Specific noise with my high end Shimanos

[freelancer27]

Hi all,

Hope you can help me with the diagnosis here. 

I am experiencing a specific sound/noise that all of my high end Shimanos (2019 Antares 70, 2018 Calcutta Conquest 401, 2021 Calcutta Conquest 201HG, 2021 Calcutta Conquest 101HG) experience.

While the reels are genuinely smooth, I can not help but feel annoyed by this sound that I experience on the retrieve. 

The sound seems to come from the right hand side of the reel, but I can not 100% confidently allocate it. To me it sounds like metal is rubbing on metal. My first was that this must be the spool bearings. So I added some oil. This did not solve the problem.

Today at the lake I tried to take a video. Please have a look here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zCVrVLon24NXGib2klix-vysPKTAM7Of?usp=sharing

I really love these reels, but it is just a bit annoying when my Steez/Morethans/Zillions do not make any noise.

Would appreciate any thoughts and suggestions on the mater. 

Thanks fellas!
 

[Msl819]

No help with the noise but one thing is for sure.  Your lake is prettier than my lake!

[dodgeguy]

Sounds like gears.

[freelancer27]

15 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Sounds like gears.

Cant be. The reels are to new. The 2021 CCs are less than a month old. 

[jimmyjoe]

   This is long shot: remove the spool, and clean the rims. Then take a q tip and clean the frame where the rim of the spool would hit if it were dirty. If that cures it, you have crap in the water, and you need to constantly keep your reels clean.     jj

[freelancer27]

Just now, jimmyjoe said:

   This is long shot: remove the spool, and clean the rims. Then take a q tip and clean the frame where the rim of the spool would hit if it were dirty. If that cures it, you have crap in the water, and you need to constantly keep your reels clean.     jj

Thanks. I have fished at a clear reservoir today, so not sure if that is it either. But will try nevertheless!

[FrankN209]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

Sounds like gears.

Sounds like gears to me also.  Wouldn't be surprised if the gears were dry. I've had a few like that, and they were new also. 

[FishTank]

I have three Calcuttas and the 70A Antares and none of them make that noise but my older Chronarch 51e that I use for topwater does.  It's the only real I use braid on.  I hate to say it but it sounds like braid going through the line guide when you are reeling in fast.   I have fished this same reel with mono many times and did not hear that noise.  

 

I don't know if it's possible but switch out one of them for mono and see if it's still there. 

 

Two other guesses or random thoughts..... X-Ship bearing may need oiled. But I think based on the age, that that's doubtful.  Next, you're spinning the reel so fast you're engaging the brakes but you would hear the same noise on a hard cast. 

[Phil77]

If it's only doing it on the retrieve you've got binding or friction coming from somewhere. My only calcutta is a 20 year old 100 so I'm sure it's a completely different design. Are you sure it's not over filled with line, almost sounds like the spool scraping the reel seat. Handle is on the wrong side too.

 

 

[jbsoonerfan]

Sounds like the braid to me. Does it do this with fluoro or mono?

[freelancer27]

Thanks guys. 

 

I have Sunline Armilo on it and it is not enough line to cause this sound. Its also a mechanical sound.

 

X ship bearing has been mentioned in another forum as well. 

[jbsoonerfan]

So all 4 reels have braid and it does it on all 4 reels? That was what I asked.

[freelancer27]

31 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

So all 4 reels have braid and it does it on all 4 reels? That was what I asked.

None of the reels have braid. Fluro or mono. 

[shackman]

No doubt that is the drive and pinion gears meshing together.Nothing wrong, my Shimano’s do it, some louder than others. It don’t bother me. 

[newapti5]

I think these are just gears meshing sounds. Especially for high gear ratio reels, you'll hear it more often. For lower ratio reels, you can also hear it when you reel in really fast. On this aspect, Daiwa does do a better job isolating this "connected" feeling; it's like reeling air.  If you don't like it, put more grease on the main gear and pinion gear, especially high viscosity grease like Cal's. 

[freelancer27]

1 hour ago, newapti5 said:

I think these are just gears meshing sounds. Especially for high gear ratio reels, you'll hear it more often. For lower ratio reels, you can also hear it when you reel in really fast. On this aspect, Daiwa does do a better job isolating this "connected" feeling; it's like reeling air.  If you don't like it, put more grease on the main gear and pinion gear, especially high viscosity grease like Cal's. 

I thought so too, but the noise comes from the opposite side of the gears. When i literally put my ear next to the real, the sound was clearly coming from the right hand side (removable reel plate side).

[newapti5]

16 minutes ago, freelancer27 said:

I thought so too, but the noise comes from the opposite side of the gears. When i literally put my ear next to the real, the sound was clearly coming from the right hand side (removable reel plate side).

 

If you're sure about that, then it's probably the spool bearing, because there aren't many parts in the palm side plate.  I suggest try turning off all the SVS brakes first, as the brake shoes could make a noise as well if you reel in really fast. Then change to a new bearing instead of cleaning/oiling the old one, see how it goes.

[J Francho]

How tight is the spool tension?

[T-Billy]

Sounds like gears to me. Sometimes reels leave the factory pretty dang dry. 

[freelancer27]

49 minutes ago, J Francho said:

How tight is the spool tension?

