Upgrade parts for Fuego

[Shane J]

Where's the best place to buy an upgrade handle and drag star for a Daiwa Fuego? I'm looking to do a 4 bearing swept handle for it, and the guy doing the supertuning and drag upgrade says he will be looking for my handle this weekend, but I want to see what's out there. Thanks for the help.

[hitchhiker]

I think it's from the Advantage HSTA, you may also need the swept drag star.  Or you could go with carbon fiber for the handle, but again I think you will need the swept star as well. 

I love those reels and whenever I try a different one I always seem to go back to my Fuegos.  Good luck with the upgrade.  Post some pics when you get it back.

[Shane J]

Thanks, and I definitely will! I love my fuego, too, and can't wait to get her back all done up.

[RussBert]

The 90mm aluminum swept 4 bearing handle from the HSTA fits the Fuego nicely.

H20-6801 - Handle - $50.50

040-3206 - Handle Nut Plate, Red - $3.60

G70-3304 - Handle nut, LH

353-8301 - Handle Nut Plate Screw - $0.75

I re-worked the factory drag star to mate up with the swept handle. Here's some pics,

There are many other Daiwa handles that work as well. You'll need to search through the schematics to find the part numbers. You can also get aftermarket handles from ZPI and Bassart. Brooklyn Bill's has them, as well as Japan Tackle and PLAT.

My Fuego's also have SmoothDrag Carbontex drag washers, Boca Hybrid spool bearings and Daiwa/I'ZE HLC (hyper long cast)) spools and a bearing was added to the worm drive

The HLC spool is on the right. It is lighter than the stock spool, but pricey

http://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default.php

http://www.japantackle.com/

http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com/

http://www.smoothdrag.com/

http://www.bocabearings.com/

[BlaineFred]

RussBert...beautiful looking reel...I have two Fuegos, and I'm tempted to upgrade them as you have done.

Couple of q's...with the supertuning, do you get better casting distance?

Does is cast light lures better?

And just curious...what type of line is on the reel?

Thanks.

[Shane J]

Thank you so much, Russ! Your reel is awesome, and it's actually what  pushed me over the edge in doing mine. I'm doing everything you did, except the spool for right now. Very big help there, and much appreciated.

[RussBert]

RussBert...beautiful looking reel...I have two Fuegos, and I'm tempted to upgrade them as you have done.

Couple of q's...with the supertuning, do you get better casting distance?

Thanks. More importantly than distance (to me) is accuracy. I am able to cast with less effort, which I believe gives me better control & accuracy

Does is cast light lures better?

Yes. I have one Fuego mounted on an Avid 6'6" M/F rod and I'm able to cast 3" senko's and other unweighted plastics quite well. The spool with quality bearings is a major factor.

The reel now pitches much better too. I have another Fuego on an Avid 7" MH/F

And just curious...what type of line is on the reel?

Thanks.

40# Power Pro. Truth be told, I used their "vermillion" colored line because it matched the reel :

And yes, my fishing Bud's keep busting my chops about it ;D

On a side note, I could've bought myself a Steez for all the money I "invested" in this reel

It was a fun project. I got these reels from TW when they were on clearance, and then bought them with another 10% and 20% off. The Fuego is a great reel right out of the box 8-)

[Micro]

That is sweet looking.  I have two Fuegos and love them.  I'd love to fix them up like yours. 

[BlaineFred]

It was a fun project. I got these reels from TW when they were on clearance, and then bought them with another 10% and 20% off. The Fuego is a great reel right out of the box 8-)

That's how I bought my Fuegos...last Christmas time when they go to 20% off on everything.  Clearance prices and 20% off makes for great deals!!

I knew that I had an excellent reel with my first cast.  Wow!

[Fat-G]

The 90mm aluminum swept 4 bearing handle from the HSTA fits the Fuego nicely.

H20-6801 - Handle - $50.50

040-3206 - Handle Nut Plate, Red - $3.60

G70-3304 - Handle nut, LH

353-8301 - Handle Nut Plate Screw - $0.75

I re-worked the factory drag star to mate up with the swept handle. Here's some pics,

There are many other Daiwa handles that work as well. You'll need to search through the schematics to find the part numbers. You can also get aftermarket handles from ZPI and Bassart. Brooklyn Bill's has them, as well as Japan Tackle and PLAT.

