Had a Daiwa fuego before and recently got a new fuego baitcaster, brand new but realized the clutch lever ( where you press to release the line) a little loose swinging up and down, my old fuego never had this issue, is not affecting the use at all just noticed that is loose on this one , is that normal on some fuegos? Or something i should keep my eyes on? 

Thumb bar release Shouldn’t be loose.

If you have the original red TD Fuego have it professionally serviced by DVT and keep it!

Tom

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Thumb bar release Shouldn’t be loose.

If you have the original red TD Fuego have it professionally serviced by DVT and keep it!

Tom

Its not the red... the the new black one

Interesting found a post with the same issue - same baitcaster... looks like is a Daiwa Fuego common issue somehow

 

I have a CT and the release has a tiny amount of movement, like barely any. I have an old Shimano next to it that is the same.

Mine has just a tiny bit of movement, it's hardly noticeable. 

Normal.  All my daiwas are like that.

The question is whether it's really loose, or whether it's just freeplay in the mechanism. 

My Zillion is rock solid with zero movement, my Steez has limited travel before you feel that solid engagement. 

If you want my thought, it's a slight set in the clutch cam spring. 

 

fwiw, the screw that fixes the clutch bar to the cam plate is inside the reel at the bottom of the drive, and the entire drive comes out to get there. 

Photos borrowed from KDW, who makes aftermarket thumb bars for these and other reels --- only Daiwa is this complicated (Shimano and Doyo only require removing the spool to replace the thumb bar)

https://kakedzukass.com/daiwa-steez-assembly-procedure-explanation/

My Daiwa reels consist of a Daiwa PX Type-R and various Steez models.  A quick, non-statistically significant sampling of a few of the Steez models shows the following:

 

Daiwa Steez CT SV 700 XH - A tiny bit of play when directly wiggling the thumb bar but not enough to be even noticeable in actual use;

Daiwa Steez CT SV 70 XH - No noticeable play; and

Daiwa 20 Steez AIR TW 500XXH - No noticeable play.

 

Seems that Daiwa did a pretty good job with respect to these particular reels, which were not cherry picked but just happened to be handy.

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

The question is whether it's really loose, or whether it's just freeplay in the mechanism. 

My Zillion is rock solid with zero movement, my Steez has limited travel before you feel that solid engagement. 

If you want my thought, it's a slight set in the clutch cam spring. 

 

fwiw, the screw that fixes the clutch bar to the cam plate is inside the reel at the bottom of the drive, and the entire drive comes out to get there. 

Photos borrowed from KDW, who makes aftermarket thumb bars for these and other reels --- only Daiwa is this complicated (Shimano and Doyo only require removing the spool to replace the thumb bar)

https://kakedzukass.com/daiwa-steez-assembly-procedure-explanation/

 

That's the screw that has the tiny black plastic shim thing under it that is near impossible to replace without some degree of distortion ... i hate that thing 

Looks like Daiwa likes to overcomplicate things… its crazy the amount of work to reach the mechanism for the thumb bar I’m not that brave to disassemble the reel like that lol mine had a abnormal play compared to my other Fuego, decided to send to Daiwa in CA since the store I bought  can’t replace they don’t have another reel… hope the warranty is good and they do a good job

@Ravox if it feels like excessive freeplay to you, sending it to Daiwa under warranty is the right way to go. 

It could be the set in the cam spring, or @garroyo130's booger shim washer could be misplaced. 

 

I think Daiwa's clutch plate design has to be stronger, since there are no holes for clutch bar pins and screws across the narrow width, vs. Doyo and Shimano designs.  Also, either of their designs would take the same effort to remove the clutch plate - they just made the thumb bar easy to swap. 

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Ravox if it feels like excessive freeplay to you, sending it to Daiwa under warranty is the right way to go. 

It could be the set in the cam spring, or @garroyo130's booger shim washer could be misplaced. 

 

I think Daiwa's clutch plate design has to be stronger, since there are no holes for clutch bar pins and screws across the narrow width, vs. Doyo and Shimano designs.  Also, either of their designs would take the same effort to remove the clutch plate - they just made the thumb bar easy to swap. 

To be honest always liked Daiwa and never had a problem before, this is the first time o got a brand new product from them that feels weird…. And it’s the first time I use their warranty let’s see how it goes, if they send a new reel or fix the problem or if they will give me headache enough to change to Shimano ?

51 minutes ago, Ravox said:

[stuff deleted] ... let’s see how it goes, if they send a new reel or fix the problem or if they will five me headache enough to change to Shimano ?

 

For what it's worth I have three different Shimano Aldebaran reels, two BFS and one BFS capable HGS 30 and all of them have no noticeable play in the thumb bar.

3 hours ago, Ravox said:

decided to send to Daiwa in CA

If you haven't sent it yet I'd think twice. You might get it back the way you sent it in if they deem it "normal". You're better off sending it to a Daiwa authorized warranty repair center like The Tackle Trap. Way closer to you and they're Daiwa specialists that'll really try to fix your issue.

A mil or two of up an down movement of the plastic thumb bar is normal.  It is just slid over the clutch lever.  

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

If you haven't sent it yet I'd think twice. You might get it back the way you sent it in if they deem it "normal". You're better off sending it to a Daiwa authorized warranty repair center like The Tackle Trap. Way closer to you and they're Daiwa specialists that'll really try to fix your issue.

already sent..they better fix the issue, have another fuego with me as proof that is not normal, like i said noticed the play excessive gives me an impression that will fall any moment