Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Quote from: MarkT on August 05, 2024, 08:17:32 AMPlanned obsolescence wasn't invented by Shimano!

Yup.

Too bad they didn't stay conservative. At least not enough for me. Japanese companies such as vehicle makers Honda and Toyota are far from perfect, but have done so successfully. New fangled untested electronic oriented design-engineering? "Ah, let's hold off on some of that and continue to use what's been working".
 Some of those older reel models were real winners. Though it's heavily graphite oriented, the original Triton Sea Spin Baitrunner is superior to the latter iterations, IMO. Same with the Stratic spinners. The Charter Special and TLD's were real winners. Do they even still make them? I have an original Bantam 100, simple-quality construction.
Years ago they were easy to deal with over the phone, even did the "no charge" thing for minor parts.

Quote from: MarkT on August 05, 2024, 08:17:32 AMPlanned obsolescence wasn't invented by Shimano!

Maybe not but they sure did jump on the band wagon big time. I find it interesting how long it has taken some to realize their game plans.

Quote from: MarkT on August 05, 2024, 08:17:32 AMPlanned obsolescence wasn't invented by Shimano!

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it was Bic...

Several years ago I worked for a person that was former Shimano USA upper management.  He told me that fishing in many parts of Asia is a rich person sport.  He said Shimao catered to them by comming out with "new" models often and their customers bought them to have the latest and greatest.  The customers tossed the old reels rather than repaired them.

Ski companies used to change the graphics every year to make it obvious that you're skiing on last years model. Some places people are very aware of this and don't want be skiing on last years models.  Me? I still have my K2 VO Slaloms from 1984!

Quote from: MarkT on August 05, 2024, 07:49:54 PMSki companies used to change the graphics every year to make it obvious that you're skiing on last years model. Some places people are very aware of this and don't want be skiing on last years models.  Me? I still have my K2 VO Slaloms from 1984!

K2 VO Slaloms?  Eek!  I doubt that even Phil Mahre is using his VOs any more...
Hopefully these are not your daily drivers.

-J

I just google the part number or name from the id on the schematics and AI will list the new part # and often several different sites that sells the part I'm looking for, usually the "opps springs...

Surprised to see this post come up again. Thought I'd add a list I came across I found while getting lost in their web site. 

Model Name Size Release Year Year Closed Out

TRX300A    300       2017        2025
TRX300AHG  300       2017        2025

TRX301A    300       2017        2025
TRX301AHG  300       2017        2025

TRX400A    400       2017        2026
TRX400AHG  400       2017        2026

TRX401A    400       2017        2026
TRX401AHG  400       2017        2026

TRX500HG   500       2012 – ?
TRX500PG   500       2012 – ?

Quote from: Lunker Larry on April 12, 2026, 06:42:54 PMSurprised to see this post come up again. Thought I'd add a list I came across I found while getting lost in their web site. 

Model Name Size Release Year Year Closed Out

TRX300A    300       2017        2025
TRX300AHG  300       2017        2025

TRX301A    300       2017        2025
TRX301AHG  300       2017        2025

TRX400A    400       2017        2026
TRX400AHG  400       2017        2026

TRX401A    400       2017        2026
TRX401AHG  400       2017        2026

TRX500HG   500       2012 – ?
TRX500PG   500       2012 – ?

Just to be clear, you know this is in reference to sales of the reels, not the parts, right?

The Tranx A has been replaced by the Tranx B.

Yep

OK, just saw this thread and this has me a tad bummed as I have a bunch of old Shimano's, they are in perfect shape (currently) and I plan on keeping them till I die.  I had also planned on buying some off of e-bay for new rods (all of these are Curado bass reels) as I have no use for a reel that does "more" than these reels.  They were bullet proof and perfect IMHO. They made a bajillion of them so I guess parts will maybe just have to come from other reels.

One upside to older "simpler" reels is that there are less parts to break!

Just broke open my Abu 4600CB circa late 80's which I haven't used in 4 or 5 years, and my policy (when I was fishing hard) of every 6mo full break down clean and lube revealed to me a reel with very little to do and bearings in perfect condition.