Shimano Metanium MGL

[Rodney Smith]

Has anyone else had issues with their Metanium MGL's not being smooth? I have a couple of the new Shimano Chronarch MGL's and they are smoother.  

[bassbassontherange]

Nope. I've been fishing Met MGL's for over a year now. They've maintained their smoothness and honestly I've never held a low profile that feels smoother. Several have been around the same to start, but nothing's been better, including the Chronarch I picked up. I'd put it right there with the met in that regard though. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I've had a number of new Shimano's through the shop that feel less smooth than expected. There are all kinds of theories as to the cause but it's somewhat of a puzzle. I haven't found anything obviously defective, worn or broken in any of them. As of now I'm of the opinion that the light weight and fine gear teeth transmit some feel. Smoothness comes from mass (think D series) but the weight is a turn off for some. 

[Hooligan]

All of mine are as DVT states- a bit of feel to them. No performance issues, however. 

[Yudo1]

I have a met 13 and mgl and both feel smooth to me. The chronarch mgl has brass micro module gears. I've always preferred brass over aluminum gears for smoothness and durability and I don't understand why shimano uses aluminum for their flagship met. Saving .3oz is not worth it IMO. That said I haven't had any issues and my Mets are some of my favorite reels. In the end I prefer magnesium over ci4+.

[offsidewing]

Define Smooth.

 

I went through something similar the first time I bought a $300+ magnesium baitcasting reel with Aluminum gears.  I thought being able to free spin the handle for 15 seconds meant a reel was smooth - like I could with a brass-geared aluminum bodied tank.

 

Then I hooked onto a fish with my Metanium and that's when the smoothness light bulb went off.  

 

 

[The Pond King]

I think you might have received a lemon. I have the Metanium MGL, and it's by far the smoothest reel I've ever owned. I have a Core 50MG7, and even that does not compare. It is head and shoulders above the Curado 200e7 or Tatula CT. The casting with this reel is also effortless. The way it casts is amazing. I'm not sure if it's a BFS reel, but I can bomb grubs on an 1/8oz jig head out there like it's nothing. The SVS braking system takes a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be hard to backlash. 

[Rodney Smith]

The first was I got was bad from the beginning. I took it back to my tackle shop and they suggested I send it back to Shimano, which I did. They replaced some "defective bearings" and sent it back. It was better for a while, then it reappeared. I sent it back again and indicated that I didn't want it repaired again and requested a replacement. They sent one. The same thing is happening again. I have used braid and also fluorocarbon. I have it mounted on an NRX.

[lmbfisherman]

I wonder if they actually replaced it.  Are you sure?  I haven't used my Met MGL that long but it is smooth out of the box.  I own the previous version and never had a smoothness issue either.  Maybe send to DVT to take a look?

[Rodney Smith]

I wondered also about the replacement, but my first one had a minor scuff on it and this one doesn't. There are times it has the feel and sound of metal scrubbing against metal.

[The Pond King]

Money..

[The Pond King]

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I've been down the bearing road already. Just goes to show they're as much st a loss as the rest of us. It's just a design result. Live with it or move on. 

[dsqui]

Sometimes it's time to just well you know or get off the pot.  If u aren't happy with it it's time to move on and cut your losses  just be happy it's a reel and not a truck or boat

[Rodney Smith]

That sounds like wise advice. I think I will sell it and just buy another Chronarch MGL. 

[scbassin]

I have 2 Metanium MGL's XG's that I purchased from Digitaka in Japan. I have some decent time on the water with them with no issues as of yet. I also have a couple Of Scorpion XG's that I like as well & that sells for less money. Again I have no issues with either of them. I wonder if there could be a manufacturing  difference for the different markets.

[Yudo1]

There are some people who believe magnesium reels are more sensitive than other reels. I wonder if this more "connected" feeling is being interpreted as "geary?" If mag reels are more sensitive than aluminum reels, I'm sure they are way more so than ci4+ reels. I'm not sure about the validity of the theory, but just an idea. I do have a tendency to use my mag reels for bottom contact and aluminum for moving baits though.