Shimano Reel Longivity

[bassheel]

Has anyone actually worn a shimano complety out? My B's still smooth to this day and honestly I feel they have ten more years easy.

[IDUTBass]

I still have my first shimano (citica 200 D)thats been beat on pretty hard since 2007 and still going strong. Me being young and dumb I only have had it serviced once until last year. That's changed and i've cleaned it a few times now. Still gets used pretty much every time I go out.

[James Pondscum]

  My  251 bantum mag is kind of shady and loose but working.  I take it out and use it about once a year for a joke.  Hasn't been used much since replaced  in the early 21 century by my b's.  It has had no major repairs in thirty years.  I have in that time period.

[webertime]

I bought a first production run Sedona in 1994. I gave it to a friend 4 years ago and it's still running great. I have an AX500 from the same time that just had the bail spring fail.

[Raul]

Bantam V mag 1000, it's older than you, no need to say more.

[Catt]

Calcutta 100A 30 plus years

Calcutta 100A between 25-30 years

Calcutta 50A between 20-25 years

Cardiff 100D 20 years

Cardiff 100D 15 years

All have orginal parts but 1

I wore the paw out on the 50A, it was more operator error, since it has a 5.0:1 gear ratio I love throwing spinner baits with it. Problem is when I cast right handed and switch to my left I stop it by engaging the reel.

[Bluebasser86]

I still fish the first 200B Curado I ever bought. It was my only baitcaster for years and has made who knows how many cast from back in my days when I was fishing 7 days a week. Still one of the furthest casting reels I own. I've had it cleaned and supertuned, that's it. 

[*Hootie]

Bantam V mag 1000, it's older than you, no need to say more.

 

Hey Raul, are you sure? The OP is 47 yrs. old. I don't believe Shimano

was making reels in 1968.

 

Hootie

[Bankbeater]

My Dad wore out a E7 using it for casting crankbaits and lipless cranks.  He bought it in late 2008, or early 2009, and had it serviced in 2012.  The place he sent it had to replace several pieces that were worn, but after he got it back it worked just fine.

[Basswhippa]

If you maintain them, they will last a very long time.  I have had some since 1993 and they are still in service.

[Sam]

If you take care of your equipment it should last a very long time.

 

"Planned obsolesce" is not in our tackle.

 

However, finding replacement parts for older equipment can be a challenge.

 

I was told that Shimano is not longer making replacement parts for the Curado 200.

 

This is the way it is in our fishing industry.

[ColdSVT]

I have 95% shimano in my lineup. Some are 20years old and still work well. I only killed on reel. A shimano symetre 4000. Now to be fair i took the reel after salmon, bass, snook, redfish and many other species. An 8ft Nurse shark killed it. After an hour+ fight with the nurse the reel had no drag left and it was feeling pretty rough. That reel gave me 10years of freshwater and 4 in saltwater cant complain

[Raul]

Hey Raul, are you sure? The OP is 47 yrs. old. I don't believe Shimano

was making reels in 1968.

 

Hootie

 

Shimano had them in mind back then, that´s how durable they are. 

[PatrickKnight]

I have two Stradic FGs and two greenie Curados that I have had for well over a decade without a single issue what so ever. I cant speak to the quality of the new Shimanos since I have never had any issues from these I haven't had a need to buy replacements.

[*Hootie]

Shimano had them in mind back then, that´s how durable they are. 

 

I knew you would have an answer Raul....lol....love it!!

You're the best!!

 

Hootie

[tomustang]

Get a room

[badhatharry]

I've got two 251's I bought back in early '80's that I still use today.  And I'm ashamed to admit.......that's without any maintenance whatsoever.  

[OnthePotomac]

Bought my Stradic 4000FE in October, 1996 and my three Curado 100B's in summer of 2005.  No problems ever with any of them.  I maintain them.

[dam0007]

Yes OG bait runner 6500. Got it the month it came out back in the 90s. Beat the living hell out of it in saltwater for Stripers and Blues. Still useable but very wobbly and rough. 20 +/- years and 100s upon 100s of fish with very little maitnence. Hard to beat that.

[Ohio Archer]

Still running the Bantam 101's and 251's I got back in the '80's.  Clean 'em once in a blue moon.  Picked one of each off of ebay for less than $20.  Each was slightly used but in great condition. The bearings are still smooth after all this time.  No need to go out and drop a bunch of $$$ on the newer models (sorry Shimano).  They perform much better than the poor Diawas I still have from the same time period...

[corn-on-the-rob]

Their bait casters have lasted many years for my family, the spinning reels... not so much.

[WRB]

The 1st reel Shimano mfr'd was Lew's Speed Spool reel BB1 in 1973, their first Shimano Bantom 100 was in 1980.

I still dust off the original BB1 and a 80's era Bantom 1000 and fish with them about once a year with original parts and still going strong. With normal service and cleaning a quality reel should last decades, however in today's throw away world reels get discarded before they get serviced.

Tom