RussBert

I like the Daiwa "special oil" and now use it all my spool bearings in Daiwa, Shimano and ABU reels. I use Cal's drag grease on the Daiwas (Fuego's) drag washers. You could use Shimano or Daiwa drag grease as well. I would recommend not mixing different types of grease though, just in case there is some funky reaction. I cleaned the drag washers with citrus cleaner and a toothbrush, rinsed and dried throughly before applying the Cal's

how do you get the "registered" symbols to appear in your post? I have an E7 on a Crucial 6'6" MH/F rod. Nice set-up for $300 IMHO. I got the rod at ***, and the reel from Great Bay Tackle, and ebay store for $150 shipped. if nothing else, it's a handsome piece of kit ;D

the "hoop" on a spinning reel is indeed the bail

LOL! Even though TW offers the free shipping, I always spend the extra $5 to get it in 2 days...takes over a week otherwise to the goodies here to CT

the bail

Are you old enough to have a credit card? TW doesn't accept monopoly money ;D

look what the search feature found, http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?action=search2 I've bought two myself from TW, but won't get to fish them 'till spring

The cross pin on the spool shaft isn't engaging into the slots in the pinion smoothly. Is this reel used or new? At any rate it sounds like the reel needs to be cleaned and re-lubricated

*** sic'd the bait monkey on me, and now I can't get him off my back

check out this thread http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1262547369/11#11 $100 gets you a very good reel (Shimano Citia) from some ebay stores

Awesome post! ;D I have an E7 on a Crucial 6'6" MH/F rod. Very nice set-up, and purty too!

One trick I use is to touch the tip of a soldering iron onto the head of the screw, which heats it up and breaks the bond of the Loc-Tite. I use a 40 watt Weller iron with a 3/8" tip, which heats up the screw quickly...30 or-so seconds

I smell sour grapes

Maybe so but to much $$$ for a hobbiest, IMO... Again I don't agree. I paid about $15 for my set from TI back in the 80's and I haven't stripped a screw head in 25 years working on reels. You don't need expensive tools like that when your occasionally braking into reels, heck I wouldn't recommend that expensive of a set even for a pro... Take your time and work right in the proper environment, and you won't have any problems.... Just the words of a pro! Tight Lines!!! Quality tools are an asset. In over 30 years of tool & die making, along with tinkering with everything I've encountered throughout my life, I have never regreted buying (and using) quality tools, but I have indeed regreted buying and using"cheap" tools. Value is not always measured by low cost. $26 is inexpensive when investing in a good set of miniature screwdrivers...you aught to see the Brownell's gunsmith screwdriver set I have! I wonder how many phillip's head screws have been buggered up with junk screwdrivers :-?

Check out this link... http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3367725/When_to_use_oil_When_to_use_gr

The Tackle Tour website has excellent tutorials on performing reel maintenance, even suggesting what tools and lubes to use. Anyone with a little mechanical aptitude and a few tools can easily service their own gear

So eloquently explained 8-) The goal of a fisherman is to catch fish The goal of the tackle manufacturer's is to convice the angler they need to have more tackle in order to catch more fish. Marketing at it's finest. I'm a n00b, and I'm overwhelmed by the excess of tackle. I like RW's simple approach

http://www.lakesidereels.com just go to the Revo STX

BadBass94, Is the reel in question? http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_91075_100001000_100000000_100001000_100-1-0 Is this the rod? http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98373_100002006_100000000_100002000_100-2-6 Looks like a winner for $100 8-)

That's pretty much what I did with one of my Fuego's... I put it on a 6'6" St Croix Premier MH/F. My other Fuego's on a Quantum Superlite 7' M/MF. The Superlite was a great deal as well. The Compre's are good rods with an excellent warranty. A lot of value for $100, and TW has the 6'6" Crankbait Compre for $68.88 delivered

Here's a link from the fishing articles tab at the top of the page. I recommend you spend some time and read some of the great articles. http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/rod-actions-power.html

ksbasser, Thanks for that insight into parts availability

I'm a newb too, and after reading numerous posts here I decided upon the Shimano CuradoE7. You can get them from ebay for around $150 delivered (Great Bay Tackle) I also went with the Crucial 6'6" MH/F rod, which I scored from *** when they had their 20% off sale going. All-in-all a pretty sweet set-up for $270 bucks (I spooled up with 12# Yo-Zuri hybrid line : I went with the Curado due to great customer serivce and the fact that Shimano will be around a long time, and have parts to care of this reel. Also there are many places to have it serviced if need be. You'll be hard pressed to find any negative reviews of this reel.

I picked one up from TW, and I just ordered another. I'm a nebie, but to me this is a very nice reel. I'm just beginning with a baitcaster, and I can cast this reel quite well. I'm impressed 8-)

I bought one of TW's $132 Fuego's a couple weeks back...today I ordered another! It's a fine reel. I also have a new Curado E7. In my uneducated opinion I prefer the Fuego. I'll let you know how it all works out at the end of the 2010 season One's on a Quantum Superlite 7' M/MF rod (another killer deal @ $100). The next one will go on a St Croix Premier 6'6" MH/F