shimano upgrade

[thehairynurse]

gday fellas, browsn on the shimano site and saw they now have baitrunners, yeah! but does anyone know where i can get them?

[KingsRule]

what do you mean?, not the standard baitrunners?

http://www.shimanofish.com.au/catalog/fish/products/group_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=25343743020 53867&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181791&bmUID=1210389266516

[thehairynurse]

yep, if you look at the spare parts and upgrades page on their website, you can get carbon drag and a stella handle as an upgrade and a few other things

[Mr Potato Head]

Its Just an upgrade onm your original baitrunner

Baitrunner Upgrade.

Upgrade your Baitrunner reel for heavy duty style fishing with an upgraded drag and a stella type round or ergonomic handle (these upgrades are also available individually).

[storms72]

Get your drag washers from Jack Irskines Hairy.......Dunno why youd want to replace the handle till the one you got with the reel is broken-not that that will happen in a hurry!:ohhh yeah:

[imnotafish]

Yeah Hairy you can get them from shimano most tackle shops can send the reel in for you or just buy the upgrade handle and drag

but i reckon the erskine drag washers are better too...

check em out . www.jackerskine.com/ (http://www.jackerskine.com/)


also read this thread http://www.sydneyfishfinder.com.au/sffforum/showthread.php?t=1485&highlight=drag+washers

[Dog Catcher]

gday fellas, browsn on the shimano site and saw they now have baitrunners, yeah! but does anyone know where i can get them?

Hairy Shimano have allways had Baitrunners I was using their BT series some 20 years back.

In fact Shimano have the term **Baitrunner** as a registered trademark & none of the other reel manufacturer's are allowed to use that name that's why you'll see the same type of reel refered to as a dual or double drag etc.

Haven't used the latest models but if they haven't improved on the BT's of a decade ago then I'm afraid I wouldn't give one to a Jap on Anzac day that's how poorly I rate them.

Even the Okuma's I purchased to replace the BT's were a much better reel

If I've read your post correctly & you're after a new Baitrunner type reel ??

Do yourself a favour & check out the NTM60 by Viva I haven't used mine yet but if it's as good as my Brownings which I think it will surpass the Brownings then you'll have a top notch reel.

Full Alloy Body
13 sealed bearing
Worm driven shaft
Anti twist hollow bail arm system
etc etc

They have arrived in Oz & wont be long B4 they hit only 5 selected retail shops

To boot they'll have a very special very low B*LLSH*TE introductory price which will only last with the current Shipment

Do yourself a favour & go have a look @ one

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8515/vivlx1.jpg

[mulloway mayhem]

hey hairy......mate go get the shimano 6500 BR.......you wont pay any more then $190 for it and i reckon that dollar for dollar,pound for pound they are the best mate....



pleae dont get me started on the okumas........rubbish rubbish..........i hate em and wouldnt even waste your money mate....you wont be dissapointed wit the shimano BRs

[xtosea]

I know DC wont agree but i believe the Shimano BTR's are the best on the market, they are bloody good reels, the Yanks use them in the Sailfish Tournies, with upgraded drag washers they are incredible.
I have thrashed mine for years and it still goes nearly like new. Its taken a pounding and still performs well, the drag is so smooth and not many reels in that price range can equal themselves with this reel, sure they may feel smooth out of the box and look nice like the Okumas do, but after a few years of pound for pound battering between the BTR and any other reel, the BTR would be on top after that time.
Just my thoughts.
Kamil

[Dog Catcher]

pleae dont get me started on the okumas........rubbish rubbish..........i hate em and wouldnt even waste your money mate....you wont be dissapointed wit the shimano BRs

Funny you should say that cause I dont think to much of the BTR's

Like I said I was using them 20 years back & got sick of having to get new ones all the time so I stopped using them

I know DC wont agree but i believe the Shimano BTR's are the best on the market,

What a load of horse manure:rolling laughter:

Come on Kamil one of these days I'll let you use a real Bait Runner & you'll be converted instead of repeating the shimano rant that peeps seem to do on these forums

Just go look @ the BTR's specs esp in the bearing department 3 bloody bearings

they are bloody good reels, the Yanks use them in the Sailfish Tournies, with upgraded drag washers they are incredible.


Well the guys who fish these tournaments also run light line through their reels to get a high pointscore.

And lets face it Sails dont grow very big @ all do they ???

Now the average guy who buys one generally runs rope through his reel but like I said you'd have to be silly if you were in the market for this type of reel & didn't have a look @ the NTM 60 if that's the size reel you're after.

You'll be converted

They will eventually retail for around the $200 mark but I've been told as a special intro deal you'll be able to get them @ 1/2 price.

