I know the handle back-play topic has been discussed on here in the past but it seemed like that "issue" had been taken care of with the newer Shimanos (post G series Curados, etc).  The Scorpion MGL I just got has the backplay, big time.  I was wondering if any other owners out there are experiencing it as well.  

Not to sound silly, but is the drag loose from the factory. 

I just picked up two new Curados, one left and one right handed.  I already had one and I also have one Curado DC, so a total of four.  The right handed one has more back play but not as much as the Curado 201G or the Chronarch 51E I have.  When I took the right handed one apart (I always clean and relube my reels when new) I noticed it had a slightly different AR bearing.  I believe one was off white and the other gray.   The right handed reel feels fine and performs well.  If I hadn't just been toying with it, I would have never noticed the back play. 

 

On a side note, I did replace the AR Bearing in my Chronarch 51E, as it was pretty much shot, and the bearing made it feel like a brand new, yet different, reel and no back play.  It some how way improved how this reel performs.

 

10 hours ago, Derek1 said:

Not to sound silly, but is the drag loose from the factory. 

Nope, not a drag issue.  My old Curado Es had the handle backplay as well.  It was a prominent thing with Shimano casters that I thought got "fixed". @FishTank, my 2 Ks don't have the issue at all.  I do notice a smoothness difference between my 8.5:1 and 6.2:1 though (I clean and lube the reels exactly the same way).  Honestly, it doesn't affect the performance really at all, just an annoying thing.  Maybe I'll replace the AR bearing and see what happens.

I have zero issues with my Scorpion MGL (or any of my Shimano's for that matter). 

50 minutes ago, RichF said:

Nope, not a drag issue.  My old Curado Es had the handle backplay as well.  It was a prominent thing with Shimano casters that I thought got "fixed". @FishTank, my 2 Ks don't have the issue at all.  I do notice a smoothness difference between my 8.5:1 and 6.2:1 though (I clean and lube the reels exactly the same way).  Honestly, it doesn't affect the performance really at all, just an annoying thing.  Maybe I'll replace the AR bearing and see what happens.

 

One way I check the AR bearing is to picture the reel as a clock and the reel handle as the hour hand.  I set the handle at 12.  I back reel the handle every two hours to check the slop.  If the bearing is bad, you will have more slop in the handle at two given points, for example at 4 and 10 o'clock. 

 

One other thing to try if the bearing is good, reposition the drag stack cover and/or the roller clutch sleeve.  This worked on old reel of mine, Calcutta 251.  Not sure why it worked but it did.