Hi all,
First rebuild post so please be gentle ha ha! I am going to start this thread with a bit of nostalgia, when I was growing up my dad had three spinning reels, all Shakespeare 2200CKs. My brother and I always fished with an 040 while my dad had a larger model, my brother and I remember it being an 070 but it seems there was never such a model, just an 060 and 080. I am not sure why we both remember it being that model, was there a similar 070 that anyone knows of? These reels were all we fished with from the moment we could hold a rod (dad started us out early!) until I got a baitrunner 3500B for my 13th birthday, and we caught a lot of fish with them. As an adult I have always be on the look out for one, when Fred said he had one NOS I knew that I had to have it! It came in the post two days ago, today I tore it down, regreased it and am getting it ready to fish! First off, here is the scan of the paperwork that came with it.
Nice tutorial, Andrew --
There were two 070 -- one front drag, one rear.
Biggest one I have currently is a 050.
Although I have many 060 & 080 spools -- no reel to match unless it is out in the storage.
Here is a nice little Sigma Whisker Titan -- NIB. A 42/35.
Has a quick bail.
A really solid little reel that is balanced perfectly, and performs with flawless ease. The wood knob is unusual, and a nice touch, IMO.
You really seem to know what you are about when it comes to servicing reels -- nice job!
Best,
Fred
There you go Fred! Do you know if there was much difference between the 2200 and 2200CK models then? I vividly remember dads reel being a front drag 070 like the one in your photo, I am not going crazy!
Cheers,
Andrew
At the end of the 70's (about 1977) Shakespeare discontinued the 2 letter dating system that was their trademark code for decades.
If you look at an old Shakes baitcaster, spinning, spincast reel, even Wonderods -- you will see two letters.
These correspond with a chart grid that will give you the year of manufacture.
This Sigma series was a re-entry back into the market of quality spinning reels. Metal bodies, decent gears and drive system, solid operators.
There were various sizes in this series, ranging from a tiny 025 up to the large 080.
Shakes was proud of this reel, and their history -- so just for this year (1981) -- the CK was used -- which was correct according to the nostalgic and historical dating chart.
Shakespeare Reel Series Dating Formula
There were other reels in the day that were higher quality -- Penns, Cardinals, Quicks, etc..
But the price point of the Sigmas was approximately 40% of a comparable Penn.
So the Sigmas sold like hotcakes.
Eventually the CK was eliminated, rear drags were introduced, graphite bodies instead of metal -- but they are all a very decent and capable reel series.
Best,
Fred
Thanks for that information Fred! Given that my old man was fishing with an 070 it sounds like we may have had the later 2200 models, not a 2200CK then. I am chuffed with how this reel has turned out, it even has this whirring sound which I remember as a kid. Turns out it is the sound of the anti-reverse dog against the pinion. I've ordered some No. 2 sized carbontex washers from Dawn, they should be a straight fit. I'll post a pic when they come in!
Cheers,
Andrew
These are excellent reels, Andrew --
I mentioned that there were a few other reels that were better, IMO --
However, that is only because the drive system in a Sigma is not quite as strong as the worm gear drive system in the more expensive reels like Penn, Cardinal, and Quick. However, having worked on hundreds of Sigmas over the years -- I have never seen a gear set failure.
Having said that, IMO, the Sigmas particularly, have found their own place as a reel that has stood the rest of time.
They are well built, capable fishers, good materials, and attractive in design and function.
One of my all time favorites...
Best,
Fred
Thanks for putting in the time on this, Ruffy. Nice looking reel. Questions: 1) what is the country of manufacture for your reel; 2) on the bail arms, are they metal or plastic (or one of each)?
Frank
Quote from: happyhooker on October 15, 2017, 02:30:26 AM
Thanks for putting in the time on this, Ruffy. Nice looking reel. Questions: 1) what is the country of manufacture for your reel; 2) on the bail arms, are they metal or plastic (or one of each)?
Frank
Hi Frank,
I only just saw this sorry! The country of Manufacture on these is Japan, as stamped on the reel foot. With regards to your second question, do you mean the two covers on the sides of the rotor? I've taken a photo of one but they are both the same metal material, my guess is aluminium.
I also upgraded the original felt washers to carbontex. Dawns size 2 carbontex (16.8 x 4.3 x 1 mm, OD x ID x Thickness) are a straight drop in replacement, no cutting necessary.
I finally got out for a flick at the local creek with this reel yesterday. No fish this time but it performed flawlessly and certainly has a spot on the rack! Also, a big thank you to the Boss for sending through an AT wrench, the generosity on this website is what makes it amazing!
Cheers,
Andrew
Howdy:
Thanks for the info on this reel. That drag upgrade sure looks like a winner.
By bail arms, I mean the parts to which either end of the bail attach. On one end, it would be the part that the line guide/roller is attached to; on the other, where the plain end of the bail attaches to the rotor.
Tried wetting line myself this afternoon; a bit chilly (40 degrees, cloudy & windy) & I had no better luck than you did.
Frank
Hi Frank,
I had a squiz this afternoon and the bail arms are plastic at both ends. I've got some photos of the back sides of them, you can see marks from the moulding.
Cheers,
Andrew
Again, thanks for the information. I want to read through your tutorial again too--interesting.
Frank
I ended up getting three more of these second hand, figured they'd make good reels for the three kids. Bought two from one chap on gumtree, both reels had half a beach inside and some surface corrosion on the outside. Sanded them back, repainted with a spray can and slapped them together with carbontex for good measure. Only issues are the bails are a bit bent out of shape (I've tried to straighten as best I can) and one has a loose handle where the peened in shaft is now spinning. They'll fish as is for now though! I notice both of them had a shim on the drive gear that the NIB reel I got last year did not. Has anyone ever seen that before?
The third reel stung me a little bit. Looked identical on line, I pulled the trigger and got it in my hands, only to find out it was "Made in Korea". An identical 2200ck form Korea and not Japan, watch out, they're out there! Does anyone know how well they hold up when compared to the Japanese counterparts? Do I keep it for spares or just palm it off for a few bucks?
Cheers,
Andrew
I have a couple of Alpha 2100s that were made, I think, in Korea. Guessing they followed your Sigmas, time-wise, or maybe they were made around the same time. The internals look very similar to the Sigmas, although I can't say one way or the other if they are made of the same materials. Metal-bodied and also look like the Sigmas, although silver in color rather than black.
Frank
Had one of my Alpha 2100s apart today (035 size); they are remarkably similar to the Sigmas internally; I did note, however, that my reel has a regular thread nut holding the rotor on, NOT a left-hand like the Sigma earlier discussed That could mess someone up. Only a 2-screw bearing retainer, although I see the schematic for the 2100B shows 3-screw. Little different bail trip setup.
Frank
I have a 2200-040 with nut covering the handle hole missing... anyone over here that has got one left over?
Quote from: Ruffy on September 14, 2017, 03:59:04 AM
There you go Fred! Do you know if there was much difference between the 2200 and 2200CK models then? I vividly remember dads reel being a front drag 070 like the one in your photo, I am not going crazy!
Cheers,
Andrew
What a beauty of a reel is that 040 and 070! I have an 040, an 035, an 025 and I am waiting for an 030! I hope to find an 050 too!