JF you have a way of making me laugh.....

Do all of the Quantum spools have that coloration on them? It looks like exposure to extreme heat to me.

Its the only Quantum he owns.

Looks like neglect to me. Something got on that reel. Not the manufacturers fault.

Maybe he tried to wipe it down with Acetone...LOL

Neglect? Then why weren't all the other Shimanos and Daiwas that were stored with this reel end up like that?

I actually have a new theory, and it might sound off the wall, but it might be right on.  Cat urine.  I'd think the braid and reel would stink, though.

I wouldn't call it neglect, but I wouldn't call it a bad item from Quantum either. If it were a manufacturing defect, its unlikely you would see the frame, cover and spool all flake and corrode in the same fashion, being that they don't likely coat all three of those objects in the same area.

Something got on it, but you'll probably never know what it was.

I have seen first hand where a  plastic worm has laid on a piece of plastic trim on a boat. It didn't stay there too long and ate down into the plastic and discolored it.

like i said on the top of page 2 of this topic , i would almost bet money that it was stored next to a leaky car battery , i hope Jfrancho will check into it and report back 

Neglect? Then why weren't all the other Shimanos and Daiwas that were stored with this reel end up like that?

I actually have a new theory, and it might sound off the wall, but it might be right on. Cat urine. I'd think the braid and reel would stink, though.

John,

That is exactly what I was going to suggest.

I've seen something similar on another Quantum spool. 

Neglect? Then why weren't all the other Shimanos and Daiwas that were stored with this reel end up like that?

I actually have a new theory, and it might sound off the wall, but it might be right on. Cat urine. I'd think the braid and reel would stink, though.

Very possible, pee is some corrosive stuff.

I used to do a lot of metal detecting, and when digging metals out of areas that were once pastures it was unbelievable how corroded stuff got.

Guys were supposedly putting urine on reproduction belt buckels to make them look 150 years old!

I have seen almost identical blistering of the finish on a Quantum reel, but the spool thing has me scratching my head too.

The cat must be Shimano/Daiwa guy

I got this strange feeling the customer isn't telling the whole story!

He's telling the whole story as he knows it.  Whether something got on it, which is probable, we'll never know.

Any chance he fishes Gulp Alive?  I've seen similar results when another piece of plastic gets laid together with it.

That's nut. I have a small Quantum Catalyst that is blistering a little on the body, but it's not nearly as bad as that and the the reel has been used a ton. There isn't any white residue or damage to any metal, either.

I'm thinking that's battery acid corrosion, but who lets battery acid drip on their expensive fishing equipment? I once had a salted plastic tube melt onto a reel in storage. The hook hanger was broken so I would hook the tubejig onto the reel, and I forgot about it during the offseason. Zero damage, and that a much cheaper reel. Cat pee was a good guess, but that would stink like crazy and would likely seep into the reel where you could easily smell it once it was opened up.

i have quantums 6-7 yrs old that look like new and have never had a problem with them. its all how you take care of them.

I have a Quantum Bill Dance Combo that was cheap.  It was like $60 for the combo (I think).   I would say that it is in the top of their cheap reels, and I put my equipment through he!! and mine still works fine.  If the fish are hitting good and my line breaks, I have been known to throw my rods and reels down on rocks and pick another up.  The Quantum does not even have a nick in it.  I would say something like battery acid or the such got on it and did that.  Maybe even some kind of caustic cleaner like carb cleaner or break cleaner got on it.  I would have him check out everything that his reels were laying next to and see if there is anything that is leaking.   

I don't know though...just my 2 cents.

Guys, I don't think he did anything differently that you or I would do to this reel. Normal use...

Something may have spilled or leaked on it. I had three older Quantums, with a similar finish and all three eventually bubbled up, peeled, and flaked off. But nothing like this. The thing that gets me wondering is why, if all the rods and reels were stored in the same place, only this one has the issue.

Gulp! Alive, sure, we ARE on the Great Lakes.  I've never had that do anything to any of my gear except make it stink.

Maybe even some kind of caustic cleaner like carb cleaner or break cleaner got on it.

You mean like the stuff commonly used to clean reels?  Nope, that wouldn't do this.

John, I would say that you have a finish problem, were it not for the spool. That is not a finish problem.

Something on the outside ends of the PH scale got on there.

You mean like the stuff commonly used to clean reels? Nope, that wouldn't do this.

No, I mean like a brake cleaner for a vehicle...I have never heard of anyone using break cleaner to clean reels????

Maybe it leaked from a shelf, maybe he was cleaning a rotor or something. Maybe it was gasoline, I don't know, but it looks like the stuff on the reel is built up to me, not pitting it. That is why I thought it might be something that was spilled, leaked, or sprayed on it on a accident.

Maybe his wife got mad at him and poured acid on it, I wouldn't put that past a scorned women!

Brake cleaner is non-corrosive. It's used to clean a lot more than just car parts. Many even use clean drying brake clean to clean electronics, which is much more susceptible to corrosion than these finished fishing reels.

I really doubt any self respecting fisherman keeps his very expensive fishing gear stuffed in the garage.

You mean like the stuff commonly used to clean reels? Nope, that wouldn't do this.

No, I mean like a brake cleaner for a vehicle...I have never heard of anyone using break cleaner to clean reels????

Maybe it leaked from a shelf, maybe he was cleaning a rotor or something. Maybe it was gasoline, I don't know, but it looks like the stuff on the reel is built up to me, not pitting it. That is why I thought it might be something that was spilled, leaked, or sprayed on it on a accident.

Maybe his wife got mad at him and poured acid on it, I wouldn't put that past a scorned women!