bulldog1935

@Hulkster - that's the entire logic. The pitch increase from '18 Stella series to '22 Stella series is about 10% - doesn't equate to that much cast difference. (1 to 2%) If you remember the 1990s, long spools and spool pitch combined with carbon drag came in like gangbusters. They didn't understand the bending moments created by long spindle on the gears and rotor, and these were the worst spinning reels ever made, self-destructing drive gears and rotor bushings. '18 Stella, '19 Stradic and Vanquish, '20 Vanford and Twin Power represent a landmark - the first truly over-designed spinning reel.

hide the simple green in the garage - solvent is mineral spirits and denatured alcohol. I work on OP's valuable antiques. May not look like much, but it's 140 y-o and worth $8000. Made by Julius vomHofe for Spaulding, and the embossed Kosmic model name was a trademark infringement.

To give you the e.g., my med-frame Twin Power has PE1215 spool loaded with PE#1.2 for inshore beast and PE0815 spool topped with PE#0.6 working line for finesse - note that the same series Vanquish spool swaps-in.

I believe it comes charged with 4-lb, and I'd stick with the factory line, because I believe it will perform best - especially cast distance. The Zebco line is a little thicker than most, and you can probably fit 6-lb fluoro (8-lb ester). I still have a pair of UL-1 my daughters were raised with. As @Eric 26 mentioned, Delta and higher models have spool oscillation for improved cast distance, but I personally believe 33 Micro is the nicest kid-fish reel made. (except maybe the Isuzu, which I haven't handled).

@Motoboss - getting around to my answer. I opened my up my Zillion the first time to clean (didn't need) and lube after 4 salt years. It was pristine inside. The quality of lubes used today are extremely stable - that is, they don't decompose to wax with long-term use. You can go for years unless you have an event like dunk. That said, I have friends who make cleaning and lube on all their reels a winter priority.

@Eric 26 Except for the weight of Omega Pro - I would not place that load on a kid. I've done this before and my daughters will out-fish any man they ever meet. I also wouldn't place the learning curve of a baitcaster on a child. Take them to places they can have fun if they choose not to fish, catching crayfish and turtles. Don't teach, but facilitate their wants. Some days they'll want to play - other days, they'll take you to every hole they've ever fished and put in a tough half-day. hey, your sister's fishing there

The only major difference is the weight. Vanford is CI4+ composite body and lightened rotor. Otherwise, the reels are identical throughout. Vanford also slightly shortens the stem length to improve the composite body stiffness. Some people have complained about grip space and interference with their fingers. OK, I noticed FA vs. FM - FA is based on '18 Stella, while FM is based on '22 Stella. The only change is slightly increased spindle length and spool pitch. The older design is inherently stronger and '22 change indicates Shimano was happy enough with their older design, they increased the spindle length and pitch to push it a little harder. You might have a tougher time finding spare spools for the FA, and they're still available in Japan ('20 Vanford)

Instead of buying junk Zebco, I'd recommend buying 33 Micro. If you want something that stands out, Isuzu Piccino in recent JDM production. Raising Independent, non-compliant daughters (on UL-1) - if they couldn't do it themselves, they didn't want to do it. they'll also let you know when they're ready for next level

I have a South Bend 1131A on Cross South Bend Doublebilt cane rod Mason sells braided black nylon https://www.masontackle.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=74 South Bend ABL has a line bail linked to a wool pad that brakes the spool. The knob adjusts the stand-off on the wool pad. Properly adjusted, you Never need to thumb after you release your cast.

better to clean aluminum, copper and steel in dilute vinegar (2 to 3 parts water), rinse, and finish with light solvent wash. (or beat the rush and clean in solvent). Soap attacks aluminum. Ammonia in most soaps cracks yellow metal (gear teeth). Soap is only a friend to magnesium (totally avoid vinegar). metallurgist, corrosion engineer, and licensed PE.

@MN Fisher I have a mylar sailcloth sail bag that I pack gear (kayak shoes, fillet knife roll, leader kit w/ spare spools), and my Ott lamp and magnifier goes in there for any extended trip. It's also handy for tying leader knots at the camp table. On a week-long trip, the sail bag also receives my salty clothes.

most useful tool for me is Ott lamp and magnifier. Amazon sells $10 ultrasonic jewelry cleaners that work for reel parts and bearings. Also a good idea to buy cheap beaker + watch glass - helps keep solvent fumes down. @Choporoz - don't feel bad, there's an innate ability required to begin honing the skills - not everybody has it, and not everybody has the interest. If it's not your idea of fun, definitely give it to the pro.

gee guys, this is the same link - you don't need anything to the right of the first ? https://www.amazon.com/GOMEXUS-Power-Handle/dp/B071L3QTT3/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_maf_1 Likewise, I linked the Abu knobs in my prior post, but you can't use those unless you measure your knob spindle is 5 mm. The biggest, baddest and Lightest are Studio Composite - they're always lighter than the little stock rubber knobs - the EVA is over carbon tube. I can find these in both 4-mm and 5-mm but it takes astute Japan shopping.

