I had a problem with a Curado I  that eventually ruined the reel in less than a year of owning it being fished semi-heavy (a few hundred casts per week).  

 

The side plate would pop off during casting more and more frequently as I used it.  At first I just figured it was a defect with the reel, however I have upgraded to the Curado K and it has happened now at least once with both K's I own.

 

I googled it and got no real results, I am convinced I may be doing something wrong during the cast.  Anyone else have anything similar happen or any advice?  

 

Thanks!

Hmm intersting is their a little switch that holds the side plate in if so make sure it's on the closed position 

I know my Scorpion 200 (JDM Curado I) has to have the side plate perfectly snug to engage the switch.  Two things:  1.  Don't try to close the sideplate with tension on the cast control knob. (The knob on the handle side)

2.  Make sure the switch is fully engaged.

 

 

Yeah... It's not that simple though (about making sure it's locked.)  When it happened at first I thought I was inadvertently hitting the open switch because I grip my reel over the top of the side plate with my thumb sometimes and the underside with my other fingers... But I determined I wasnt.  

 

Plus it makes this weird sound like a graphite on graphite or slate on slate kind of hiss or scrrrrtchhhh (I know so succinct right?), when it happens and immediately after the side plate pops.

 

I'll try releasing the tension on the spool, I keep the breaks pretty high and tension high as well to avoid any downtime from backslashes since I bank fish a lot and don't need a ton of distance usually.

It is not locking all the way because when you push the lock forward it is hanging up on the little lip on the reel frame into which the slide engages.  Mine did it also, so after close examination I found a tiny burr on the edge of the little lip on the frame into which the lock slide engages, which I carefully filed down with a very tiny diamond file and bingo, the slide lock goes all the way to the lock position.  It took me awhile to figure out what the heck was preventing the slide to go all the way and found the burr with a magnifying glass and really bright light.  I mean the burr was really tiny, but stuck out enough to prevent the lock slide from engaging.  Hope this helps.

If you release tension on the reel knob it should clamp on easy if your tension knob it tight the breaks kinda get in the way of getting the side plate snapped on correctly sometimes,  if you’ve been forcing it down you potentially could have coused some type of damage.

OP do you cast with your left or right hand, and what hand do you reel with?

 

I had a thing with a citica I where I would hit the latch when casting because I fish and reel right handed with right handed reels but cast with my left. In the casting position my left index finger would bump it. 

I fish and have both left and right handed K's for different applications.  Thanks for the tip with the burr, I need to check that out.

It's happened to me as well twice.  I have a left retrieve but cast right handed.  Because the Curado is a bit wider, I've hit the release button mid cast as my hand brushes the reel ever so slightly but apparently enough to pop it.  Never had this happen with the Metanium as it has the same release switch, but it's thinner so it is not as exposed as on the Curado.  The only 2 times it happened was with a full size plopper so I'm guessing I cast/grip differently when throwing heavier gear.

The noise is just the brakes working. Light oil around the surface that the brakes run on and you.should be good.