So I just received a Curado 70 HG I ordered online from Cabela's. Was excited to spool it up and fish it today. Open the box and there is grease on the handle and drag star. When I  crank the handle it moves slow and feel like it's full of grease. Feels like I need to open it up and flush it out. None of the 3 Chronarch E's I have were like this out of the box. Is this the way they are shipping them these days? Disappointing. 

BTW. The reel looks good.  It's very small. Maybe too small. Feels smaller than the Chronarch 50e's I usually fish with. 

They always pack it with a lot of grease, sometimes it is just over done.  Personally I always clean them quickly.  It isn't just Shimano practice.  A lot of anglers don't ever clean a reel like we do.  That is why they soak it with oil and grease to make it last.

Yeah it happens. Some E's were like that iirc. 

Most are over lubricated from the factory but the piece you received just seems to be sloppy. When it starts showing on the outside and has that "gloppy" look to it was just done by somebody in the hurry or that just didn't care.

I would wipe off the extra grease probably due a bearing flush and apply a light drop of oil to each. At the end of the season I would tear it down or send it to someone to work on.

 

8 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Most are over lubricated from the factory but the piece you received just seems to be sloppy. When it starts showing on the outside and has that "gloppy" look to it was just done by somebody in the hurry or that just didn't care.

I would wipe off the extra grease probably due a bearing flush and apply a light drop of oil to each. At the end of the season I would tear it down or send it to someone to work on.

 

A good plan. 

Seems like they over grease spinning reels too. I just got a Stradic CI4 (for salt water usage) and it felt slow and mushy (almost difficult to crank). Its annoying to have to open a reel and do maintenance right after buying it...

Send it back for replacement.

You will love this little reel.  I left the gear grease for the fall after the season and just cleaned the spool bearings  and re oiled since everything else is a retrieve function and not a casting function.  It also pays to remove the spool, vigorously wipe down the spool shaft and run a pipe cleaner through the pinion gear to ensure there is no oil or grease on either.  I started with two brakes on, then moved the exterior dial up until I had the perfect casting line control.  I have my 70XG spooled with 12 flouro and use it for Senko fishing on a 7' MH, fast tip rod.  I thought my 50E's were great, but this reel with 8.2:1 is really great.  It handled a 6lb 8 oz bass with no problem.  Last tip is to put a drop of oil on a QTip and run it around the brake ring to prevent brake chatter.  At the same time, put a tiny drop on the brake swivel points.