Can I take the handle from the 2500 and use it with the 3000 or 4000?

yes, they should swap across the full Stradic range.  

Aside, the 3 reels you called out should all be the same length handles - you'll definitely get a different knob on the 4000 with the tee paddle.    

 

There are many aftermarket knobs that fit Shimano A, if you just want to swap the handle knob.  Daiwa S and Shimano A knobs interchange on handles.  

Handle knobs - Tuning Parts (japantackle.com)

  

IOS makes an adapter that even lets you use a Daiwa handle on Shimano reel.  

6 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

yes, they should swap across the full Stradic range.  

Aside, the 3 reels you called out should all be the same length handles - you'll definitely get a different knob on the 4000 with the tee paddle.    

 

There are many aftermarket knobs that fit Shimano A, if you just want to swap the handle knob.  Daiwa S and Shimano A knobs interchange on handles.  

Handle knobs - Tuning Parts (japantackle.com)

  

IOS makes an adapter that even lets you use a Daiwa handle on Shimano reel.  

It seems to me that the Shimano A shaft and the Diawa S are slightly different lengths. I am hoping that you have some magic insight here because every time I try to put Diawa Cork I-shaped knobs on a Shimano I would have to put a bushing and maybe a shim under the lower knob bearing in order to get it to fit. Which of course sort of ruins the whole look of it IMO.

There's a slight difference on the inside end, - When you install a Shimano knob on a Daiwa handle, you can put a bushing (spacer) on first, or you can put another BB there with a shim between two ball bearings.  

It's the Shimano handle that has a bearing-thickness spacer built into the base.  

Daiwa knob onto Shimano handle usually takes the fewest spacers.  

 

@Tail Slap - the extra base on the shimano is 2.5 mm - the thickness of a 740ZZ ball bearing.  

Edited July 7, 20214 yr by bulldog1935
below

Isn't the Daiwa post/shaft 0.5mm shorter at the base step and requires a spacer bushing if you use a knob made for the Shimano A; where the Shimano A just gets a thin shim washer at the base before the bearing?

 

On the Stradic knobs the C3000 also has the paddle vs the standard on the 1000 and 2500.