Cant recall all the 5 stores which will stock them a few ring a bell & they're

Fish out of water
Complete Angler
Fergo's

[storms72]

Not argueing with anyone but on the BB front sometimes more doesn't necessarily mean better, The reels I currently own between 1 and 5 BB's in them each(not including 1 way roller) and my opinion theres less chance of probs due to less components that can fail....13BB's is a lot of extra metal that can possibly open the reel to more rust, corrosion, failure-i'v seen Pflueger's and Okumas which have that many BB's.....DC are the Brownings using stainless bearings all round/possibly some plastic and is the reel sealed to prevent salt entry??? Not having a go at any product just interested in the specs of these reels you have mentioned and what benefits do the extra BB's offer and where the hell are they hidden in the mechanism.:confused2:

[Dog Catcher]

No such thing as a full stainless bearing & that's why I argue with so many people on the subject esp when I read some of the manufacturer's claims in their specs.

It's easy to see for yourselves just get a magnet & watch it stick to the bearing same as will stick to the main shaft.

If these items were full on S/S then the shaft would bend & the bearings would collapse stainless is to soft a material.

What they do is plate with stainless.

Not argueing with anyone but on the BB front sometimes more doesn't necessarily mean better

I think it makes a huge differance to a reel, bear in mind reels only have 3 main bearings & the rest are are there to enhance the reels operation.

Just a few Examples

* dual bearings on the bail arm roller + no friction on the line
* dual bearings on the handle gives you that smoothness unlike a brass bush which can jam or cease
* dual bearings on the worm drive in regards to the reel I posted pic of, allows for a smoother precion in the spool evenly working up & down the shaft which in turn gives a more even line spead

Overall picture the more bearings a reel has the less wear & tear on moving components which means not only a smoother reel but less wear & tear on the reel which in turn gives you a longer life as long as the reel is not mis used.


DC are the Brownings using stainless bearings all round/possibly some plastic and is the reel sealed to prevent salt entry???

Like I said earlier no such thing as full stainless & yes the main bearing does have a plastic dual purpose gaurd
* keeps main nut from coming loose
* stops water from getting into the bearing

I personally dont think there is such a thing as a fully water proof reel only water resistant.

Esp when peeps use a hose under pressure to wash down their reels this should be done with the hose nozzle turned down so only a mist is wetting the reels else you'll force any exterior salt into crevices.

[imnotafish]

Sorry DC just cant agree with you on this one :wiink:. You might have had to replace them 20 years ago DC but times have changed and i would highly recommend you try one of the new ones. Ill lend you mine if i have to :rolling laughter:
Shimano BTR's are in my opinion the best Baitrunners on the market, and i get to see most BTR reels available fairly often, and use them. i regularly see Shimanos BTRs over 10 years old and they all run pretty well still having never been serviced, and i have three near that age and they r bulletproof. on the other hand I also regularly send okuma, daiwa and other baitrunners back for service cos the baitrunner mechanism is stuffed or they r corroding.
The brownings we have sold (non btr ones) have been ok/good but nothing on the shimano range.


Also more bearings definately dont mean better. 13bb's is a joke if they r **** bb's, and at less than $150 a reel they have to be. Good metal is expensive. Sheilding them is great if they r perfectly shielded but your gonna have to convince me on that one cos i just dont believe they can do it. The best time tested salt water bearings on the market (shielded or not) are in shimano reels. Shimano bearings are shielded in the better models or just A-RB (anti rust) in the baitrunners, but both work well and have been tested over a long time. They never say they use stainless bearings.

But i agree DC the use of bearings instead of line rollers etc etc makes a definate difference, dual spool bearings etc,
but if they r crap bearings they will do nothing but rust.

Who here hasnt replaced a daiwa bearing recently?

[mulloway mayhem]

ive had my BRs (6 0f em)for over 3-4 yrs and i have never had em serviced...............caught plenty of goo jews on em and they just keep on going strong..........gotta love em..........:headbang:

[leelee]

Who here hasnt replaced a daiwa bearing recently?

I have only had to replace 1 anti reverse bearing in my Sol 2000. I have 8 Daiwa spinning reels and in over 5 years I have not had to replace any bearings in any of my Daiwa’s except for the previously mentioned 1 x anti reverse.

I think the BTR's are the best Baitrunners on the market. I have a 3500 and it’s a awesome reel.

The only downside to them is they are made from so many different metals and contain so many different grades and types of metal that you need to wash them down with a light spray and they are damn heavy for their size.

The BTR was actually designed by Dunphy himself (I think from memory it was) and then pitched to Shimano for them to create. The actually Shimano BTR is actually designed by and Australian for Australian fishing.

I have not seen or played with or used the Browning models so I cannot compare.

Every make has it’s loyal following of users and I guess anglers these days need to do more research before they just jump in and buy something that’s sports more than the right NAME.

Cheers

Lee

[imnotafish]

Yeah good call Lee i didnt mean to bitch on daiwas too much :rofl:
i know you bass guys love em

but youre right, the BTR's are cumbersome in comparison with some other baitrunners - they r the utility reels of baitrunners maybe.
And from memory dunph did come up with the BTR design which was then pitched to Shimano Jap...

[leelee]

Yeah good call Lee i didnt mean to bitch on daiwas too much
i know you bass guys love em

but youre right, the BTR's are cumbersome in comparison with some other baitrunners - they r the utility reels of baitrunners maybe.
And from memory dunph did come up with the BTR design which was then pitched to Shimano Jap...