My Fuego's also have SmoothDrag Carbontex drag washers, Boca Hybrid spool bearings and Daiwa/I'ZE HLC (hyper long cast)) spools and a bearing was added to the worm drive

The HLC spool is on the right. It is lighter than the stock spool, but pricey

http://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default.php

http://www.japantackle.com/

http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com/

http://www.smoothdrag.com/

http://www.bocabearings.com/

Once again. That reel is amazing. How much would it cost to get a drag/bearing upgrade?

But seriously. That thing is just plain sexy.

[Shane J]

The BOCA Orange spool bearings are $28 a piece, and there are two of them in the Fuego. The Carbontex drag upgrade is only about $20.

[Nibbles]

That is sweet looking. I have two Fuegos and love them. I'd love to fix them up like yours.

As of yesterday, ditto!

I've just been having great luck lately. Found one locally for 125, and just sniped one off ebay at a buy-it-now price of 108 that had been created something like 2 minutes prior to me jumping on it like a rabid animal. 

Who says college brats can't have nice things?

[ksbasser]

Boca orange seals are about 16 bucks each from Boca. Some reel shops sell them for 14 bucks each. I believe that the smoothdrag set of carbon fiber washers for a Fuego is actually 8 bucks.

[Shane J]

Right on, Kevin. Well that'll make the wife a little happier. Saving some money is good! Man, I cannot wait to use this bad boy when I get it back!

[RussBert]

The cost of the parts ala carte is going to be less than if you pay someone to install them.

For instance the drag washers are $8 but it costs almost that to ship them, then add the cost of drag grease and installation. $20 is a good deal

[adclem]

Does the drag upgrade make a significant difference?

Thanks,

[RussBert]

Does the drag upgrade make a significant difference?

Thanks,

I never fished these reels with the factory drag washers

[Micro]

What was your technique on the drag star?  That's the best looking one I have ever seen.

[Shane J]

Yeah, that is cool. It's like factory... but not.

[RussBert]

What was your technique on the drag star? That's the best looking one I have ever seen.

I cut the outside face in a lathe at an angle that matched the handle. This gave me a reference surface, then I used small swiss files to radius the edges. I followed up with 600, 1000 and 2000 grit wet/dry paper and finished it off with simi-chrome polish.

Yeah, it took a while   

[J Francho]

I'd go for the bearings, spool upgrade, and drag washers, but to put a heavier swept handle on it seems a waste.  The work on the drag star shown above is superb, though.

[RussBert]

I'd go for the bearings, spool upgrade, and drag washers, but to put a heavier swept handle on it seems a waste. The work on the drag star shown above is superb, though.

The stock Fuego handle/nut/cover weighs 34.05 grams 

The HSTA handle/nut/nut plate/screw weigh 31.54 grams  8-)

The four bearings make it so much smoother and for me more fun to fish with, plus I really prefer the 90mm length as opposed to the 80mm stock handle. Again, personal preference.

[Big Bait Fishing]

Boca orange seals are about 16 bucks each from Boca. Some reel shops sell them for 14 bucks each. I believe that the smoothdrag set of carbon fiber washers for a Fuego is actually 8 bucks.

that is exactly right , $15.95 each for the spool bearings and 8 and change for the drag washers . i am not gonna get the orange seals , too much of a hassle to reinstall them , get the stainless shields , and get the ABEC 7's , these are the ones going in all my Revo's ..... to pay 28 bucks for spool bearings they better be ABEC 9's  :

[J Francho]

I'd go for the bearings, spool upgrade, and drag washers, but to put a heavier swept handle on it seems a waste. The work on the drag star shown above is superb, though.

The stock Fuego handle/nut/cover weighs 34.05 grams

The HSTA handle/nut/nut plate/screw weigh 31.54 grams 8-)

The four bearings make it so much smoother and for me more fun to fish with, plus I really prefer the 90mm length as opposed to the 80mm stock handle. Again, personal preference.

Woa, that actually surprises me.  Is that with the bearing installed in the knobs?  I would have gone with a Bassart handle, but the swept handle with your knob mod looks great.  Now you need to get some RCS or Cork knobs for it.

[J Francho]

Oh, and for knob bearings, a little tip.  I like to pack them with grease, and not oil. A really free spinning knob drives me nuts, and really interferes with feeling a contact bait.  But that's just a personal preference.  Knobs with bearing support retain that new car feel for as long as the bearing is in good order.  The riveted versions hold up for a while, but after a year or so of hard use, some get loose.