Shimano SLX - Stiff out of the Box

[Lobocito]

Hey all,

 

I recently purchased my 4th Shimano SLX reel (this one is just the slx150 model). 

 

Out of the box the reel is very "stiff" or "tight." I've tried disengaging all breaks and have messed with the tensioning rod extensively, but the spool does not spin freely at all. Initially if I tried disengaging the spool and flicking it it would get at most two rotations before stopping. I've taken the reel apart and put some of the included oil on every bearing I could find, and now its getting maybe three rotations. Likewise if I flick the reel handle as hard as I can.. maybe three rotations before it stops.

 

One of my other SLX'es was a little slow out of the box but nothing like this, and with a little use it has sped up. I was going to spool this new one with some Sunline Sniper FC but that is some expensive stuff and right now I can't imagine the reel is going to cast more than 15 feet.

 

Anyone have any tips or advice, or particular spots on the reel I should maybe investigate before I just return it? I've got some old line on some reels I don't use anymore I could spool onto it to see if its any better once its spooled perhaps? 

 

Any advice would be great, thanks all.

[Lobocito]

Little update for anyone who stumbles across this topic: I took the reel even more apart and applied oil to all the internal gears inside the reel handle itself. Upon a close inspection, it appears to me that the culprit was specifically the gear that turns the line spooling mechanism. Applied some lube to those gears and re-assembled and I'm now getting about 8-10 seconds of free spool action. Not quite as much as I was hoping for, but it is nearly 1,000% better than it was, so that is a plus.

 

For others out there buying SLX'es, it may be worth tearing them down and lubing them up before even your first use, because this is dramatically better than it was straight out of the box. I seriously doubt I would have been able to cast 20 feet before lubricating. Still waiting on my new rod to give it a proper test drive but I have high hopes.

[garroyo130]

Just now, Lobocito said:

I took the reel even more apart and applied oil to all the internal gears inside the reel handle itself.

i hope you didnt oil the gears themselves. Those should be coated with a quality grease. 

[Lobocito]

I did put some oil on specifically the gear turning the line spooling mechanism. Seemed to be no grease whatsoever on it. Think I should order some high quality reel grease to apply to it?

[garroyo130]

In my experience what slows reels down is usually the pinion bearing.

I would definitely clean the gears and add grease. Cal's is my preference but it is a thicker grease. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

None of those gears have any affect on spool rotation. The spool just wasn’t seated completely initially. Also, free spinning the handle is not an indication of either performance or quality. 

[WRB]

Did you adjust the spool tension knob?

Tom

[JustJames]

Maybe a bent spool shaft?

I have read a lot about reel cleaning/maintenance but hardly anyone mentioned to clean the spool shaft and inside pinion gear hole. If too much oil/grease in there or on shaft can effect the rotation. I might be wrong but that what I usually do when oil the bearing.

[Lobocito]

@garroyo130 - Thanks for the insight. I didn't quite make it all the way to the pinion bearing, but I did get close enough and squirt some oil in there that that may have been what sped it up. I'll check out that grease. My other stupid expensive hobby is RC trucks so I know all about the good grease. 

 

@Delaware Valley Tackle - I thought it was the spool too, but I reseated it probably 15 times before committing to tearing apart the handle gears (and lubed up all contact points for the spool and spool tension rod) but that had almost no effect on the just.. STICKINESS of the reel. I suppose its possible that something wasn't seated quite right in the handle portion of the reel body and I only accidentally corrected it, but after re-assembly several times before hitting the gears with oil.. I THINK it had to have had some effect because of how rapidly it changed the performance. 

 

@WRB - Yessir did lots of fiddling with the spool tension knob before my tear down. BUT I have now dramatically increased the speed of the reel. 

Thanks all for super helpful replies. This was one of my first times ever tearing down one of my reels so it was a learning experience. @Delaware Valley Tackle I'll definitely keep your comments in mind about the gears.. I definitely understand why they SHOULDN'T have any effect on the spool but it certainly felt like that was a problem with this particular reel for some reason. @Bass_Fishing_Socal IDK if you saw my second post but I did manage to significantly speed the reel up once I took the handle off so I don't think it was a bent spool shaft. There was DEFINITELY something wonky with the spool shaft seating, just don't know if I fixed it by total tear down, thru grease during total tear down, or just accidentally got it right after the 16th re-assembly.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

It happens even to me after servicing literally hundreds of reels of every kind. Sometimes it’s just not right, take it apart and reassemble and boom problem solved. Never really getting to the bottom of the cause. 

[Shimano_1]

I've noticed on all of those reels that I've had they tend to free up a lot with use. Id say DVT is right about what ur spool problems were tho

[Heartland]

This thread makes my head hurt.....

[Bankc]

I had a similar experience with a BPS Pro Qualifier 2 the other day.  I almost bought an SLX at the time, by the way.  For me, the problem went away on it's own after an hour or so of casting.  I don't know what the cause was, but I wouldn't be surprised if there just wasn't a tiny burr somewhere or maybe some lubricant migration that needed to be worked out first.  Or maybe there was some sticky substance that got applied during manufacturing somewhere.  Who knows.  
 

