancels out anything else I did to save weight. Lightness would have been nice, but it wasn't one of my biggest concerns. Improving the reel's overall performance was #1, and after that probably looks. I like my gear to look nice.

[21farms]

ben, that looks incredible...thanks for the pics and the additional narrative. i bet your heart was beating pretty fast while drilling those holes, eh? the only question now is, where are you gonna find black fishing line to go on it?

 

as for your next reel, how about a stormtrooper (white with black) theme to go along with darth vader. as you do whatever mods you choose, it'd be great if you could photodocument it along the way and post those pics [hint]

 

tight lines.

[Fishwhittler]

ben, that looks incredible...thanks for the pics and the additional narrative. i bet your heart was beating pretty fast while drilling those holes, eh? the only question now is, where are you gonna find black fishing line to go on it?

 

as for your next reel, how about a stormtrooper (white with black) theme to go along with darth vader. as you do whatever mods you choose, it'd be great if you could photodocument it along the way and post those pics [hint]

 

tight lines.

 

Nah, I got nerves of steel…or maybe I'm just really, really crazy.  That's very possible.  

 

At present it's spooled with 10# Yo-Zuri Hybrid, and I plan on pairing it with a *** *** Black, probably an all-around model so I can use it for a variety of applications.

 

Someone suggested a couple Chronarch E's to go with this reel in another thread, and while that's beyond my means, I could do my Citica 100D with a Storm Trooper theme.  Only thing is, I've been thinking I'd like to have the frame painted metallic blue with the side and front plates painted white.  Then I'll get a Hawgtech swept handle and have Mike anodize the drag star and spool-tension knob blue to match the frame.  

 

Though, a black frame would also work.  I still think I'd probably want the drag star and tension knob to be blue…or…wait a minute…now that I think about it, having them anodized black would be really awesome.  Maybe I'll go that route after all. 

 

BTW, I wasn't actually thinking Darth Vader when I started this reel.  I was thinking more along the lines of the F117 Nighthawk, only I wanted glossy black instead of matte.  This reel sort of became Darth Vader after it was finished.  These pics might have had something to do with it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those were the first pics I posted of this reel on another forum, and the rest is history.

 

I'll see what I can do as regards a documentary of my next project.  Fair warning, it's going to be as extensive as this reel's overhaul and will probably be drawn out over several months.  I've still got to save enough money so I can afford the parts I'll need, so it may be quite a while before I can get started.

[new2BC4bass]

 

not to mention it'll cost quite a bit more to ship the entire reel due to weight.

Wow.  I've never handled a Citica.  They must be one heavy reel.  No wonder you had to do all that drilling to lighten it. 

 

It is a very sharp looking reel no matter how much it weighs.  You did a very nice jog...as did Catfish.

[The Next KVD]

I ordered the gears directly from Shimano. My reel is a lefty, it's the RH gears that are out of stock.

Just a suggestion, but when you're able to get your pinion gear ordered, I'd go ahead and replace the drive gear as well. If you're replacing the pinion gear because it was grinding, the damage is already done to the drive gear, even though it might look fine.

 

Oh I didn't catch that.  Didn't notice it was a lefty at the time as I was blinded and in awe of pure AWESOMENESS of the reel! Yup, I got the drive gear no problem. Just waiting on the pinion if they ever get it back in stock which at this point I don't think will ever happen.    Darn, maybe I should slap some 6.5:1 gears in it and sell it or repurpose that reel.

[Fishwhittler]

Wow.  I've never handled a Citica.  They must be one heavy reel.  No wonder you had to do all that drilling to lighten it. 

 

It is a very sharp looking reel no matter how much it weighs.  You did a very nice jog...as did Catfish.

 

Thanks.  Like I said, weight isn't really a concern for me.  It doesn't weigh much if any more than it did before, and the Citica E isn't a heavy reel to begin with.  It also has a very small, smooth profile, so it could weigh considerably more than it does and not be uncomfortable to fish with.

 

Catfish…gotta love autocorrect.  

 

 

Oh I didn't catch that.  Didn't notice it was a lefty at the time as I was blinded and in awe of pure AWESOMENESS of the reel! Yup, I got the drive gear no problem. Just waiting on the pinion if they ever get it back in stock which at this point I don't think will ever happen.    Darn, maybe I should slap some 6.5:1 gears in it and sell it or repurpose that reel.

 

Lefty reels aren't as common as righties, but sometimes they have their advantages.  Such as being easier to get parts for due to less demand.  ETA for the RH pinion gear is January 1, 2014…I hope that's accurate.

[I.rar]

Very nice.

The force is strong with this one.

[Raul]

Reely nice !