Over the last few years I picked up 2 presidents based on many hyping them up on here. Initially both were so gearry feeling that I pulled them off rods on a week long trip and this year they never even traveled. First question is can anyone tell me which models these two are? 
 

The one on the right had very little to no lube on it and it once I cleaned it and added grease it was much smoother. The second one on the left I had already tried to add grease on a trip but it didn’t work then. I cleaned it up today and regressed it and this one is still very gearry. 
 

is this a common thing for President’s? These are both 10 bearing reels and I expected a lot better out of them especially the one that will always be gearry feeling. I have sub 30$ Shakespeare, Lews, and Shimano spinning reels that are all very smooth, so price point shouldn’t be a factor. 

51 minutes ago, cgolf said:

Over the last few years I picked up 2 presidents based on many hyping them up on here. Initially both were so gearry feeling that I pulled them off rods on a week long trip and this year they never even traveled. First question is can anyone tell me which models these two are? 
 

The one on the right had very little to no lube on it and it once I cleaned it and added grease it was much smoother. The second one on the left I had already tried to add grease on a trip but it didn’t work then. I cleaned it up today and regressed it and this one is still very gearry. 
 

is this a common thing for President’s? These are both 10 bearing reels and I expected a lot better out of them especially the one that will always be gearry feeling. I have sub 30$ Shakespeare, Lews, and Shimano spinning reels that are all very smooth, so price point shouldn’t be a factor. 

 

If they're 2019 or later models...ya...quality went downhill on the Presidents.

29 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

If they're 2019 or later models...ya...quality went downhill on the Presidents.

I would guess pre 2019 likely 2016 and 2017. Noticing though on new reels in particular grease is apparently optional even on mid/higher level reels. Amazing how quality standards have changed over the years. 

Just now, cgolf said:

I would guess pre 2019 likely 2016 and 2017.

That's worrisome - my 2018 President-25 was smooth as silk from the start and hasn't changed at all.

 

Maybe have DVT look at them?

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

That's worrisome - my 2018 President-25 was smooth as silk from the start and hasn't changed at all.

 

Maybe have DVT look at them?

They were definitely 2018 or earlier I confirmed that both were packed for our 2018 fishing trip. I know the one on the right looks way fancier than the other one so didn’t know if it was a different model or just cosmetic changes between years. 
 

The one now that it has grease on it, fancier looking one on the right, feels just fine. The second one works fine but just has the gearry feel while reeling. Being that they are all metal gears isn’t too much of a shock. It did at least improve a little, hopefully enough it won’t bug me on the water. 
 

I did regresse 4 baitcasters as well today and all 4 had very little lube from the factory. First time I have ever cleaned and greased a baitcaster. 

Back in the 60’s-80’s we packed the gear housing with Colgate white tooth paste, assembled the reels and ran them for about an hour using a slow speed drill motor to polish the brass gears in Ambassador reels.

Clean out the tooth paste with warm water and used Abu/gear grease to lightly lube the gears. Smooth and quite for decades after polishing the gears.

Might be worth a try.

Tom

30 minutes ago, cgolf said:

They were definitely 2018 or earlier I confirmed that both were packed for our 2018 fishing trip. I know the one on the right looks way fancier than the other one so didn’t know if it was a different model or just cosmetic changes between years. 
 

The one now that it has grease on it, fancier looking one on the right, feels just fine. The second one works fine but just has the gearry feel while reeling. Being that they are all metal gears isn’t too much of a shock. It did at least improve a little, hopefully enough it won’t bug me on the water. 
 

I did regresse 4 baitcasters as well today and all 4 had very little lube from the factory. First time I have ever cleaned and greased a baitcaster. 

Looking at them - the one on the right is more recent....looks almost exactly like my 2018...the one on the left is an older model.  They change the paint job every few years.