Curado 70 Gear Replacement

[AmSO4]

I picked up a used Curado 71HG and need to do something about how smooth it runs.  It feels geary.

 

Recently I replaced the gears on the Metanium with brass and am blown away at the improvement in smoothness.  Now I want all my reels to be as smooth.

 

Are there any ways to make the Curado 71 run smoother with alternative gear sets or just replacing the one with the same factory ones the only option?  

Any thoughts?

 

 

[CountryboyinDC]

I felt like the Curado 70 felt 'geary' too.  I talked to another angler who directed me to get some bearings for the handle knobs.  I ended up just getting a Metanium handle, which is longer and has bearings in the knobs.  If you're going that route, you'll need the LH handle assembly from Tackle Trap or directly from Shimano.  It made all the difference for me.

[DomQ]

I'd try having the reel serviced, I do that with every single reel I get, new or used. Flushing old poopoo out of the bearings and cleaning up and greasing the main gear and pinion will help restore the smooth feeling of the reel. If you dont service yourself there are a few guys here that do. Hope this helped!!

[garroyo130]

10 minutes ago, DomQ said:

I'd try having the reel serviced, I do that with every single reel I get, new or used. Flushing old poopoo out of the bearings and cleaning up and greasing the main gear and pinion will help restore the smooth feeling of the reel. If you dont service yourself there are a few guys here that do. Hope this helped!!

The pinion bearing is often what gets blamed for geary feeling.

 

https://japantackle.com/tackle_topics/maintain_fix_reels.htm

 

When you feel gear noise, and fine vibration in retrieving: First, fix 2 ball bearings at the end of spool shaft. Then if the reel is equipped with an SF spool, check the bearing at pinion gear. It is indicated in red. It is covered by a thin metal plate. This bearing is easy to suffer water damage because of its position, and then it makes noise and fine vibration like gear noise. If it makes some noise or vibration when you put it on a pen and spin it with light thrust, please replace it with new one. This bearing should be lubricated with grease because it receives large thrust from pinion gear. If you still have vibration, then open the body and check the pinion gear, if you are capable to reassemble.

[waymont]

The Curado 70 reels all feel that way. It seems like it may be the way the whole design works, and changing one thing may not change the feel. Excellent casting reels tho. I added bearing to my handle, and it felt better, but it didn't change the gears feeling.

[Manifestgtr]

I had a curado 70hg go geary on me this season. A quick gear swap fixed it right up.

 

I’m interested in the engetsu gear swap though, if anyone else has experience with that too. I know they’re the same frame and all that but I know things aren’t always that simple. If they are indeed just drop in replacements, I’d go micro mod with that reel in a heartbeat 

[AmSO4]

3 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

Make sure it is actually the gears as others have said.  If it is then look into the Scopion 70 based Engetsu (not the plastic casitas one with the same name) gears.  They are micro mod, smooth and fit Scorpion/Curado 70.  My Engetsu is a smooth and solid reel.  You could also just buy an Engetsu and be done with it.  You gain a thick aluminum handle side plate which helps to further reduce noise and vibration felt from the gears.  

I have an Engetsu and I like using it.  Just had to take the giant handle off and put on a Metanium handle.  Now its perfect.  I will look into swapping out gears,

 

[Manifestgtr]

43 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

People have done the swap. I believe it required the use of an Engetsu drag stack for the swap to work.   Bonus is that you get drag clicker with the drag stack.

Very interesting. Just opened up a plat order for all the necessary parts.

 

I’ll let you all know how it goes when it all finally gets here. 

[AmSO4]

1 minute ago, BaitFinesse said:

Swap spools.  Buy a new gen Zodias.  Enjoy a slick red and black combo

 

-baitmonkey

I decided to just replace the gears with OEM and see how it feels.  I guess I am spoiled with Aldebarans, Bantams and the new Metanium.  Curado will never feel as nice I guess.

 

Waiting to hear more about the Zodias.   I just got some new Edge BWs that I am playing with.  I have the 733 and 734 and using them for finesse swimjigs.  So far so good.  Only caught some 3-4lbers but they seem good enough.  A little heavier than I would have hoped.

[Manifestgtr]

4 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Make sure it is the 70 based one.  There are a number of reels with that name.

Oooo yeah, I made sure it was both the ct AND the hg. Model to model swapping is enough wackiness for me...don’t need any extra surprises. 

[AmSO4]

8 minutes ago, Manifestgtr said:

Very interesting. Just opened up a plat order for all the necessary parts.

 

I’ll let you all know how it goes when it all finally gets here. 

Very interested in the cost and how it turns out.

[Manifestgtr]

9 minutes ago, AmSO4 said:

Very interested in the cost and how it turns out.

Little under $60 for all the parts plus handling. I bought every little part surrounding the main gear and drag stack, though. Didn’t wanna take any chances. 

 

Ill post a thread with the results, instructions, etc. when they come in. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Make sure to designate 71 left hand when ordering parts. Some don’t matter but gears definitely do. 

[FrankN209]

1 minute ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Make sure to designate 71 left hand when ordering parts. Some don’t matter but gears definitely do. 

Yes they do. I made that mistake before. 

[Cityangler7]

56 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

 Buy a new gen Zodias.  Enjoy a slick red and black combo

 

-baitmonkey

 

https://www.shimanofish.com.au/content/fish/oceania/au/en/homepage/articles/zodias-2020.html

 

Am I Missing something or are the new 2020 Zodias rods really limited in regards to casting models. Will they be releasing more models or is this it in regards to casting models?

 

 

[AmSO4]

19 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

is your alde a 16BFS?  Conquest 50 BFS micro mod gears fit if the aluminum alde gear ever gets geary on you.  I guy on the TT fourms recently did this swap.

 

Yes I have the 16BFS, JDM51, and 31MGL.  Really enjoy these little buggers.

[AmSO4]

2 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Conquest 50 micro mod brass gears fit fyi

 

Curious what all needs to be replaced, just the main gear and pinion gear?  Clicker and drag stuff OK?

 

[AmSO4]

Thanks for all the info.  Tempting, but I have the XG and like the high speed.  Appreciate pointing this out to me.

 

[Manifestgtr]

22 hours ago, BaitFinesse said:

Conquest 50 micro mod brass gears fit fyi

 

This is an embarrassing question but hey, here goes. These would also work in a 50hg, no? I know there are some differences between the bfs and the 50...spool, braking...but I wouldn’t think that would extend to the gearing?

[OnthePotomac]

My two 70XG's are four years old this month and have had the daylights fished out of them on the Potomac and never "geary"  Maybe because I keep either Shimano ACT2, or Cal's drag grease on the main gear since day one.  Still very smooth and both spooled with 15lb Invizx for different plastics.

[DomQ]

On 5/19/2020 at 3:37 PM, Cityangler7 said:

 

https://www.shimanofish.com.au/content/fish/oceania/au/en/homepage/articles/zodias-2020.html

 

Am I Missing something or are the new 2020 Zodias rods really limited in regards to casting models. Will they be releasing more models or is this it in regards to casting models?

 

 

I got the 172mh fast and it's a sweet rod, I recommend.