Shimano Curado 200HG questions

[Patrick Kinard]

I just got a new curado 200HG and I got a few questions, i have a lews tournament pro g and that is by far the smoothest reel I have felt, this curado  I can feel the gears a little, is that normal?that's a dumb question I know but on my lews it's like nonexistent, also when you turn your drag star on the curado all the way down which I do after ever trip, when you spin the handle holding the reel straight does the reel make random clicking sounds? The spool isn't moving when the drag is all the way down so it's not centrifugal breaks, last question, are the knobs on the handles a little harder to spin? They seem to need a little force, as you can see I am new to shimano products and I'm making sure I got a Good one and not a bad one

[lmbfisherman]

I don't usually have this many problems with a reel, sounds like you just got a lemon potentially.  I would return it and get a new one.  Also I find that Shimano puts a generous amount of grease and oil.  If you can clean your own reels I'd advise at least flushing the bearings and/or wipe some of the grease/oil off.  If you don't want to do that, send it to someone like DVT to do a full service.  You don't have to do what I just said, the reel will work just fine without, but there is a world of difference if you clean out the reel.

[Poolshark]

You purchased a great reel that will last you many many years. The only inherent "problem" this reel supposedly has is occasional screechy breaks. In which shimano instructs owners to oil the break drum every 5 outings or so. Other than that the reel should be problem free. 

I will say that shimano really packs their reels with grease in the factory. Excessively so...so I usually break it down, clean and re grease sooner than later. I've done this with every shimano casting reel I've purchased. They have ALL held up well over the years. 

 

[Patrick Kinard]

37 minutes ago, lmbfisherman said:

I don't usually have this many problems with a reel, sounds like you just got a lemon potentially.  I would return it and get a new one.  Also I find that Shimano puts a generous amount of grease and oil.  If you can clean your own reels I'd advise at least flushing the bearings and/or wipe some of the grease/oil off.  If you don't want to do that, send it to someone like DVT to do a full service.  You don't have to do what I just said, the reel will work just fine without, but there is a world of difference if you clean out the reel.

When I tighten the drag that clicking goes away, and my other curado I had felt the same with the gears I just don't know if I got a bad one like I said,  and I don't know if the knobs will loosen up after use

[The Bassman]

Any sound the reel is making with the drag backed off is a non issue if it doesn't do it otherwise.  I've noticed no "geariness" with my I series reels. As recommended have the reel cleaned and regreased. I've had new Shimanos that were actually lacking grease on the gears.  As far as the handle knobs go I always take mine apart, clean and relube with oil, not grease. Be careful not to lose the shim under each outer bushing.  They're really thin but you'll know if they're missing.

[Patrick Kinard]

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

Any sound the reel is making with the drag backed off is a non issue if it doesn't do it otherwise.  I've noticed no "geariness" with my I series reels. As recommended have the reel cleaned and regreased. I've had new Shimanos that were actually lacking grease on the gears.  As far as the handle knobs go I always take mine apart, clean and relube with oil, not grease. Be careful not to lose the shim under each outer bushing.  They're really thin but you'll know if they're missing.

Okay, the reel geariness goes away when on a rod and using braid but it's when I gold the reEl in my hand when it does that, could it be possibly when I was spooling it up I didn't thread the line through the first guide on the rod, I hand spooled it and used my hand to guide the line and I accidentally yanked the line one way and I don't know if it put some force on the line guide and the worm gear, and I'm just concerned about the clickingness bc my other curado never did the clicking thing and seemed the knobs were a little easier to spin, all of them have had a little geariness feel but it's not that bad

[The Bassman]

I really can't tell without holding the reel.  You mentioned that the clicking went away with drag tension.  I think you're fine. I'd still clean and regrease the internals.

[Patrick Kinard]

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

I really can't tell without holding the reel.  You mentioned that the clicking went away with drag tension.  I think you're fine. I'd still clean and regrease the internals.

Yeah but I don't have grease and all that, you would think you wouldn't have to do that spending that much money ?, do I have to grease it now?will it hurt to use it? Or should I just take it back, I've took 2 back bc of the geariness and I'm starting to think it's just the reel

[The Bassman]

If you're not comfortable working on your own reel just take it back.  I enjoy  tinkering and getting everything to my "specs".

[Patrick Kinard]

7 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

If you're not comfortable working on your own reel just take it back.  I enjoy  tinkering and getting everything to my "specs".

I don't mind it, but I don't have the equipment and being me I'd end up messing it up more, I did it with one of my other reels but I would think the curado wouldn't need for me to do that

[The Bassman]

29 minutes ago, Patrick Kinard said:

I don't mind it, but I don't have the equipment and being me I'd end up messing it up more, I did it with one of my other reels but I would think the curado wouldn't need for me to do that

 

Even the smoothest of baitcasters out of the box will eventually need attention. Use an old beater reel to practice on.  Typically, a #0 and #1 Phillips screwdriver, a tiny flat screwdriver to remove bearing retainers, a 10mm wrench, and a wire or paperclip to pull knob caps is all you need. Just pay attention to everything you're removing. and put it back in reverse order. Be careful of small parts like clicker pins, things that like to jump away like retainers and springs. You'll get used to it after a few times and develop your own routine.  Playing with the toys is part of the fun.  Good luck.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I don't think you have an issue honestly. A reels reaction to motions outside of regular use (spinning the handle etc) are not indicative of anything. Having two pinion bearings, The curado gear set is better supported than any of the Lews/ Revo etc. no reel at that price point will run 100% silently especially after some use and cleaning out the gobs of factory grease. 

[Patrick Kinard]

34 minutes ago, The Bassman said:

 

Even the smoothest of baitcasters out of the box will eventually need attention. Use an old beater reel to practice on.  Typically, a #0 and #1 Phillips screwdriver, a tiny flat screwdriver to remove bearing retainers, a 10mm wrench, and a wire or paperclip to pull knob caps is all you need. Just pay attention to everything you're removing. and put it back in reverse order. Be careful of small parts like clicker pins, things that like to jump away like retainers and springs. You'll get used to it after a few times and develop your own routine.  Playing with the toys is part of the fun.  Good luck.

Thank you and the reel is brand new again and hasn't been used but I'm starting to see people say they are a little on the geary side due to the components inside compared to other reels, 

[billjaco]

Tie a 3/4 oz. rattle-trap style lure on your rig and take it to some open water. Ease into some short casts until you are comfortable that your brake and cast control settings are correct, then gradually work up to increasing your casting distance.

 

An hours worth of casting will loosen up the excess grease and break things in to where the reel should perform as intended, or expose any problems. 

 

 

 

 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

6 hours ago, Patrick Kinard said:

Thank you and the reel is brand new again and hasn't been used but I'm starting to see people say they are a little on the geary side due to the components inside compared to other reels, 

The only Lews I can reference is the BB1 Pro that I had. I bought Pro and a Tatula and Chronarch CI4 all at the same time. The BB1 Pro was the smoothest of the 3. All my shimanos seem to have a hint to some degree of geary feel, even my new 70. I think what you could be feeling is normal vs your Lews.