Shimano calcutta 400

[seadevil26]

Hi, I have an old Calcutta 400 and I mutilated the right side plate, set plate, spool assembly and pinion gear due to the spool being frozen to the bearing. My question is are the parts for a 400b interchangeable? Mine has 2 thumb screws on the side plate and the 400b has 3. If I were to order the above listed parts, would they fit the old frame, and could i use all the small parts? Thanks.....

[exp2000]

Hi, I have an old Calcutta 400 and I mutilated the right side plate, set plate, spool assembly and pinion gear due to the spool being frozen to the bearing. My question is are the parts for a 400b interchangeable? Mine has 2 thumb screws on the side plate and the 400b has 3. If I were to order the above listed parts, would they fit the old frame, and could i use all the small parts? Thanks.....

The small parts should be interchangeable except for the cast control cap in some cases.

If you replace the setplate and the RH sideplate together, they will fit to the frame but you will be left with two holes. One thumbscrew and one AR post. These could be covered with screws and nuts.

But surely a complete new reel would not be much more expensive - the B series is a nice upgrade.

I did the reverse once by adapting an A series RH sideplate to a B frame which required drilling an extra hole for the AR post. Required a little manipulation to properly align but it worked out OK.
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[ReelClean]

Can't recall ever having the two in at the same time to compare but the gearing might be different so gears may not mesh.
Parts are still showing here as available:

https://fishshop.shimano.com/vip/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441848472&SKU%3C%3Esku_id=1689949372103201

GULP:  just read the price for the RHS plate,  $197!!!!  How attached are you to that reel? You might get lucky looking on CL or Ebuy for a junker.

If anyone has a Calcutta, squirt some CorrosionX or penetrating oil under the RHS spool cap NOW!  Every one I have serviced has had a seized (or soon to be) bearing onto the spool shaft.  DO NOT try to bash it off with a punch, it only mushrooms the shaft end so it is impossible to remove, as well as bending it.  I managed to salvage a couple that the another reel "repairer" tried to remove, but I then had to true and machine the spool shaft on the lathe to save it.
cheers
Steve

edit:  Looks like my WA mate beat me to the keyboard.

[exp2000]

If anyone has a Calcutta, squirt some CorrosionX or penetrating oil under the RHS spool cap NOW!  Every one I have serviced has had a seized (or soon to be) bearing onto the spool shaft.  DO NOT try to bash it off with a punch, it only mushrooms the shaft end so it is impossible to remove, as well as bending it.  I managed to salvage a couple that the another reel "repairer" tried to remove, but I then had to true and machine the spool shaft on the lathe to save it.
cheers
Steve

edit:  Looks like my WA mate beat me to the keyboard.

Hi Steve

I can't imagine the insane hammering you would have to wield to inflict that kinda damage. I do dozens of these and I guess that about maybe 20% of the ones I do are seized to the spool shaft. I support the side-plate with the spool inside a short length of conduit and use judicious force to  drift them out.  This works just fine most of the time.

For the odd one that still won't budge you then use the same setup in a pair of vice jaws or use a hydraulic press. It requires a certain amount of finesse not to mention fortitude as it can be scary stuff applying force with a 10 ton press but I have yet to fail so far (fingers crossed). All you are trying to achieve is to break the initial bond. Once you do that the shaft can be drifted out rather easily but it helps to clean the end with a Dremel and apply some penetrating fluid  to smooth things along.

I apply some heavy grease to the threads of the cast control cap when reassembling to help seal them and prevent water from wicking inside. You can also apply a grease cap over the top of the bearing but this will slow things down a bit.

Oh and BTW, I know that ARB stands for anti rust bearings and this may have even been true for the initial production run but I just call it like it is: AUTO RUST BEARINGS!
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[exp2000]

Can't recall ever having the two in at the same time to compare but the gearing might be different so gears may not mesh.
Parts are still showing here as available:

https://fishshop.shimano.com/vip/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441848472&SKU%3C%3Esku_id=1689949372103201

GULP:  just read the price for the RHS plate,  $197!!!!  How attached are you to that reel? You might get lucky looking on CL or Ebuy for a junker.

cheers
Steve

This above links to the TE model so you may not have to apply for a loan after all.

The A series may no longer be available but I can check here in Oz if you want. I just used my last one this week.

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/right-side-plate-p-1541741.html

The B plate is under $40 and so is the spool in the USA.

I got a hunch that Steve may be right about the pinion gear though.
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[ReelClean]

Hmmm, a press would look nice sitting next to the lathe and drill press   
I don't want much, just that and a two post car hoist, I'm getting too old to lie on concrete under cars!

[exp2000]

Hmmm, a press would look nice sitting next to the lathe and drill press   
I don't want much, just that and a two post car hoist, I'm getting too old to lie on concrete under cars!

LMAO     
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[seadevil26]

Thanks for all the feedback. The vise was exactly what I tried, with oil and even some heat, but no luck. If you could check Oz for those parts, that would be great. Thanks!!

[exp2000]

Thanks for all the feedback. The vise was exactly what I tried, with oil and even some heat, but no luck. If you could check Oz for those parts, that would be great. Thanks!!

Yeah sorry, no more RH sideplate available here in Oz so it looks like you will have to go with plan B unless you can scrounge one from elsewhere.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Shimano-Calcutta-400-Casting-Reel-Made-in-Japan-/232322711624?hash=item3617834048:g:FrkAAOSw7GRZCpWt
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