Does anyone else have any issues with a thin clear film forming on their shimano 50 mg's?  It scrapes off but is really aggrivating.  Does anyone know why this forms?

Chronarch 50mg that is

I assume the '****' to which you are referring is simply magnesium oxide.

IOW, 'rust'.

No, not rust.  It is a clear film that scrapes off with your fingernail.  It is kind of like clear tape.

Shimano put a clear coating on their magnesium reels to prevent the disastrous reaction it has to saltwater. Thus they could state it was safe in saltwater. I would hope it wouldnt be that coating but it may be worth contacting Shimano about.

The coating and the clear coat are different things, the coating is on the frame, the clear coat is over the reel and yes, it peels away.  >

Yep, mine do the same thing.

so, it is the clear coat and it happens on this model.  Is there anything that I can do to prevent this from happening?  Is it OK to scrap the rest of the coating off?

so, it is the clear coat and it happens on this model. Is there anything that I can do to prevent this from happening? Is it OK to scrap the rest of the coating off?

scrap the rest off then re clear coat it

Mine was missing some clear coat where you palm the reel.

Mine was missing some clear coat where you palm the reel.

Same here.  It is wearing off where my thumb sits of the top corner of the reel.  It isn't a big deal it just bugs me and I wasn't sure if it was some kind of accumulation or something rubbing off.