Just recently given a cosmetically pristine Curado 200e7 to service for a friend. It appears that it has never been serviced and it sounded very geary so I decided to replace all 7 bearings and installed new carbontex drag washers. After cleaning, lubing, and putting it back together, the reel definitely feels better. With that said, it still feels slightly geary so it is safe to assume that the gears are worn? I tried to find some on Ebay and located the pinion gear in new condition but not the main gear or at least it didn't look new. Also, It appears that the drag spring washers have lost their tension. They are still wavy and I installed them like this ( ), but the dragstar seems to stutter when I am tightening at the end of max drag. While it has decent drag tension at the end, I feel like it should have more which leads me to believe that they are shot. Finding spare parts for these reels is hard, but this reel has great sentimental value to my friend so I was hoping to bring this thing back to life. Anyone work on this model recently? What are my options for gears or spring washers? Has anyone successfully used newer curado spring washers? 

As long as the reel feels good, it should be good.  The Belleville washers shouldn't be warped unless the reel was stored for many years without the drag backed off.  A slight gear noise is normal and common with the meshing of gear teeth, just the nature of the beast.  If the star wheel is skipping, did you remember to grease your Belleville washers and the spacer directly above them.  When you installed the carbon washers, did you grease them or install them dry?  How did you test the drag afterwards?  A dry drag will have more bite and a marginally higher maximum capacity, while a greased drag will have a smoother startup and slightly less capacity.

I'm sure the reel was stored for many years without the drag backed off. I normally don't grease Belleville washers and the spacers on any of my reels and haven't had any issues, but that's an easy fix. I ever so lightly applied Cals grease to the drag washers and haven't done any real test to drag pressure other than just pulling the line with my hand like I have always done for all my curados. My main concern, was that the drag star doesn't tighten smoothly as it jumps or stutters when I'm close to the being fully tightened if that makes sense. Just when I think its fully tight, I can turn it a bit further with gentle force, which lead me to believe the washers might have lost their tension. 

Curious if you put any grease on the drag star threads? That might help to smooth out its turning.

 

I have also wondered about those belleville washers, but wondered if maybe the steel they use today to make them is not as good as the steel used to make them 40 years ago?

 

Let us know how it turns out.

 

 

I have one that has been an absolute workhorse for years on a jerkbait rod. It feels geary, it always has. I've had it completely apart at least a couple times. Once, after I dropped it to the bottom of the Missouri River. I marked the spot on my GPS immediately and started dragging a lure retriever. A thorough cleaning after 100% disassembly was warranted after that mishap and it went straight into the rod locker that day. I didn't even think about using it before an overhaul.

 

I'm finally breaking down and upgrading to carbontex drag washers. It's just not stopping the pike like it used to. Bearings are still 100% factory, even after being in the river. The spool bearings get cleaned yearly and a single drop of Mobil #6 spindle oil applied, as needed. Shimano drag grease on the drag. Calcium Sulfonate grease on gears and threads.

I doubt the spring washers are bad but you can use any similar washers from any reel. As for the gears, unless there’s visible damage you’re chasing ghosts. If you get to the point of having to replace gears Curado, citica or Chronarch E will all fit. I’m pretty sure G series will fit as well. 

On the handle shaft where the spring washers are installed, isn't there another washer with one side that is more slippery (feels like teflon)? If you do, you might've installed it on the wrong side because it's the part that makes it so your star drag doesn't stutter.

Yes, the teflon side goes up against the nut. I am certain it was installed correctly, but can easily verify that. I usually order shimano parts directly from the their site and get parts in two days since I live local to Irvine CA. Yesterday, I just decided to call and talk to someone, and to my surprise they still have both gears, spring washers, and I even order the drag spacer with the teflon side. At this point, whatever the outcome is, we will just have to accept as I pretty much have replaced the most important parts on this reel.

Just wanted to circle back and give you an update as I received the gears, spring washers, and drag spacer washer. I can tell you that these parts exceeded my expectations. The drag now tightens up like it should, zero stutters and I can lock it down with minimal effort. To be honest, I think what had a bigger impact was the drag spacer washer with the teflon coating as it was at least twice as thick as the original one. It's probable that the spring washers are still good but I wasn't going to pass up putting new ones in for 99 cents. Lastly, the new gears made this reel super quite and smooth, it really surprised me how much it changed. At any rate, thanks for taking the time to give me some input. thanks!

Those E7s are some all-time great reels - enjoy!