How To Clean A Shimano Stradic Spinning Reel

Stradic FK Maintenance Port

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Nor Cal Drifter: Angler; Posts: 23; Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:16 am

Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Considering upgrading my Saros FA to the new Stradic. Just noticed the Stradic no longer has a maintenance port. I understand the rationale - to keep water out - but am left wondering how the internals will get oil. Used to be so easy to service with the port - open it up every 6-12 months and put a couple drops in. Now what? Take the entire frame apart?

Kurt L: Elite Angler; Posts: 346; Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:13 pm; Location: Alaska

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Kurt L » Wed Feb 24, 2016 3:24 pm

This is a mistake in my opinion the maintenance port was brilliant, I bought an FK 4000 just to see how it goes but I Bought two FJ's! some times newer is not always better! Just a few drops of Bantam oil makes my older Stradic's and CI4+'s feel like new after two or three hard days on the water and I can hit them with grease in minutes. The FK will be a pain in the butt!

Kurt

BARRAMANIAC: Platinum Angler; Posts: 1113; Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:00 pm; Location: Townsville , Queensland , Australia

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by BARRAMANIAC » Wed Feb 24, 2016 6:19 pm

You should not be adding oil to the maintenance port. The hole goes straight to the back of the main gear. And only grease should be put in that hole. The places to add oil are. Remove handle and cap on opposite side and add oil onto those bearings. Remove the spool and add a drop onto the main shaft and any bearings under the spool and the line roller and hinge points of the bail arm. And that will cover basic preventative maintenance on a spin reel,

Lawaia: Senior Angler; Posts: 147; Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2004 8:47 pm; Location: West Coast, CA

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Lawaia » Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:41 am

Barramaniac is correct. The maintenance ports on Shimano Spinners, should only be used for grease, specifically spray grease.

Nor Cal Drifter: Angler; Posts: 23; Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:16 am

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Nor Cal Drifter » Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:05 am

I stand corrected on grease rather than oil and appreciate the info. Question still remains though - how to add grease to the FK with no maintenance port?

cndbasshunter: Pro Angler; Posts: 4216; Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:32 pm; Location: CANADA

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by cndbasshunter » Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:20 am

Nor Cal Drifter wrote:I stand corrected on grease rather than oil and appreciate the info. Question still remains though - how to add grease to the FK with no maintenance port?

easy enough to send it in for service every year or two. I send all my spinning reels into shimano to service.

Nor Cal Drifter: Angler; Posts: 23; Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:16 am

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Nor Cal Drifter » Thu Feb 25, 2016 5:26 am

Well maybe I spoke too soon and do not need to stand corrected - if you look at the spinning reel maintenance PDF on Shimano website, it specifically states to put a few drops of Shimano Bantam OIL in the maintenance port - even shows a picture of someone doing it. I knew I saw it somewhere! Might just have to get the Stradic - since it has no port, I won't need to worry about oil vs. grease! I think post above suggesting sending it in for service every couple of years is solid advice.

Kurt L: Elite Angler; Posts: 346; Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:13 pm; Location: Alaska

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Kurt L » Thu Feb 25, 2016 6:22 am

Shimano specifically calls for Bantam Oil for normal maintenance, and only "Shimano" grease when grease is necessary. I add grease into the lube port with a syringe. When our Salmon seasons peak we are into fish steady all day long and normally that means lube every couple days if you care about your tackle! otherwise your reel will be ratted out by the end of the season if it even makes it. the Lube port for me was a great feature now the FK's will have to get put away until I have time to service them.

Kurt

Hulkster: Elite Angler; Posts: 687; Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 8:09 am

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Hulkster » Thu Feb 25, 2016 10:44 am

oil vs grease in the hole debate aside, I too think removing the port was a huge step backward for shimano.

it eliminated a unique feature about their higher end reels that no one else offers (to my knowledge??)

not a step forward at all. a big step backward IMO.

there was a time when this handy and unique feature even made it down as far as the Sahara reels (my sahara FD has it)

but now I gather it won't be in any of them.

cndbasshunter: Pro Angler; Posts: 4216; Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:32 pm; Location: CANADA

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by cndbasshunter » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:25 pm

I don't see the issue with this ... i much rather have better water sealing. this or magseal jdm spinning reels best to send in your reels for service to get it done properly.

Kurt L: Elite Angler; Posts: 346; Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:13 pm; Location: Alaska

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Kurt L » Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:44 pm

I see an issue, it means I will get three days tops out of a reel during the height of the season before I need to open it up, I have an extensive list of Shimano and Daiwa oils & grease most JDM to keep everything running as new (I have to be self reliant in AK). I will have to see just how long an FK can go before it starts to show signs of drying out. The lube port was brilliant as far as my needs go it was one of the reasons I have stayed with Shimano. There is nothing worst than taking a new reel out of the box setting someone up and halfway through the day they walk up to you and say "dude your reel is toast" (Stradic 2500) ask me how I know, last summer I had two new CI4+'s (4000 & 3000) locking up on me within an hour out of the box, luckily I had an 2500FI in my vest that saved the day! but I had both the CI4's up in going within minutes of getting home thanks to the lube port and they have bean smooth as butter ever since. $\:D/$

Kurt

ScoobyDoo: Elite Angler; Posts: 749; Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:38 am

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by ScoobyDoo » Sun Feb 28, 2016 5:55 am

My guess is that they pulled it because people were flooding the cavity with oil or eeek...wd40....that would end up in the AR clutch causing failure. Or strip the protective grease film off the mating surfaces causing premature wear.

There is no water penetration issue with the maintenance ports on any of the reels. As many of them had AR switches.

THe only thing that should go in that port is grease or spray grease

ONly time oil should be used near gearing is if is a compatable oil mixed with a compatable grease for thinning purposes.

The only time or place i will ever use oil. TSI or Corrsion X is on a main shaft. Or on roller bearings in freshwater. I grease every ball bearing. If i want free spinning reels i cut that grease with a compatable oil.

I grease line rollers for saltwater

BARRAMANIAC: Platinum Angler; Posts: 1113; Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:00 pm; Location: Townsville , Queensland , Australia

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by BARRAMANIAC » Sun Feb 28, 2016 6:27 am

As the reels are not fully sealed. If filled with oil , it will find a way out.

Kurt L: Elite Angler; Posts: 346; Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:13 pm; Location: Alaska

Re: Stradic FK Maintenance Port

Post by Kurt L » Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:35 am

Shimano grease is specific to the gear sets they use, if you want to destroy a Shimano spinning reel just try putting Quantum hot sauce grease in it, Game over for your Shimano. Bantam oil is fully compatible with the Shimano grease and rehydrates it to some extent. I talked with the service centers a number of times about this subject and they know what they are saying when they recommend Bantam oil! and when grease is required on spinning reeIs I use Shimano JDM market DG-06 "soft grease" as the UDM "Star Drag" grease is often to thick unless you cut it with Bantam oil. You can wreck a gear set faster than fast if you put just any grease in a Shimano spinning reel. My normal routine is two drops of Bantam oil in the service port and one drop on the spool shaft then a half dozen or so revolutions backwards and then again forward so the oil can be drawn across the teeth of the gears and they are good to go, normally you will feel an instant improvement! your reel and wallet will thank you for it!

YMMV: Kurt