It seems every reel that I've bought recently needed a bit of breaking in to get going like it's supposed to.  Some more than others.  I even remember fussing with my Tatula CT a good bit when I first got it, which seems odd now, because it's so forgiving.  

[OnthePotomac]

I only have one SLX XG and had no problems with it, but did install a crankshaft bearing, changed the spool bearing to Hedgehog SS ZR high speed bearings and swapped out the drag washers to CarbonTex.  Since it is the XG, I had to use the CarbonTex drags that fit the Curado 70XG.   Sure is  sweet little reel now. I like to tinker with my reels.  BTW, you may see from others that if you swap out the drags to CarbonTex you can only do one washer inside the drive gear....not true.  Both fit nicely.

[Luke Barnes]

Very good info. I recently got an SLX XT and should have the rod today. It definitely doesnt feel as free spooling as my Lews but its smoother. I was going to fish it for a day before tinkering any. Now i know netter what to look at. 

 

What grease is best for the gears? Im guessing use grease over oil because the grease will stick and not fling off??

[PhishLI]

 

On 6/26/2020 at 8:53 AM, Luke Barnes said:

What grease is best for the gears?

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Reel_Grease/descpage-SHRG.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwudb3BRC9ARIsAEa-vUtYNzYpAYmO4IIhQBhMMw4drdD4jXhTh2Q4iqoOyboxVDyY0kpq7BcaAjaTEALw_wcB

[Luke Barnes]

On 6/26/2020 at 10:00 AM, PhishLI said:

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Shimano_Reel_Grease/descpage-SHRG.html?from=gshop&gclid=Cj0KCQjwudb3BRC9ARIsAEa-vUtYNzYpAYmO4IIhQBhMMw4drdD4jXhTh2Q4iqoOyboxVDyY0kpq7BcaAjaTEALw_wcB

Thanks! Granted I dont need to worry about the drag because i have it cinched all the way down, but for geara most definitely!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Do as you will but strongly advise against locking down the drag. It’s important to protect the rod and reel gear train as well as the line. 

[OnthePotomac]

11 hours ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

Do as you will but strongly advise against locking down the drag. It’s important to protect the rod and reel gear train as well as the line. 

Right on DVT, the normal drag setting on that reel is quite sufficient for any thing unless you are fishing for a whale.  Any way is is on my SLX.

[Luke Barnes]

Im using it for frogs and big jigs with 60lb braid and a 7'2 H rod, so I dont want it to slip on the hooksets.

[Alex from GA]

The bearings don't need much if any oil.  I clean them with brake cleaner, blow them out and use one drop of hot sauce reel oil.  As someone else said clean the inside of the pinion gear and spool shaft.

[J.Vincent]

On 6/24/2020 at 3:13 PM, OnthePotomac said:

I only have one SLX XG and had no problems with it, but did install a crankshaft bearing, changed the spool bearing to Hedgehog SS ZR high speed bearings and swapped out the drag washers to CarbonTex.  Since it is the XG, I had to use the CarbonTex drags that fit the Curado 70XG.   Sure is  sweet little reel now. I like to tinker with my reels.  BTW, you may see from others that if you swap out the drags to CarbonTex you can only do one washer inside the drive gear....not true.  Both fit nicely.

I’m interested in hearing how much of a performance improvement this made for the SLX? I ask because I bought a bunch of the SLX HG 7.2 reels this past spring and from my perspective they are great for short range Jig & Worm work up to 60 feet. But require a very very loose Tension knob and an incredible amount of muscle to make 80 to 100 foot casts. Also, I’m running 1 brake and it almost seems too controlled at times, so I’m not entirely sure if it’s the factory bearings or the breaking system holding this reel back from performing better on long casts ? What do you think ? Will a bearing upgrade help the reel achieve more distance with less ease ?  Or am I better off going with a different reel for more distance ?

[The Bassman]

9 hours ago, J.Vincent said:

I’m interested in hearing how much of a performance improvement this made for the SLX? I ask because I bought a bunch of the SLX HG 7.2 reels this past spring and from my perspective they are great for short range Jig & Worm work up to 60 feet. But require a very very loose Tension knob and an incredible amount of muscle to make 80 to 100 foot casts. Also, I’m running 1 brake and it almost seems too controlled at times, so I’m not entirely sure if it’s the factory bearings or the breaking system holding this reel back from performing better on long casts ? What do you think ? Will a bearing upgrade help the reel achieve more distance with less ease ?  Or am I better off going with a different reel for more distance ?

 

Take a Q-Tip and very lightly oil the brass brake drum surface. Then cast easy so you can adjust to the faster spool speed.

[OnthePotomac]

The high speed Hedgehog SS ZR spool bearings made a world of difference in the performance.  Nice effortless distance and very smooth.

[Luke Barnes]

Now that ive had more time in with my SLX XT, I see what people mean. I'm still playing with settings on the brakes and I have the spool where it has no side to side play. On a big jig with a beefy trailer it zings it out there nice. But lighter frogs its a balancing act between being loose enough to cast far and major backlashing. I currently have 2 brakes on and side dial on about 2 -2 1/2. Alot I think has to do with the rod too. Its a 7'2 H so it doesnt really load up alot to help whip the frogs like it does the jigs.