UPDATE* E7 let down

[J Francho]

Maybe, Micro. Its a little "big feeling" in my hands. Though, I've really become accustom to smaller reels. Even a Fuego or Revo feels somewhat big in my hands...too many Sols and Aphas.

Some reels just work for some, and others just don't. As to the original post, its ridiculous what this guy had to do to get a useful tool to work.

My advice, fish a brand new reel like you stole it. Any issues, take them up with the maker. After the warranty is expired, have it cleaned by a pro. You'll get a reel back that is better than when it was new.

[K_Mac]

If you hate it so much just go buy a Revo/BPS/Phoolger real from the mongo conglomerate.

That's funny ;D ;D I am fairly sure that the Shimano world wide machine would qualify as a "mongo conglomerate." Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[jl18630]

The e7 is pretty smooth for me.  With 2 brakes on opposite side, it takes about 50 some turns to reel back a 1/4oz small crankbait using 20lb Sufix braided line and 6'6 M Shimano Crucial crankbait rod. 

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

lol i still have the older green curado still works likes a champ

[barroncooper]

Ardent Reel Butter is the mustard for Quantum's Hot Sauce. Turns to black goo in a week.

Not to get too far off topic, but....

John, I've been using Reel Butter oil and grease for a couple of years with no problems. Certainly nothing like what you've experienced.

What you've described has to be a contamination issue. Please do not take offence. I am not questioning your competence. If I didn't service my own reels , I'd trust you to do "em for me. But, if your lube turned into black goo, it got contaminated.

Back on topic: It's been my policy to take a new reel out for a spin. Do a couple of days on the water to make sure everything is OK. If not take it back for a swap or refund. If it checks out OK, I'll tear it down completely, clean, re-lube and pronounce it good to go.

I used to tear a new reel down before ever using it. After a refused warranty claim, I was forced to alter my process.

A lot of reels come with way too much grease. I've heard it said that many of the parts are coated with grease to hold them in place during the assembly process. Makes some sense to me.

I bought a new E7 last spring, and it was excellent right out of the box. Even better after a complete clean and lube. I would not hesitate to buy another, and probably will when I next decide that I need another reel.

Sorry, man I totally disagree, and will add Abu Garcia Silicote to the Wall of Shame.

Its not a contamination issue, its a heat issue. The grease doesn't stand up to heavy use. It breaks down after a week or so. This is what the parts look BEFORE they go into the US cleaner:

I don't use reel butter i use the shimano ace grease and its clearish white even after a month. what are some better bearing oils to use. i'm open to suggestion

[J Francho]

Shimano Ace Grease - the bike stuff?   Never tried it.  Their Star Drag Grease is fine for Baitcasters, their Permalub fine for spinners.  Reel Mechanic's Lithium Gold Grease is one of the best, as is his oil.  Bantam Oil, TG Rocket Fuel Yellow Label, TD-Z oil, are a few of various grades that work well.  Reel Mech and Bantam Oil are probably the best all purpose oils.

[barroncooper]

yeah the ace grease is the drag star grease i think.  it came in a refresh kit for my old calcutta 200a

[NorCalFishinguru]

mine got smoother and smoother especially after a clean and re lube. as far as i'm concerned there is no better reel and I have some revos and I like them. as far as the casting, I'd work with the weights. do you have the green or pink ones installed. I can flip a 3/8 jig over 35' with mine. one drop of hotsauce is all the bearings need. like someone said earlier, you might be over lubed

And you could flip the same distance with line wrapped around a tin can...

[christopherjake]

Never had any problems w/ my Curados.  I'd send it to Shimano to have it looked at.

[barroncooper]

mine got smoother and smoother especially after a clean and re lube. as far as i'm concerned there is no better reel and I have some revos and I like them. as far as the casting, I'd work with the weights. do you have the green or pink ones installed. I can flip a 3/8 jig over 35' with mine. one drop of hotsauce is all the bearings need. like someone said earlier, you might be over lubed

And you could flip the same distance with line wrapped around a tin can...

what exactly are you saying?

[J Francho]

I don't know anyone with arms long enough to flip 35 feet.  Pitch, well that's another story.

[-HAWK-]

return it and get a new one to try. Curados are great casters.

Something is defective on that particular reel.

The Curado 200E7 is comparable in every way

to the highest priced Shimanos. At the pricing

point, I thnk it is the best reel on the market.

Unfortunately, you have a dud.

