Hello,

 

Great Forum,

 

Have finally broken down and bought a new Shimano Stradic FJ 2500 spinning reel.

 

I've had for many, and I mean many, years a Stradic 1000.

(shame they did away with that very elegant wooden handle knob on it)

 

By loosening the cap opposite the handle shaft on the 1000, you can fold the handle back.

Takes up a lot less room this way; nice feature, and easy to do.

 

But the new 2500 seems different.

Screwing on, or off, this cap does nothing; obviously not meant to be played with.

 

Seems like you have to literally un-screw the handle itself to get it to fold.

This is even the way it came shipped from the box.

 

The male threaded (shaft) piece on the handle seems of a small diameter, and appears that likely it would be damaged, or have its threads stripped,

if every time I unscrew it to allow the handle to fold.

 

Is it meant to, each time ?  Safe to do ?

 

Also, it seems that the more one uses it, and lands fish (hopefully) it gets tighter, and tighter, as this tightening direction is the normal winding direction.

Not a gread design idea, I would think.

 

Thoughts on ?

 

Am I missing anything with all of  this; no real instructions that came with it address this.

 

Thanks,

Bob

I too just bought a new stradic fj.  It will be used in conjunction with a similar stradic from just a few years ago.  The cap opposite the handle is for changing from left to right hand use.  The handle does unscrew for storage.  I dont store it that way often but many of the guys I fish with also have these reels and I have never heard of any complaints about those threads.  My other stradic is about four years old and has lived up to a lot of hard saltwater use.  The only problem I have had with it is that the rubber on the handle is starting to rip.  Otherwise I love it.  Word to the wise.  The recommended maintenance for this reel is to open the maintenance port(plastic screw below rotor cup) and squirt oil in.  This actually keeps the reel working well however occasionally it is still necessary to open, inspect, clean and lubricate the parts of this reel.  Unless you are good at reel maintenance I suggest a professional because these little reels have more moving parts than any spinning reel I have ever opened. Enjoy your new  reel.  Tight lines.

And to answer the last part of your question no the handle does not get tighter and tighter when you catch fish.  I have caught striped bass up to 30 lbs on my little 4000 and it was never a problem

 The only problem I have had with it is that the rubber on the handle is starting to rip.

If you do an internet search you will discover this not an unusual problem, in time the rubber knob starts to shred and get sticky as mine has.  I've read maybe a dozen or more posts regarding this issue, a former BR member that works for Shimano has posted that they think the sunscreen being used may be the problem, I'm not so sure as I don't use it but I do use insect repellent, so may be.

My 4000 fi is about 4 years old, nearing it's last leg, I did buy the replacement knob this week, $19 plus $3 shipping.  Do not throw you old knob out so fast, you need to remove the bushing on the bottom and remove the bearing just under the nut, it did take me about 30 minutes to get it seated properly, now that I know how to do it, it's a 5 minute job.