1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Tat-CT has two more bearings than the Fuego - both are in the crank-handles. So other than the TWS, internally they're identical.

I mean, they probably bin the parts so the tolerances on the Tatula are probably slightly better from the factory but yeah essentially the same. Which really makes you wonder what the CA80 is supposed to do in the lineup.

Just now, Michigander said:

Which really makes you wonder what the CA80 is supposed to do in the lineup.

CA-80 is an aluminum frame version of the CR/CC/CG 80 reels. They have MagForce, but NOT MagForce-Z braking, so a little less advanced. Smaller spools too - 80 size rather than the 100 size of the Fuego/Tatula.

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

CA-80 is an aluminum frame version of the CR/CC/CG 80 reels. They have MagForce, but NOT MagForce-Z braking, so a little less advanced. Smaller spools too - 80 size rather than the 100 size of the Fuego/Tatula.

Oh sure, but the price is so similar and the weight is the same-ish so how could it be a choice over a Fuego?

4 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Oh sure, but the price is so similar and the weight is the same-ish so how could it be a choice over a Fuego?

36 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

CA-80 is an aluminum frame version of the CR/CC/CG 80 reels. They have MagForce, but NOT MagForce-Z braking

Those Doyo built Daiwas in that series use Doyo-Lew's-ABU Korean MagTrax mag brakes. 

1 minute ago, PhishLI said:

Those Doyo built Daiwas in that series use Doyo-Lew's-ABU Korean MagTrax mag brakes. 

Is that good or bad?

1 minute ago, Michigander said:

Is that good or bad?

Meh.

1 minute ago, PhishLI said:

Meh.

Legitimate answer.

I own both the CA80 and Revo X, if you don’t like the way the Revo X feels you won’t be happy with the CA80 in my opinion.  I purchased mine last year on sale for $65.00 .

Just now, Eric 26 said:

I own both the CA80 and Revo X, if you don’t like the way the Revo X feels you won’t be happy with the CA80 in my opinion.  I purchased mine last year on sale for $65.00 .

Gotcha. I was not feeling the pull toward the CA80. Mostly just confused by it's existence. If you're patient, you can find Fuegos for $65 on Amazon occasionally. That's how I got my first one. The other two were a little above $70.

1 hour ago, Michigander said:

I've never really liked Abu or Lew's reels in spinning and they feel off to me when I pick up the bait casters on display at the store. Based on the parts diagram, a Tatula 100 and a Fuego CT are basically the exact same reel minus a bearing or two and the TWS.

Tatula 100 and Fuego CT aren't the same reel. You're thinking of the Tatula CT and the Fuego CT. The Tatula 100 is a significantly different/smaller frame and different spool. 

3 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

Tatula 100 and Fuego CT aren't the same reel. You're thinking of the Tatula CT and the Fuego CT. The Tatula 100 is a significantly different/smaller frame and different spool. 

Oh ok. I get confused by all the variants. 

So the Tatula CT is basically a Fuego with TWS, but a Tatula 100 is a totally different reel then, correct?

5 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Oh ok. I get confused by all the variants. 

All good. There's more tatula variants than alot of people realize in general. 

 

To answer your original question, there's very little difference in the Fuego CT and Tatula CT aside from the TWS. I've tuned and polished, upgrade lvlwind bearings and flushed everything in Fuegos and Tatula CT's for people and they are casting machines and butter smooth. They respond very well to a polish/tune/bearing upgrade. The only downfall to the CT series of reels is their gears. They aren't super great quality but they're very cheap (30$ for a set) to replace. If you want to stay sub 150$, do that rather than spending extra. You're not going to see a real performance difference, on the Daiwa side, until you get to the zillionSV. 

7 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

All good. There's more tatula variants than alot of people realize in general. 

 

To answer your original question, there's very little difference in the Fuego CT and Tatula CT aside from the TWS. I've tuned and polished, upgrade lvlwind bearings and flushed everything in Fuegos and Tatula CT's for people and they are casting machines and butter smooth. They respond very well to a polish/tune/bearing upgrade. The only downfall to the CT series of reels is their gears. They aren't super great quality but they're very cheap (30$ for a set) to replace. If you want to stay sub 150$, do that rather than spending extra. You're not going to see a real performance difference, on the Daiwa side, until you get to the zillionSV. 

Ok, thanks! That's enough to close the Diawa tech tree for me. I'm unwilling to pay Zillion prices but I'll keep an eye out for a used deal in LH, lol.

