I have a Shimano (JDM) Metanium Mg7 and am having problems getting the roaring out of the reel when reeling only..I can actually hear the gears with just a light load on the real..The feel is smooth though...it is just anoying to me especially with a reel of this price and quality..I do all of my own reel maintenance and also work on other peoples reels..I have 3 Core mgs and none of them have the gear noise @ all and they are basically the same reel the parts will interchange with JDM's..I ordered a new pinion gear that was for the Core MGFV and the gear meshed fine with the current drive gear in the Metanium..I put it back together and it reeled very smooth until you put just a slight load on it and there the gear noise is again..I thought about changing the drive gear but cannot find any inperfections or burs @ all to justify doing so..The only difference in the Core 100 and the Mg7 is the gear ratio..I also have the standard (2007) Mg w/the 6.2:1 gear ratio and the noise is not present..Reel repair guys, What do think? Does anyone else with an Mg7 have this problem?

shackman,

Based only on the info you have provided, you might start at the spool and work outward looking at the supporting parts that might allow the pinion gear to move slightly out of alignment.

Update: the gear noise in that real is common and can be expected. Nothing to worry about functionally.

Mike