Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Quote from: tincanary on November 11, 2022, 02:26:48 AM

Quote from: thorhammer on November 10, 2022, 03:16:01 PMNoted brother, thanks! We've got some decent size perch, I had two citations just under two pounds, back in the day, and the lake has some real quality crappie to cast to as well I just can't spider fish- if I'm gonna slow troll live baits it's gonna be shad for stripers.

Here is where I get my parts.  https://www.hedgehog-studio.com/  That store does have a US site too, but the pricing is different and in US dollars which doesn't adjust according to the exchange rate, but both ship from the same place.  The exchange rate between JPY and USD is outstanding right now, better now than it has been in two decades.  While I do have good money into this reel, it did run me $300 less than if I had bought the parts a year ago.  Buying from Japan is a bargain right now.  If you wanted to buy a new reel, you could get a Calcutta Conquest for about $150 to $200 less than buying domestic.  You won't have a warranty, but you know your way around a reel anyway.  While they may seem a little intimidating by looking at schematics, they aren't too bad once you get into them. 

Thanks, brother! On that note, how does the conquest compare to the 50? I have a few; is there a light spool for them? Since I'm on an ABU kick at the moment, may just do a spool and bearings on a 1500 for the amount I'll use it. The good thing is I don't even have to crank the boat...crappie and perch are year around in my cove on the trolling motor.

Quote from: thorhammer on November 11, 2022, 01:03:27 PMThanks, brother! On that note, how does the conquest compare to the 50? I have a few; is there a light spool for them? Since I'm on an ABU kick at the moment, may just do a spool and bearings on a 1500 for the amount I'll use it. The good thing is I don't even have to crank the boat...crappie and perch are year around in my cove on the trolling motor.

Shimano makes a light lure Conquest, the Conquest BFS.  When it came out in 2017, it had the lightest spool of any factory built reel.  It has only recently been surpassed by the 2022 ALdebaran BFS.  It's a fine reel and a bargain with the current exchange rate.  This feller used to run $500+ just a few years ago, now you can find them new for $300 to $350 with the current exchange rate.  Lots of Japanese shops ship here, and many will ship 2+ piece rods and reels free.



http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshim17conquestbfshg.html

https://fishingdiscoveries.com/shimano-calcutta-conquest-bfs-hg/

You guys gotta stop telling me this stuff about the exchange rate. I've been telling myself such toys were far out of reach and not considering them.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 11, 2022, 01:38:52 PMYou guys gotta stop telling me this stuff about the exchange rate. I've been telling myself such toys were far out of reach and not considering them.

It shot up a bit the last couple of days.  It used to be 0.0068 yen to the dollar as recently as Wednesday, or a 32% discount.  Right now it's 0.0072.  When I built this 2500C IAR, it was 0.0067.  For reference, when I bought my Calcutta Conquest BFS, it was 0.0091.  I watch it like a hawk when I'm wanting to buy from Japan.  The dollar is very strong right now so you get a lot for your money when buying from overseas.  A decade ago, the yen was much stronger and one would've spent 10%+ more buying from Japan.

Quote from: thorhammer on November 11, 2022, 01:03:27 PMThanks, brother! On that note, how does the conquest compare to the 50? I have a few; is there a light spool for them? Since I'm on an ABU kick at the moment, may just do a spool and bearings on a 1500 for the amount I'll use it. The good thing is I don't even have to crank the boat...crappie and perch are year around in my cove on the trolling motor.

I also have a 50 and would like to know how it compares to the Conquest since I've never seen one of those in person.  The 50 is pretty small, but it's not super light.  Any mods that can be done to it to make it more useable for ultralight fishing?

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 11, 2022, 01:38:52 PMYou guys gotta stop telling me this stuff about the exchange rate. I've been telling myself such toys were far out of reach and not considering them.

combine that w/ a goofy trend & you can find quite a deal: 
last I looked, old JDM Scorpions were cheaper than equivalent 90's Curado 
used to be the other way around, despite zero support & ugly burgundy color 

Quote from: tincanary on November 11, 2022, 01:21:05 PM

Quote from: thorhammer on November 11, 2022, 01:03:27 PMThanks, brother! On that note, how does the conquest compare to the 50? I have a few; is there a light spool for them? Since I'm on an ABU kick at the moment, may just do a spool and bearings on a 1500 for the amount I'll use it. The good thing is I don't even have to crank the boat...crappie and perch are year around in my cove on the trolling motor.

Shimano makes a light lure Conquest, the Conquest BFS.  When it came out in 2017, it had the lightest spool of any factory built reel.  It has only recently been surpassed by the 2022 ALdebaran BFS.  It's a fine reel and a bargain with the current exchange rate.  This feller used to run $500+ just a few years ago, now you can find them new for $300 to $350 with the current exchange rate.  Lots of Japanese shops ship here, and many will ship 2+ piece rods and reels free.



http://www.tackletour.com/reviewshim17conquestbfshg.html

https://fishingdiscoveries.com/shimano-calcutta-conquest-bfs-hg/

wow that is a nice little reel; and anything that isn't pimpy gold is a win in my fashion book

Any info. On shipping costs from Japan?

Quote from: Gfish on November 11, 2022, 05:42:30 PMAny info. On shipping costs from Japan?

Anywhere from free to about $25 at the most.

Thanks. Sounds close to the same as non-international.

Quote from: Gfish on November 11, 2022, 06:19:36 PMThanks. Sounds close to the same as non-international.

you get it quick too, DHL and FedEx have round the clock flights out of Tokyo.  I get things faster fun Japan than I do domestically most of the time.  2 to 4 business days.

There's always something on these eBay listings about customs and import tarriffs etc are not included and are buyers responsibility. What does that add to the cost of these things?

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 11, 2022, 08:41:16 PMThere's always something on these eBay listings about customs and import tarriffs etc are not included and are buyers responsibility. What does that add to the cost of these things?

I couldn't tell you, they've never hit me with an import fee and I've been buying from Japan frequently the last couple of years.  I think it depends on the quantity that you order before the tariffs come into play.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on November 11, 2022, 08:41:16 PMThere's always something on these eBay listings about customs and import tarriffs etc are not included and are buyers responsibility. What does that add to the cost of these things?

Yeah. More'n once I've been  dissuaded from pulling the trigger after reading that on da Bay. I do know that Hardy Boy—-Todd got nailed for Canadian tax on a reel I sent him. A nasty surprise, IMO.

I had a yen for an Abu 3500 but couldn't bring myself to spend $130 on the light spool from Japan..
when the reel came up on ebay and the yen had dropped so the spool was under $100, bought the reel on Sunday and the spool on Monday. The shipment from Japan arrived Friday morning, before the shipment from the US..

No problems as yet with customs/tariffs etc on anything I've bought from Japan, but all my purchases have been small parts or lures, probably those go under the radar.

tincanary, that reel is basically the Ship of Theseus ;-) all parts replaced and better than new. Very nice indeed..