But I will consider a gear upgrade. Which do you recommend?

And my Fuegos are still in excellent condition but I would love to remove the slop in the handle grips. Is there an easy way to do that?

20 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Ok, thanks! That's enough to close the Diawa tech tree for me. I'm unwilling to pay Zillion prices but I'll keep an eye out for a used deal in LH, lol.

But I will consider a gear upgrade. Which do you recommend?

And my Fuegos are still in excellent condition but I would love to remove the slop in the handle grips. Is there an easy way to do that?

yes, you can shim the handle grips and put 2 bearings in each knob to help /w a smooth retrieve. There's a few different sizes daiwa uses. handle slop drives me crazy as well. 

10 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

yes, you can shim the handle grips and put 2 bearings in each knob to help /w a smooth retrieve. There's a few different sizes daiwa uses. handle slop drives me crazy as well. 

Is there a reel shim shop online? Or do you get them from a hardware store?

Just now, Michigander said:

Is there a reel shim shop online? Or do you get them from a hardware store?

I ordered an a ton of them from amazon from an RC car parts store. You can search 4x7 shims on amazon and look around.  The easiest way to source OEM Daiwas, that I can think of, is contacting Bryan and the TackleTrap. They'll likely be able to sell you some as a Daiwa authorized dealer/repair shop. 

8 minutes ago, iabass8 said:

I ordered an a ton of them from amazon from an RC car parts store. You can search 4x7 shims on amazon and look around.  The easiest way to source OEM Daiwas, that I can think of, is contacting Bryan and the TackleTrap. They'll likely be able to sell you some as a Daiwa authorized dealer/repair shop. 

Cool, I'll give them a call in the morning. Thanks!!

1 hour ago, iabass8 said:

All good. There's more tatula variants than alot of people realize in general. 

 

To answer your original question, there's very little difference in the Fuego CT and Tatula CT aside from the TWS. I've tuned and polished, upgrade lvlwind bearings and flushed everything in Fuegos and Tatula CT's for people and they are casting machines and butter smooth. They respond very well to a polish/tune/bearing upgrade. The only downfall to the CT series of reels is their gears. They aren't super great quality but they're very cheap (30$ for a set) to replace. If you want to stay sub 150$, do that rather than spending extra. You're not going to see a real performance difference, on the Daiwa side, until you get to the zillionSV. 

iabass8,

 

I would absolutely love it if you would put out a you tube video about cleaning, polishing, and upgrading Daiwa  reels!   I have a lot of them and would love to see how this is done without having to screw up too many decent reels.  All those small pieces scare me.  
 

thanks for all the info you share here! 

1 minute ago, Fishin Dad said:

iabass8,

 

I would absolutely love it if you would put out a you tube video about cleaning, polishing, and upgrading Daiwa  reels!   I have a lot of them and would love to see how this is done without having to screw up too many decent reels.  All those small pieces scare me.  
 

thanks for all the info you share here! 

Second. Give me that sweet knowledge. I'll settle for a PDF too. ?

28 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Second. Give me that sweet knowledge. I'll settle for a PDF too. ?

X3. Theyre fine reels but I've had a few that could be a little smoother and quieter 

If iabass8 isn't down for a pro bono tutorial, be careful what you watch on YT. Don't take a wire wheel to your pinion and main gear! That's not what he's talking about.

3 hours ago, iabass8 said:

All good. There's more tatula variants than alot of people realize in general. 

 

To answer your original question, there's very little difference in the Fuego CT and Tatula CT aside from the TWS. I've tuned and polished, upgrade lvlwind bearings and flushed everything in Fuegos and Tatula CT's for people and they are casting machines and butter smooth. They respond very well to a polish/tune/bearing upgrade. The only downfall to the CT series of reels is their gears. They aren't super great quality but they're very cheap (30$ for a set) to replace. If you want to stay sub 150$, do that rather than spending extra. You're not going to see a real performance difference, on the Daiwa side, until you get to the zillionSV. 

 

Quick side question: Is there a good place to order Daiwa parts, like the Tatula gear set, besides official website?

 

34 minutes ago, newapti5 said:

Quick side question: Is there a good place to order Daiwa parts, like the Tatula gear set, besides official website?

The Tackle Trap usually has them in stock.

8 hours ago, newapti5 said:

 

Quick side question: Is there a good place to order Daiwa parts, like the Tatula gear set, besides official website?

 

Anytime I need gear sets, the first place I always check with is the tackle trap. If they don’t have it, I order it from PLAT overseas.