Chronarch MGL... Not as good as a Curado K?

[hwright38]

Hello, 

I recently purchased a Chronarch MGL 151 with a lot of hype. The only problem is, I can't seem to understand what makes it better than the hundred dollar cheaper Curado k. It's lighter, but also physically bigger for having a smaller spool, and is not half as smooth as my well used Curado. 

My question to you guys' is: Is this a lemon? Am I an idiot and just need to fish it more? I don't think it's a lemon because I messed around with a different one and it felt identical. I'll say it does cast very well, but the retrieve is about on par with my Revo S.

 

I feel like I'm missing something here. Please help me rationalize buying a Chronarch when I could've nearly bought two Curados.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

17 minutes ago, hwright38 said:

Hello, 

I recently purchased a Chronarch MGL 151 with a lot of hype. The only problem is, I can't seem to understand what makes it better than the hundred dollar cheaper Curado k. It's lighter, but also physically bigger for having a smaller spool, and is not half as smooth as my well used Curado. 

My question to you guys' is: Is this a lemon? Am I an idiot and just need to fish it more? I don't think it's a lemon because I messed around with a different one and it felt identical. I'll say it does cast very well, but the retrieve is about on par with my Revo S.

 

I feel like I'm missing something here. Please help me rationalize buying a Chronarch when I could've nearly bought two Curados.

I was in similiar position only I bought a 70 then Chronarch MGL. Fishing them side by side the performance for price difference just wasnt showing up. I wound up returning the Chro MGL and getting another 70.

[hwright38]

6 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Is it gritty/geary feeling compared to the Curado K when you say it is less smooth?  The MGL will cast lighter weight baits better.  Maybe you can replace a spinning reel combo with the reel and rod?

It's just... Not as smooth. I don't get the warm and fuzzies when I crank it. It's not necessarily more gritty, it's just there's more resistance, almost like I'm touching the spool with my hand and trying to reel.

 

2 minutes ago, QUAKEnSHAKE said:

I was in similiar position only I bought a 70 then Chronarch MGL. Fishing them side by side the performance for price difference just wasnt showing up. I wound up returning the Chro MGL and getting another 70.

I work in a sporting goods store (discount is awesome) and if we could get a 71 in stock I would be golden. I'm spoiled on the discount though and outright buying a 70 would be nearly as much as what I paid for the Chronarch. 

[Janderson45]

I own 3 chronarch MGLs and 1 Curado K.  The chronarchs are my workhorse reels and my favorite to fish with.  I also own the previous generation Chronarch ci4 and the chronarch G. 

 

The curado K is great for the price point, and as much as I enjoy it it doesn’t hold a candle to the chronarchs, especially the MGL.  The micro gearing in the MGL should absolutely be the smoothest “feeling” baitcaster on retrieve that you’ve ever used if you’re not accustomed to middle upper range reels.  

 

My guess is there’s an issue with the reel in one regard or another. 

[NorcalBassin]

+1... I have 70's, K's, Chronarchs, a Bantam, and an Aldebaran MGL and IMO the Chronarchs are one of the best buys out there. You're not an idiot and it may be a lemon, but it could also just be one of those things where the K might feel better to you and your wallet will appreciate it.

[onenutinthewater]

Maybe I got a lemon but i have a dozen + reels including various tatula's, bantam mgl, conquest bfs hg and the chronarch mgl is the roughest of any of them by far. All the others are very smooth but the chronarch mgl feels geary and has a definite whine when reeling in quickly. All of these reels except the calcutta have been used hard for salmon and steelhead.

Does not bother me if I use it all day but if I switch reels during the day it is a night and day difference. I sent it in for checking to a reel guy and was told it is normal for a micro module reel...........

Sending it in to shimano next.

[hwright38]

Guys, I made a revelation. 

The handle grips on the Curado are much bigger and softer than the handles on the MGL. For giggles I swapped the handles and suddenly the Curado is much grittier than the MGL, and the MGL is buttery smooth. The bigger grips must be absorbing more of the vibrations and smoothing the retrieve out. Looks like the MGL is fine, and it is very good.

Now I think I'm going to buy some Hawg Tech carbon handles for the Curado, and keep the Curado handle on the MGL (or vice versa). 

[freelancer27]

Chronarch has brass gears, they are usually not as smooth as others (alu), but much more robust. 

[hwright38]

35 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

Chronarch has brass gears, they are usually not as smooth as others (alu), but much more robust. 

Brass gears are smoother than aluminum. Aluminum is lighter weight but brittle, while brass is heavier but more shock absorbing. Which doesn't matter because they both have brass gears. 

Edited January 17, 2019 by hwright38
extra info

[OnthePotomac]

I keep mentioning on here that if you own a Shimano with micro gears they need to be lubed with a heavy grease and Shimano recommends their ACE2 drag grease for this (Cal's is the same).  Having dealt with new Shimano reels with micro gears I have followed this practice for micro gear reels (which I learned from guys like DVT).

Out of the box I remove the micro gears, clean them well and lube with ACE2 or Cal's drag grease.

Out of the box remove the spool bearings, clean them thoroughly and lube with a tiny drop of quality reel oil, which in my case is Yellow Rocket Fuel (avoid Mobil 10W-30 LOL).  Shimano tends to over lube bearings with oil (some think that it is grease, but Shimano says no grease, just heavily oiled).

All I can add is I do this to my new micro gear reels and they are very smooth.  Love my micro gears.

[kschultz76]

If swapping the handles made a difference take the knobs off and check the bearings and plastic collars to be sure they’re clean and properly lubed. 

 

The Chronarch is a composite frame, tends to Telegraph more vibration and feel then aluminum framed reels. Something folks commonly complain about, has at times been called hollow. 

 

My Chronarch cI4 and MGL reels are all very smooth and perform well. 

[CrankFate]

The price of rods and reels doesn’t always have much to do with which is better. A lot of the time, it’s just marketing specs.

[OnthePotomac]

And engineering design.  Which is why Shimano is not big on lots of bearings, just good design.

[onenutinthewater]

On 1/17/2019 at 8:54 AM, OnthePotomac said:

I keep mentioning on here that if you own a Shimano with micro gears they need to be lubed with a heavy grease and Shimano recommends their ACE2 drag grease for this (Cal's is the same).  Having dealt with new Shimano reels with micro gears I have followed this practice for micro gear reels (which I learned from guys like DVT).

Out of the box I remove the micro gears, clean them well and lube with ACE2 or Cal's drag grease.

Out of the box remove the spool bearings, clean them thoroughly and lube with a tiny drop of quality reel oil, which in my case is Yellow Rocket Fuel (avoid Mobil 10W-30 LOL).  Shimano tends to over lube bearings with oil (some think that it is grease, but Shimano says no grease, just heavily oiled).

All I can add is I do this to my new micro gear reels and they are very smooth.  Love my micro gears.

Thank you for this great advice! I cleaned off the gears and applied a fairly thick coat of Cals drag grease and now this reel is very smooth again! Might be time to purchase another as the chronarch mgl just feels better in hand than any reel i own.