Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I just received my SLX-20II drop shipped from Okuma.

In the higher gear, I feel the handle is binding when I turn it even in free spool with the drag lever turn all the way down,

I compared it to the Makaira 30 in the pic and Makaira does not bind and very easy to turn, while the solterra

Is there something I did not set right? Sorry my experience with 2 speed reels is quite lacking.

bad bearings.  i went through about 30 of the smaller models.   

Alan,
Here is the pic for what is worth,



wow, bad batch of bearings?
Thanks, I will give Okuma a quick call.

it's not because the bearings are cheap or inferior, it's just that they corrode with water intrusion.  it happens with lots of reels. 

Gotcha, I will keep a few spare bearings handy,

My Solterra SLX is brand spanking new, makes one wonder how QC missed the bad bearing during assembly.

Anyway, I will call give Okuma a call tomorrow when I back home.

Quote from: alantani on August 28, 2018, 10:52:11 PMbad bearings.  i went through about 30 of the smaller models.   

hi Alan, do you have a review for the new okuma solterra slx B 2 speed released in 2023?

I can't see anything other than the color that seems to have meaningfully changed with the SLX B from the original SLX.

My write-up of the SLX 50 II is here:
https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,18535.15.html

Sadly the pictures are probably lost to the sands of time.

the new model appears to have been improved mechanically.

Do you have a schematic or anything else to compare? Or any specifics about what these improvements are?
I can't find any information online about what might have changed. From the outside the reels look identical, other than the color obviously.

I was looking for a review from Alan on this "B" model revision by Okuma.

FEATURES:

• Stainless steel main gears, pinion gears and shafts
• Single speed, High-speed and Two-speed models
• Durable corrosion-resistant frame & side plates
• Stainless steel reinforcing side plate rings
• Forged aluminum spool with line indicator rings
• Carbonite drag system with Cal's universal drag grease
• 2 thrust bearings reduce handle turning force be over 50%.
• 5BB+2TB stainless steel shielded bearings 20-50W models
• 5BB+2TB+RB stainless steel shielded bearings 10/15 models
• Double dog, silent anti-reverse on all models
• Dual anti-reverse system on all 10/15 sizes
• Ratcheting drag lever for precise drag setting
• Stainless Steel Body Armor reduces frame flex 20-50W models
• T-Bar handle design on 50W-size
• Ergo Grip comfort handle on all 10 through 30 sizes
• Low profile On/Off clicker with stainless steel wishbone
• Wide-mouth levelwind: Stainless steel with Ti coating "L" models
• High Speed 6.0:1 gear ratios on SLX-10CSb and SLX-15CSb
• Open top frame design on SLX-10CSb and SLX-15CSb

For my general trolling setup I have 5 TLD-25 single speed which I might replace with the 20iiB Solterra (2 speed) if it makes sense. I usually have these setups loaded with 500yrd-80# braid and a 50 MONO topshot.

Any insights appreciated !

you might be better off with the tld's.  a carbontex drag upgrade and a better handle would do wonders for the reel.

The SLX is a vastly superior reel to the classic TLDs in my humble opinion. Hugely overbuilt stainless gears instead of fairly piddly little brass ones. Two real kickers though, the anti-reverse acts directly on the pinion gear/drag washer rather than on the drive gear like the TLD, so the drag force isn't transmitted (and multiplied!) through the gear teeth; and the SLX has a true thrust bearing arrangement meaning it doesn't steadily damage the pinion bearing when used at higher drag settings.

yes, but if you are ok with 15 pounds of drag at strike and 25 pounds at full, it's not really bad.