Amazon Japan is selling this nice little round reel for ~$340, the "Crazy Cranker" version. I don't have much experience with round reels, but itching to try one for spinnerbait/chatterbait/jigs.  I searched around Internet, and saw some nice reviews from TT. But I also saw a number of users mentioning an alleged design flaw with the palm side plate locking mechanism, which is only a plastic ring holding the whole side plate to the frame.  I wonder if there're any owners here who may share their opinions on this? Thanks!

Always wanted one and a Morrum ZX but could never commit. 

4 hours ago, Phil77 said:

Always wanted one and a Morrum ZX but could never commit. 

I almost bought a Morrum ZX when Fisherman's Factory Outlet had them on clearance last year.  They were going for $229.

 

The Ryoga's side plate uses a screw down aluminum ring. I don't palm mine, but I can see how that could cause a problem.

 

 

Karl

31 minutes ago, diehardbassfishing said:

 

The Ryoga's side plate uses a screw down aluminum ring. I don't palm mine, but I can see how that could cause a problem.

 

 

Karl

 

Thanks Karl, but that's the old model, right? The '18 model seems to have just a plastic ring inside the side plate, and to open and lock the side plate, you just twist this plastic ring a little bit at the bottom of the reel, like most low-profile baitcasting reels.

 

Here's the source of my concerns:

 

 

This is really really simple and too often ignored.  

 

-- Whenever you want to open and close a side plate latch, back off the spool tension knob so it's not loading the spool against the latch you want to open or close --

 

You don't even need a youtube for this.  

Not doing this is the source of gripes on every side plate latch including Revo.  

 

 

Ohhh.

I don't like this change. The Ryoga WAS the real deal. 

 

 

Karl

 

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

This is really really simple and too often ignored.  

 

-- Whenever you want to open and close a side plate latch, back off the spool tension knob so it's not loading the spool against the latch you want to open or close --

 

You don't even need a youtube for this.  

Not doing this is the source of gripes on every side plate latch including Revo.  

 

 

Hmm, good point.  I always set spool tension knob loose, so I didn't even remember that others might put some tension into it.  But the '18 Ryoga uses zero-adjuster; I don't know if the author of that youtube video purposely tightened the zero-adjuster.

 

I never buy "factory pre-set"

Especially since I'm always moving spools, maybe even changing the zero adjuster knob.  

Like you, I always set to 1 mm side play.  

 

But if I'm working on any bait reel, first thing is relax that pre-set, and the last thing I do is re-set it.  

I'm responsible for my zero adjuster adjustment, and my latch mechanism, too.