Anybody that owns one do you "feel" the gears in retrieving? I have one it performs great but it just feels like I can feel the gears as I reel

Yup. Ive got two of them. I use them as loaners. Great reels although I do feel them grind..

Maybe open the reel up and see if it has enough lube/grease?

I had it sent out for a cleaning and oiled and greased still feels the same 

  I do not have that reel but have had some other quantums and they had that feel at first.  But after some use the feeling went away.  They just need to be broke in?  Mine have worked fine for years since?

I've fished this one pretty heavy for over a year it's broke in just can feel the gears as I fish it. I have quantum smokes and they don't feel like that must just be the exo