aquaholik

That's the idle gear that sits on top of the worm gear shaft that slows the oscillation down? Match it up with the worm gear and see if the wear pattern matches the top of the worm gear.

Believe it or not, for the 2007 Stella FD 3000-4000, the USA version use a type B handle while the JDM use a type A handle. Had to order the second half of the handle from plat.co.jp to replace 3 USA Stella FD knob because the owner got tired of replacing the melted septon grip on them. The JDM rubber grip never melts and replacing the second half of the handle means that it can now accept the Stella FE and Fi knob as well as smaller aftermarket round knob. It's only a matter of time before you can't find part for the older Shimano so the $30 handle shaft swap per reel ensure future knob compatibility for a long long time. Unfortunately for the type B handle, the smallest aftermarket knob is 34mm in diameter. The smaller 30 mm for the type A is ideal if you like smaller knob.

Starting at about 2009-2010 all of the shimano 4000 and under comes standard with type A so it's interchangeable with the baitcasters. 2002-2007 was when it was a big headache to categorize the shimano spinner. 1000-2500 is type A while the 3000-4000 is the longer type B. But the type A of the older reel has 5 mm shaft, just like the Type B. Now it's all standardized. Type A is 4 mm shaft with 4x7x2.5 bearing while type B has a 5mm shaft but requires two different bearing size because of the step down to 4mm at the end of the shaft.

Looks like the handle length on both reels are the longer type B handle. I don't think the knob from the baitcaster is going to fit. They are typically shorter type A handle.

Are you sure the handle shaft length is the same? Stradic 3000 Fi is a type B handle but Sustain FE 2500 is a type A handle length but with a 5mm shaft diameter. Might want to take the knob out and see if they are the same length.

PCOLUMBUS2017 but it only works with certain seller.

Great piece of advice that likely falls on deaf ears. Don't purchase the Ci4+ 3000(7 oz) until you feel how it balances on this rod. Rod balancing is far from fictional, especially if you are casting and jigging all day long. Fighting the tip heavy feeling all day long is no fun and not only wear you out, it kills the overall sensitivity of the entire setup. I own 2 of the latest Ci4+ FB in the 3000 and 4000. While the Ci4+ 3000 FB balances fine on an Avid Inshore 7ft Medium action(full cork behind the reel seat), take the advice on the short split grip. There will not be enough weight on the rear of the rod and your rod tip will nose dive where you grip the rod to fish with. I also own a JDM 3000 FK with the 5:1 gear ratio and used that heavily for 2 years. I've burned the felt drags and replaced with carbontex and did a myriad of improvement to the FK ( handle bearing upgrade, bearing on the spool support, bearing on the rear of the worm drive). It's a beast of a reel and it's amazing that with constant 3-5 lbs drag for two years, there is zero wear on the drive gear and pinion gear. It's a solidly constructed and well aligned aluminum reel. Nothing bad to say about the Ci4+(gave away my 3000 to my brother) and it will work fine if the setup is balance but I've seen people use this on a heavier and not balance 7ft rod and they are constantly fighting the setup all day long. They pick my setup and the feel is night and day difference. I have the 2017 Sustain along with the 2016 Twinpower and 2015 Stella in the 3000 size. Those hardly get used because of how solid the Stradic FK feels fighting a fish under load. Zero flex and with the lower gear ratio and a 30 mm aluminum knob, absolutely powerful for it's size and weight. With the 2500 FK on Ebay from American Legacy for $126, it's a no brainer, especially with the 20% off coupon. Net cost is $101.60 shipped! Bought two just to rotate my braids used on the 3000 size reels. If you have the right tool and trick the reel out, it's the best value there is in spinning reel right now. Don't bother with the Nasci since it's not a screw in handle design. It's good enough for commercial fishing casting jig all day long and handle 2-4 lbs hard pulling Pompano with ease.

I picked up a 1500 yds spool and a 300 yds spool. Thanks to your post.

.9mm hex or allen key. Amazon has it. Or file a small paper clip into the hole and unscrew it.

Very good stuff. Excellent strength to diameter ratio and excellent knot strength.

What is that number 03413, 03414, 03415 ? I think the number on the bottom of the reel foot it not the unique serial number. They are just the model number for the foreign market.

It is just the first half hitch that locks the wrap in. After that half hitch is made, glove tighten and it will lock the braid onto the mono. You can see this visibily when the braid turns dark or translucent depending on the line. The next series of alternating half hitches add insurance against slippage on the mono. The mono could slip a tiny bit past the flush tagged end and the knot will still hold as long as the mono do not slip past the very first half hitch that locks the knot in.

A ramp is nothing more than a series of half hitches to double the thickness of the braid in front of the trimmed mono/fluro leader. But a ramp is useless if you don't have the confidence to trim your leader tag end very short. A ramp is not needed with leader under 25 lbs, IMHO.