Yet the only stock for the correct Ray's Studio spool is the link that I posted. Ray's Studio, btw, isn't made in China, it's made in Thailand. The normal Thailand seller is Delta Fishing - I made the effort and checked, he doesn't have stock. If you buy a Ray's Studio item from Ali Express, tracking will show it imported into China before it's exported in an A/E shipping container to US. Opinions are one thing, solutions another. btw, if you follow through with knob spindle measurement recommended on your other thread, you can order spool and knobs (if correct diameter) together on the same postage. https://www.ebay.com/str/sdscustomreels

Looked at the reel, and saw the paddle grips. • Custom-designed 95 mm carbon fiber handle with soft-touch paddle grips We'll never know what you have until you pull it apart and measure the knob spindle diameter. They come in 4-mm (Shimano and Daiwa) and 5-mm (Doyo, et.al.) That's the place to begin. Bad formulation on the grip rubber - I get that. Different shape - don't get that without knowing what you want. I'm a fan of big EVA knobs, and not to scare you with Studio Composite knobs, here's Avail's big A-knob that fits Shimano and Daiwa spindle. Another favorite is Livre faceted titanium-shell knob. I never liked Lew's flat paddles, but I did like these Abu EVA replacements for 5-mm spindle that I found at SDS Customs. They also fit Omega Pro handle, and Abu offers their version of both giant Avail R and Studio Composite knobs that fit 5-mm spindle. Once you figure out the spindle diameter, Abu vs. Shimano/Daiwa, ebay is loaded with knob choices.

I do have a Daiwa with a spool smaller than 28-mm Ø (wish I had the rod, telescope w/ shirt-pocket pen clip) yeah, I found and edited that before you quoted my post. I wouldn't even be here if @Junger handn't invited me. Also, the quoted post offered the correct spool. This one from Ukraine has even deeper capacity https://www.ebay.com/itm/255019237412

Somehow, @Junger got lost from this thread. This one from Ukraine has working capacity for 10-lb mono. https://www.ebay.com/itm/255019237412

There's no significant difference in those two numbers. All USM Shimano and Daiwa reels sent to US are high- or super-high geared - 6-geared. In my winter XUL salt fishing - big fish sipping tiny winter bait with no aggression - I get a lot more feel (and fish) from lower-geared small-frame. Same Shimano reel, 15 models in JDM offering different gearing (22 to 40 ipt) and spool depth, vs. 5 models, all HG or XG, exported to USM. I'll also add, where I'm using a long float/dropper rig, I like my SHG Stradic (same as USM FL) to straighten all that line out in a hurry.

@Smirak This was my daughter's go-to for nursery seatrout on Fulton Beach Pier, before I added the long rockfish rods in my first post. Matched with Penn 4200SS. A skill we honed to catch 40 in the hour after sunset and dinner at Cap'n Benny's. But the rockfish rods more than doubled our reach to fish the far edges of the lights. The long progressive XUL rods fish lighter, farther, and turn bigger fish. one solid-tip, one tubular-tip -almost a random snag from Rakuten to give them a try

Actually, it makes sense they would be more likely to ship UPS or FedEx with the tariff, because both couriers can bill you for the import duty. The typical drill is you get the duty as a separate invoice in the mail after they deliver your package. I've never bought enough from Japan at once to exceed the de minimus exemption - on purpose - but people I know who imported packages valued $800 to $2400 described the courier invoice drill. I did some more digging for you. USPS is not accepting packages from China (except cleared through onshore customs broker), because they have no way to collect import duty. China still has de minimus exemption on any personal use (non-commercial) package valued less than $800 - no tariff, no duty, no invoice.

If you contact HPR Bearings and tell him what you're after, he can put a quote together - either through ebay contact or through his website. Boca Bearings could do the same - you'll find his price higher with an argument that his bearings have better pedigree.

A $6 rod you want to fish is a keeper. Short para UL to me is a stream rod. I'd rather have a long XUL rockfish rod for shore fishing. This is a 15-y-o solid-tip Takamiya Loco Move matched with diminutive Tica Cetus and 4-lb copolymer. This jewel has landed slot snook from a dock. If you have a distance-finesse niche, can find a current comparable rod from Major Craft. The rule is tubular tip is better for micro-plugs, and solid tip for soft baits.

@KP Duty @Captainhook22 Comparing mid-frame 3000 Stradic to large frame 4000/5000, there's no need to go to the large frame unless the rod tip weight will balance better. I fish C30000MHG on 7'3" inshore MH I fish 4000 on 7'2" Legend Glass MM, because the heavy rod likes the balance. My 5000 is on an offshore "ML" kingfish rod, throwing 1-oz plugs

Amazon keeps Gomexus stock in US (also sell new imports), and if it's already here, it won't have tariff - see if you can find what you want there first. https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/1E3DE1BC-6FA0-41F6-B46D-CC402C17FE52/

It still seels likely that newer part number works with both newer and older reel, and keeps it simple for Shimano to continue supporting them all with one part.