I just got my new daiwa axceller in the mail. The problem is when the reel handle is turned it feels like it hits a rough spot every turn or two.  I tried taking it apart and oiling it, not completely taking it apart but part of it, but it every few turns it still feels rough for a quarter turn before going back to normal.  Is this normal for the exceller, is there something that I can do to fix it, or did I just get a defect?

Sounds like you got a defect. Talk to Daiwa. If you bought it new the warranty should cover it.

When I tighten the spool tension knob by the handle, it also makes it harder to turn the handle even when the reel is engaged.  On the rest of my reels, the spool tension knob only effects free spool.  Is that the way it always is with the exceller?

Pretty much all of my reels are that way. My Lews, Daiwas, Shimanos, another company I can't mention, all become a bit harder to turn when I crank down on the cast control. It makes sense when you think about it. The cast control just applies pressure to the axle of the spool, so the more you tighten it the harder it will be to crank depending on how much you tension you have applied.

2 hours ago, Nor-Cal Basser said:

Pretty much all of my reels are that way. My Lews, Daiwas, Shimanos, another company I can't mention, all become a bit harder to turn when I crank down on the cast control. It makes sense when you think about it. The cast control just applies pressure to the axle of the spool, so the more you tighten it the harder it will be to crank depending on how much you tension you have applied.

I only have a few casting reels, an old shimano bantam, and old gallion, a black max, and the new exceller.  The rest for whatever reason don't seem to be that way.  I figured out the rough spot when I took it completely apart later, there was some dirt or something on the spool shaft.  So after cleaning that off, I spooled it up to seen how it worked.  Now that it was clean and oiled, it was as smooth as silk and it turns out I never had to tighten the spool tension down enough to affect it much.  It casts amazingly well, far longer than the bantam cu-200 or the black max.  I can't fish with it yet because the lakes are iced over, but after I got it cleaned up it definitely feels like a great reel.

I was going to say that my Exceler and all of my Tatulas Rs and CTs are buttery smooth and that you had to have an issue. Glad you took care of it. They really are nice reels