I changed the worm gear, under the spool, and handle. If you gave me one that was stock, I wouldn't be able to tell the difference blind reeling it. Try this experiment. Before you swap out to carbontex, see if the felt drag will last longer(if the felt drag hasn't already disintegrated) with the bearing under the spool. I have a 10 years old Twinpower that has caught ten times more fish than the burned out drag washers on the Stradic FK. It has felt washers also but the difference is that it actually has a bearing inside the spool as well as bearing support under the spool.

There's a few bushing to upgrade. Google Stradic FK upgrade and you will find the link with step by step instruction. Bushing under the spool, bushing on the reel handle knob, bushing on the worm gear.

The Sustain has an extra bearing in the handle and a bearing under the spool support. Both are easily swap-able with a .9mm hex tool. The Stradic FK has much better sealing in the roller bearing, anti-reverse bearing, and seal on top of the rotor and handle and seal knob.

You did the right thing taking one off. some time the set of shims vary in thickness for really precise adjustment. Shimano reels come with shims that vary in thickness.

I believe the op about line failure. But it's really more like knot failure. Just use FG knot with a leader and your problem will go away. I've done extensive testing with FG knot strength in nanofil. I can truthfully tell you that it's FG knot strength is 150% of it's labeled strength from 6 lbs Nanofil to 14 lbs Nanofil. I have used it the last 3 seasons and it has landed thousands of fish from countless jacks and pompanos to sheepshead and large drum and plenty of bass to 5lbs in the backyard pond.

Maxcuatro is a rough 4 strands braids that is made of very good spectra materials. It is indeed thin yet still over test. 30 lbs breaks at 42 lbs and 40 breaks at 58 lbs. If you're not using a leader, expect about 55-60% knot strength with a Palomar knot. So at about 40lbs knot breaking strength with 65 lbs Maxcuatro. It's not a smooth braid so knot strength is on the low side.

I think for the money on the Vanquish, get the Stella. The 2016 Ci4 that you have is hard to beat for value in a light reel. Vanquish will add bearing in the spool and under the spool for smoother drag. But it always seem to fragile for my relatively heavy use.

The Avid inshore is definitely tuned much differently than the older fresh water Avid which I have in 7ft ML, and 7ft 6 M. I should have tested the rod in store but I had $200 Cabela's Gift Card that was burning a hole in my pocket. The 7 ft M Avid inshore has the upper tip section of a 7ft ML freshwater Avid but the backbone of a medium action rod. It's slightly faster also. Definitely tuned differently than my 7ft Legend Elite. So you might want to test the rod in store. You might go with a 7'6" M action instead once you feel how soft the tip is. It's definitely tuned to throw lighter bait better and might sling a 3/8 oz jig out of sight with 6-10 lbs braid. I generally use 10 lbs white Nanofil and while everyone said that line is crappy, I managed to put enough drag and tension on that line to burn out felt washers. The key with Nanofil is FG knot to flurocarbon leader. Those big drums were hauled in with 10 lbs Nanofil. Waiting for it to get cold enough to stack the big trouts. Should be a perfect rod for the Mirrodine.

Yes, the 2016 Ci4 FB is a thing of beauty. Just paired the 5.0:1 3000 Ci4FB with a Avid Inshore 7' Medium action. It's almost too light and adding a .7oz aluminum Votex knob made it balances perfectly on the 4 oz rod. But the color clash is awful and I wish they make aluminum knob with a red accent. Not sure how well it will hold up. I'll find out in a year. Yep, and it sucks since they won't have the parts or repair JDM reels.

I think felt is fine if you fish 2-3 lbs of drag. I still have the original felt washers on my 2004 Twinpower and that has seen LOTS of 10lbs+ Jacks, countless 20-35 lbs black drum, 20 or so 50-60 lbs Tarpon. And that's fished with 3-6 lbs drag depending on the species. But the big difference in the Twinpower is bearing inside the spool and on the spool shaft which even the 2015 Stradic FK do not have. I upgraded the shaft bushing to bearing on my 4000 FK just to see if it will extend the life of the felt washers. That one gets used with a constant 5-7 lbs drag for prying snappers of the bottom and away from structures. Replacing the felt drag on the Stradic FK is very straightforward and Dawn from Smoothdrag has those carbontex washers. It's the same size as previous gens of Stellas '07, and '11. I think Shimano must have put in a new type of felt washers in the Stradic FK. My friend barely use his and complained about stuck drag knob. When I opened it up, I see the telltale cotton like materials working its way up the shaft to the top metal washers. I think he tightened the drag before spraying it down and left it tightened.

I double checked. 5.0 :1 for 3000 and 4.8:1 for 4000. I'm comfortable tearing them down and ordering gear sets from Japan if I need to. All other parts are the same. Only difference is pinion, main gear, and idle gears. When I purchased them almost two years ago, they were only about $160 shipped. Same goes for the 2016 Stradic Ci4. Lower gear ratio is available if you look carefully.

I pick the lowest one, 4.7:1 on both the 3000 and 4000.