I used to feel the same way. Until I purcahsed a Shimano Core 50mg. I own 3 Shimano Curado E7s and 1 Curado E5. While I will agree for the price point they are the best reel on the market. They are by far NOT comparable in every way to the highest priced Shimanos.  ;D ;D

[roadwarrior]

Well, I think the performance is comparable.

That doesn't make the Curado my favorite reel,

but it is "strong, smooth, silent and reliant".

8-)

[Bronzefly]

I don't know anyone with arms long enough to flip 35 feet. Pitch, well that's another story.

Ahhh... the old flip v pitch... don't know why it's so confusing for people ;D

[uicdent11]

Hey Buddy!

My New Year's resolution is to stay out of these

"best" threads and let everyone else play as long

as they like.

I'm still "trying"...

:-[

I think they make a patch for that RW. It might help you keep to your new years resolution.  ;D

[ArcticCat500]

Hey Buddy!

My New Year's resolution is to stay out of these

"best" threads and let everyone else play as long

as they like.

I'm still "trying"...

:-[

I think they make a patch for that RW. It might help you keep to your new years resolution. ;D

They make a patch for alcohol?  Were can I get one? ;D

[rubba bubba]

The Reel Wars are the best threads on BR, hands down.

I was sure RW was going to go all Bruce Banner when it was suggested there are problems with the Curado. ;D

[Bronzefly]

I was sure RW was going to go all Bruce Banner when it was suggested there are problems with the Curado. ;D

Now that was funny...

[21farms]

I can flip a 3/8 jig over 35' with mine.

And you could flip the same distance with line wrapped around a tin can...

what exactly are you saying?

when you said flip, he took it to mean that you used the flippin' technique whereby the reel doesn't do much except hold the line as the lure is swung by the rod and dropped into the target, usually only 7-10 feet away.

[OnthePotomac]

I could not agree more on the excellent quality of the Curado E7.  It will sling a weightless worm a mile.

[barroncooper]

I can flip a 3/8 jig over 35' with mine.

And you could flip the same distance with line wrapped around a tin can...

what exactly are you saying?

when you said flip, he took it to mean that you used the flippin' technique whereby the reel doesn't do much except hold the line as the lure is swung by the rod and dropped into the target, usually only 7-10 feet away.

well pitch then

[barroncooper]

I don't know anyone with arms long enough to flip 35 feet. Pitch, well that's another story.

sorry to confuse i meant pitch

[Choke Canyon Boy]

return it and get a new one to try. Curados are great casters.

Something is defective on that particular reel.

The Curado 200E7 is comparable in every way

to the highest priced Shimanos. At the pricing

point, I thnk it is the best reel on the market.

Unfortunately, you have a dud.

Roadwarrior I have to call your bluff on this issue again. This is in no way an attack on you as a person etc. and you are surely entitled to your opionion. However, in another post you said the new C14 was comparable in every way to a stella and now a curado to a calias ,core etc. This information is very misleading and simply not true. These higher end products are made of much better material and mechanically and functionally are totally different than the reels you compare them to. The curado and C14 are tremendous reels in their price range and I would recommend them to anyone, however the reels you try to compare them to are enthuiast class reels meaning cost is not a factor to the market they are trying to attract with these higher end reels. Enthuiast reels are made of the highest quality materials available for people who simply won't compromise on refinement even if it cost 500-1000$ And they DO GET the best available product. What you are doing is trying to compare a 40,000$ Corvette to a 90,000 Lingenfelter twin turbo Corvette. Sure both cars are really fast and will both do over 150 however the lingenfelter will smoke the base Corvette in every way possible and you expect this because the owners of the Lingenfelter payed 50,000$ more for that exact reason. These reels are not comparable to the highest end Shimano reels PERIOD........

[roadwarrior]

The higher priced Shimanos have higher quality

components, are lighter in some cases, may be

a bit smoother and in the right hands, cast further.

My point is that "fishing" both the Curado and CI4

is comparable to "fishing" the higher priced reels.

In my hands the Curado 200E7 is not noticeably

different than the Core 100. The Core 50 is probably

my favorite baitcaster, but the CH50MG feels and

works well for me, too! I probably fish a Calais 200

more than any other baitcaster, but I like the

CTE200GT just as well.

As an enthusiast, I'm very happy with a number

of Shimanio reels, including my most favorite, the

Stella 2500FD. As a fisherman, I could be completely

satisfied with the Curado as my baitcaster and the

Stradic CI4 as my spinning reel.

8-)