Okay, after DESTROYING two Tierras in a few months and a Regal XiA (the blue one) in 1 month, I am through with Daiwa spinning reels. All three have bad grinding noise no matter how well I clean them and lube them, and are rough on the retrieve. Pathetic excuse for a reel.

Although the drags were great......  ;D

I will stick with Shimano.....

Has anyone tried this reel? http://www.ardentoutdoors.com/products/viewProduct2.asp?prodId=76

You must be pretty rough on the reels, I have several Daiwa spinning reels ( a couple of them decades old ) that continue to work flawlessly and I even prefer Daiwas over Shimanos for spinning reels.

You must be pretty rough on the reels, I have several Daiwa spinning reels ( a couple of them decades old ) that continue to work flawlessly and I even prefer Daiwas over Shimanos for spinning reels.

Same here....I got three and no problems with them.My Tierra is seeing season 3 this year.

No, I'm about as easy as you can be on reels. I use them, I don't abuse them. They are always kept cleaned, lubed, drags loosened. I actually border on OCD when it come to fishing equipment. Maybe I had the worst luck in the world and got three lemons, but I'm not gonna chance it again.

Okay, after DESTROYING two Tierras in a few months and a Regal XiA (the blue one) in 1 month, I am through with Daiwa spinning reels. All three have bad grinding noise no matter how well I clean them and lube them, and are rough on the retrieve. Pathetic excuse for a reel.

Although the drags were great...... ;D

I will stick with Shimano.....

Has anyone tried this reel? http://www.ardentoutdoors.com/products/viewProduct2.asp?prodId=76

Every Ardent product I've looked at and handled has felt like an absolute piece of crap. At this point, I wouldn't even look at another one.

if you're looking towards any reel i wouldn't even consider an ardent!   

Okuma makes nice reels as well..

Ps... I have a cheap Daiwa Cobaltspin 2000 on my steelhead rod and I absolutely love it! 

if you're looking towards any reel i wouldn't even consider an ardent!

Okuma makes nice reels as well..

X2

You must be pretty rough on the reels, I have several Daiwa spinning reels ( a couple of them decades old ) that continue to work flawlessly and I even prefer Daiwas over Shimanos for spinning reels.

wow, i've never heard of that happening before. i'm very happy with my daiwa spinning reels...in fact, i switched from shimano to all daiwas for my spinning setups.

pfluger supreme xt or patriarch are the way to go.

I love my XS1000, so I think I'll try the spinning reel. At least I'd be supporting a fully American business.

My Exceler 2000 and 2 2500s have been smooth as silk so far.

I LOVE Shimano reels, but I prefer Daiwa spinning reels over Shimano. I've only got two spinning setups, but they are both driven by 2500 Fuegos and they are just as smooth as when I got them. Something about the bail on the Stradic turned me away from Shimano spinning reels....for now.

I also have the tierra and it just not as reliable as the cheaper Shimano Sahara. Tierra always develop that grinding noise and binding problem. The only good thing is that Daiwa Service center is just two miles from my house so I can just drop it for service. In one year use I think I sent it for service at least 6 times and not even counting how many times I clean and lube it. The Sahara never get any shimano service and it's still smooth with just cleaning and lubing considering I use the Sahara more often than the tierra.

I also like Daiwa spinning reels over Shimano. Casting reels are the other way Shimano (and Abu) over Daiwa.

My first spinning reel is a Daiwa, and I am still using it after 5-6 years...

Just a quick note regarding ANY spinning reel.  Unless you're a factory trained rep or equivalent, you shouldn't be opening up a spinning reel.  After time, the gears begin to mesh at a certain point and if not replaced precisely, you will get the grinding problem you are experiencing.

Not being able to maintain your spinning reel will make the cost of spinning reels expensive in the long run.  Specially when you alternately use it in saltwater.

I've opened up my sahara spinning so many times for cleaning and lubing and it stays smooth w/o any grinding feeling.  But with the Daiwa Tierra it's a different thing.  I had to let Daiwa service the reel for me.  What I'm saying is, it's much easier to maintain the Shimano Sahara for me. I don't even have any problem maintaining those cheap Ultra Light browning reel.

Not being able to maintain your spinning reel will make the cost of spinning reels expensive in the long run. Specially when you alternately use it in saltwater.

I've opened up my sahara spinning so many times for cleaning and lubing and it stays smooth w/o any grinding feeling. But with the Daiwa Tierra it's a different thing. I had to let Daiwa service the reel for me. What I'm saying is, it's much easier to maintain the Shimano Sahara for me. I don't even have any problem maintaining those cheap Ultra Light browning reel.

I understand that, I guess my point is pay attention to detail!

Two Tierra's and one Sol, nothing but love. They are mint... And I fish three times a week from March til November...

Just a quick note regarding ANY spinning reel. Unless you're a factory trained rep or equivalent, you shouldn't be opening up a spinning reel. After time, the gears begin to mesh at a certain point and if not replaced precisely, you will get the grinding problem you are experiencing.

The grinding noise started before opening any of them up. And this has never happened to spinning reels of any other brand I have used....

But thats a good point. I think a few dots with a red sharpie can fix that problem in the future.

Just a quick note regarding ANY spinning reel. Unless you're a factory trained rep or equivalent, you shouldn't be opening up a spinning reel. After time, the gears begin to mesh at a certain point and if not replaced precisely, you will get the grinding problem you are experiencing.

The grinding noise started before opening any of them up. And this has never happened to spinning reels of any other brand I have used....

But thats a good point. I think a few dots with a red sharpie can fix that problem in the future.

have you sent any of the reels in for service? id love to know what parts failed.

I'm very surprised to hear of your Daiwa woes.  My favorite spinning reel that I own is a Daiwa Bradia 2500.  It's the smoothest, most durable spinning reel that I've ever used.  Going on it's third season of being heavily used and it's still silky smooth.  Ive been umimpressed with the lower end Daiwa's, but for the $140 that I paid for my Bradia, it's the best money I've spent on a spinning reel. 

Just a quick note regarding ANY spinning reel. Unless you're a factory trained rep or equivalent, you shouldn't be opening up a spinning reel. After time, the gears begin to mesh at a certain point and if not replaced precisely, you will get the grinding problem you are experiencing.

The grinding noise started before opening any of them up. And this has never happened to spinning reels of any other brand I have used....

But thats a good point. I think a few dots with a red sharpie can fix that problem in the future.

have you sent any of the reels in for service? id love to know what parts failed.

No I didn't send them in... thats a pain.

Abu cardinal!