I have some 8(?) year old stradics (white without the wooden handles). They are great reels when they have been serviced, but I feel like I am constantly servicing them to keep them smooth. I have been told that they are not “technically Saltwater” reels. What is everyone’s take on the newer Stradics? Do they hold up better?
***Please keep this thread to NEWER VS. OLDER STRADICS. I don’t care about penn, okuma, diawa, barbie, or any other reels for the sake of this discussion!
They definitely hold up better but price wise have gotten out of site. The new symmetre is smoother than the old stradics and haddrells has them on sale now for 89 bucks
I have the newer stradics, not the cl3 but the regular ones, they are really smooth and I only service them once a year. I have never owned the older version of the stradics but the newer ones definitely hold up in saltwater.
I have fi’s ci4’s and fj’s and I like the fj’s the most. But BE SURE TO OIL THE LINE roller bearin as soon as you get the reel or else it will crap out after 5 uses and make a bad noise. Just ask chuck lather, he has 10 fj’s that make a awful noise I fixed one but the others need a new lr bearing. But if you oil it every ten uses it will be fine.
Owned one of the older ones fished it hard for seven years, has a little wobble to the handle and drag no longer makes any noise. Just retired it last year and replaced it with a new fj model, other than the above mentioned line roller issue, I love the reel! You will get your moneys worth if you take relatively good care of them.
Roller bearings are cheap and easy to replace. Why doesn’t he just replace them?
quote:
Originally posted by coosawkaneI have fi’s ci4’s and fj’s and I like the fj’s the most. But BE SURE TO OIL THE LINE roller bearin as soon as you get the reel or else it will crap out after 5 uses and make a bad noise. Just ask chuck lather, he has 10 fj’s that make a awful noise I fixed one but the others need a new lr bearing. But if you oil it every ten uses it will be fine.
Idk. I just talked to him and he said they are crap(which there not) and shimano should tell you to oil the bearings. He said he’s getting sustains. but I’m sure they will have the same problem. I tried to tell him just to keep the fj’s because shimano already sent him 10 bearings.
The white Stradics without the wooden handles (Stradic FH) were the worst ones Shimano made. I believe they had open bearings, which causes a lot of problems on spinning reels - hard to keep the grease in and the dirt/salt out. I own several of the FI and FJ Stradics, and they’ve been great. I don’t take great care of my stuff and have had virtually no problems with the newer Stradics.
As noted above, the Symetre is a great value at about half the price of a Stradic.
quote:
Originally posted by The DudeThe white Stradics without the wooden handles (Stradic FH) were the worst ones Shimano made. I believe they had open bearings, which causes a lot of problems on spinning reels - hard to keep the grease in and the dirt/salt out. I own several of the FI and FJ Stradics, and they’ve been great. I don’t take great care of my stuff and have had virtually no problems with the newer Stradics.
As noted above, the Symetre is a great value at about half the price of a Stradic.
Thanks, that’s what I was looking for. Thanks to the rest of y’all as well. I guess mine are the Fh style, and I am taking them apart, cleaning and re-greasing every four months. Those things take some abuse in the kayak!
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!
Been throwing the CI4s for a while now. A little pricey but so is everything else these days…
2007 Scout 221 150 Yamaha 4 stroke
do yall get them serviced locally or by shimano?
Got four of the CI4 3000. I clean them with mild detergent and place a drop of oil on the roller bearing after every use. I have replaced a roller bearing on one of them. The bearing is less than $4.00. Less than a 5 minute repair. They are pricy, but I like the light weight composite material. I believe the 2500, 3000, and 4000 all use the same roller bearing.
Kane, tell Chuck I will be happy to repair his reels if he’ll show me his “Super Secret” fishing spot!!
I have 5 older Stradics (2 are 10+ years old) and experienced roller bearing problems a few years back. When I replaced the bearings, I was advised to pack the bearings with Shimano drag grease to keep the water out. I have not had any problems since.
I do clean them and oil the moving parts periodically.
“A bad day on the water beats a good day in the office.”
The Mg series of Stradics is designed for saltwater…(Mg standing for magnesium). I have a 2500 and 4000 Mg(A)…fished them in saltwater for over 5 years, never serviced but I do clean and lube them once a year. The newer version is the Stradic CI4:
After you rinse them, blast them with corrosion block.
DolphinD - My Penn Battles have held up pretty good and cheap enough to replace every year.
I have a 3 year old 2500 on a TFO and a 1 year old 1500 on a custom trout rod. I love them both. Feather light, durable and handle what’s thrown at them. I’ve caught big reds on that 1500 and it is a treat.
Not sure if that is “older”, but my opinion.
I’ve got 3 Sahara “kid/guest” reels. A guide recommended them and they have been money, the oldest 3 years old. They’ve swam, slammed and been drug through the sand, but they keep rolling.
I keep them clean and recently had them serviced by Mike Holtsclaw who recently opened a place in Summerville towards Moncks Corner. He was with CA for years. Did great, timely service at a very fair price. If anyone wants info pm me. Good peeps.
Vinman
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
2011 Carolina Skiff 178DLV
90 HP Honda
quote:
Originally posted by RapchizzleDolphinD - My Penn Battles have held up pretty good and cheap enough to replace every year.
AZZ hole
Annoy a Liberal, Work Hard and Be Happy!