Not that tight. I played with it as well and its not the cause of the sound.

Will take the 101HG today completely apart, flush the bearings and lube and oil everything. After that I will send one out to a reel guru. If that does not fix it, I will accept the noise of an otherwise very smooth reel and buy Daiwa only from now on. 

It would be extremely ridiculous that Shimano would have such "accepted" issues..

[Phil77]

4 hours ago, freelancer27 said:

Not that tight. I played with it as well and its not the cause of the sound.

Will take the 101HG today completely apart, flush the bearings and lube and oil everything. After that I will send one out to a reel guru. If that does not fix it, I will accept the noise of an otherwise very smooth reel and buy Daiwa only from now on. 

It would be extremely ridiculous that Shimano would have such "accepted" issues..

For the price those reels should be flawless, hope its an easy fix.

[LCG]

Since it's coming from the removable side plate area, I would oil the spool bearing, brake drum, and clean the brake shoes, then add a drop of oil in the spool tensioner cap. Cleaning the rim of the spool and the frame will probably help as well.

[newapti5]

On 12/6/2021 at 1:23 PM, freelancer27 said:

Will take the 101HG today completely apart, flush the bearings and lube and oil everything. After that I will send one out to a reel guru.

 

Let us know how it turns out. I am curious about the result. Also some personal experience for future reference, when I use a new reel, I usually go easy on them during the first few trips, give the gears some time to run in, because the run-in period does exist, just like cars. 

[freelancer27]

Status update:

I sent Dan (ReelEx) the following reels:

* JDM Antares 71 HG
* JDM 2021 Calcutta Conquest 201HG
* JDM 2021 Calcutta Conquest 101HG
* JDM 2018 Calcutta Conquest 401
* JDM 2021 Antares DC XG
* JDM 2018 Morethan XH
* JDM 2018 Antares DC MD

It was the right call!

Dan's turn around time was amazing to begin with! I shipped the reels on Tuesday, he received them on Wednesday and I had them back before the weekend. The drag clicker of the two 2021 CCs were not working initially. Dan offered to take care of it free of charge and also serviced another reel free of charge as a courtesy call.

Dan called multiple times to get more information on the issues I was experiencing, gave additionally a lot of great tips and tricks and also shared interesting stories of his 20+ year experience! I can honestly say that Dan is just a generally good guy! I very much appreciate this in today's fast paced and shallow world!

So, how did he do?

* JDM Antares 71 HG --> after I moved the reel to its original rod (Megbass Super Destroyer), the noise was gone! Now this reel is the rock star that I was expecting from day one!

* JDM 2021 Calcutta Conquest 201HG --> This was the original reel that started it all. I was a bit nervous when I got it back today, since I was hoping that the noise was gone. AND YEP. Silky smooth and quite. --> Piece of mind! ?

* JDM 2021 Calcutta Conquest 101H --> Similar to the Antares 71HG, smooth and quite! A dream!

* JDM 2018 Calcutta Conquest 401 --> Didnt feel too much of a difference here, but the 401 did not have the noise problem to begin with. Just some good service was done here.

* JDM 2021 Antares DC XG --> This is a reel that I fished maybe for a total of 30mins since I got it from Japan last month. I only sent it in because I wanted to get it serviced, since I was planning to sell it. The reel was super smooth already, so I did not think anything was wrong with it. Well, Dan's inspection resulted in 4 dry & damaged bearings (X-Ship bearings in particular) that he replaced. He sent me the bearings back and I could see how bad they were. Some reels (its seems to be mostly Shimano, since I have not experienced this yet with Daiwas) that one buys from Japan, seem to get to us rather dry. And if one fishes just a bit with a dry bearing, this can have severe consequences. So, clean and lube them yourselves or send them to somebody like Dan right away! ?

Now this reel is even smoother (I have no idea how that is possible) and is easily the smoothest reel in my collection. I do not really need this reel, but I am honestly discussing if I should just find a rood, so I can keep the reel.

* JDM 2018 Morethan XH --> This reel was my 'bank fishing beater'. It was dirty and rough. Dan did again a great job cleaning and servicing the reel. It almost feels like the day I got it out of the box!

* JDM 2018 Antares DC MD --> A lot of you know about the challenges with this reel. Shimano simply underdelivered with this reel for what it was advertised. I took my reel apart more than 5 times in the last year to the most severe cleaning and lubing job possible, since the geary feeling of that reel drove me nuts. I would never sell the reel though, since it has special sentimental value to me. Well, Dan gave my old lady new live and restored her very well. I am happy with the result!

So, what can I say? Yes, it was expensive (spend with shipping, the bearings and service almost 280USD). It was worth it though.

I can nothing but recommend Dan to anybody who wants to make sure that their reels get the best service. If he can not fix it right away, he will tell you, research the problem in his network to fix it eventually!

Dan = the man!

If you have JDM reels like I have (since the cost savings are just too good for many reels to pass up on, as well most reels that I am interested in are JDM only), check in with Dan first, since he told me that he usually only services USDM reels!

Cheers!

[Phil77]

Thanks for the update, just ordered a CC200. I will be sure to check the bearings before spooling it. Did he replace the bearings with stock shimano's or aftermarket ones?