Its ok Stef we won’t mention the amount of issues surrounding the stradics roller bearings will we ha ha

Not all my reels are for bass and bream. One of the sol 2000 spools is loaded with 12lb braid for kings and other sportsfish. I have a certate 2500r and a 3500hd and 6000gt slatiga (that one came from your shop I think)

The BTR’s might be utility reels but they are super strong as you previously mentioned.

I love my Daiwa gear but would not hesitate to buy another BTR if it was needed.

The amount of scenarios you can use this reel for is insane. Mine saw a lot of action throwing live baits at dollies. Casting the livey, switching to BTR mode, which was set at almost nil, then winding the handle after the dolly had run for 5 secs with the livey in its mouth. Instant hook up. I have even used it to slowly drop a weighted bait to the bottom in over 20m of water so that it has more hang time in the water column so that some certain species might hit it mid water.

The transfer from BTR drag to spool drag is extremely good.

It is really a must have if you want the BTR option.

Cheers

Lee

[Mr Potato Head]

Ive got a BTR 4500 and loved it!!

It still gets used in heavier applications (10kg)

But, DC put me onto the Browning TB Series dual drag reels and they are awesome, I have one in 3kg and one in 6kg and they are just beautiful reels to use...

[Dog Catcher]

The brownings we have sold (non btr ones) have been ok/good but nothing on the shimano range.


Pulled a few of the TB brownings apart & only found probs with the BT 50's prob because that model out sells the smaller models.

BUT let me tell you right now if I was calling the shots very few if any would be eligable for a warranty claim.

Have seen some abortions some peeps even roll the reels in sand pull them apart & the Saharah Desert falls out.

Most come back because peeps try servicing themselves & are bloody hopeless with springs & parts missing from the reels.

You should be getting those NTM's in the next week or 2 when you do pick one up & have a play with it.

[the reel I mean] :violent1:

Jokes aside :devil-smiley: come back afterwards & tell me what you really think & leave any bias towards the BTR's aside.

25 odd years ago when Shimano hit the Oz market we were all saying
**What's this Jap Cr*p**

Since then they've left all the other brands in their wake, & how they did that was very good marketing.

These type of forums are a prime example everyone is singing the praises of Shimano or Daiwa the 2 big guns.

Now how many of you guys actually own reels that I see peeps boasting about ????

I'll bet my short & curlies very very few of you, cause all you guys do is watch the tv shows like the brim comps etc etc look @ what those guys are using & think it is the best gear.

One thing you fail to realise those guys are sponsored & get given the gear for free to promote it.

Grant it I get my gear for $&$%$$& but if it wasn't any good I wouldn't be sitting here giving it a good rap & if the gear is SH*TE I tell the boys to throw it in the bin.

These days there's very little in the manufacturer's gear of equal quality & some of you guys should really not be so negative with other new brands.

Shimano was new once as well.

Think I use my gear alot more than most if not all of you guys & it's stood the test & I'd rather show peeps how good it really is rather than telling them.

That's why whoever comes out for a fish with me is encouraged not to bring any tackle I let them see for themselves.

Unless of course I'm going out for a serious troll day then I'm afraid you've got buckleys chance of sneaking a game stick on board.

[thehairynurse]

[quote=mulloway mayhem]hey hairy......mate go get the shimano 6500 BR.......you wont pay any more then $190 for it and i reckon that dollar for dollar,pound for pound they are the best mate....



mate already got one, and a 4500. what i really want is the handle, on both of them my handles manage to undo themselves while im fishing, espescially the 4500 which does a bit of time throwing lures. dont know why, dont know how, dont know much by the sounds of it. so thought it would be cheaper to get the upgrade kit rather than the handles separetly to the drag washes from erskine. opened a bit of a can of worms regards to best btr didnt i. and interestingly i dont think i have seen any manufatsturer advertise stainless steel bearings- always corrosion resistent or anti rust etc, and everything rusts- it is stain-less not stain-free after all.

[storms72]

Corrosion free....I'v just got stainless on the brain after buying stainless stuff for my boat-My mistake!:blow up me:

[leelee]

Now how many of you guys actually own reels that I see peeps boasting about ????

I'll bet my short & curlies very very few of you, cause all you guys do is watch the tv shows like the brim comps etc etc look @ what those guys are using & think it is the best gear.

Actually I own a everything I mentioned previously, plus some more stuff and it has nothing to do with what I see on TV. I base it on what I have used previously, what I have sold to customers previously, the reports that came back from customers and what the reel is actually made up of. I was using Daiwa stuff before it became “The must have” brand. The gear I have is quality gear and has not let me down so the research I do prior to making a selection has a lot to do with it. Plus I upgrade a few bearings here and there on certain reels to make them perform even better.

I agree with you about Shimano’s marketing ploy, but when they had 90% of the market and flooded with their gear so many years ago it makes it pretty hard for other manufacturers to get in there and give them a run for their money. Its only been in the last 3-4 years that Daiwa has achieved the TOP 2 name.


One thing you fail to realise those guys are sponsored & get given the gear for free to promote it.


That’s not 100% true. I know a heap of tournament guys and there are only a select few who actually get given their gear, free of charge, to promote it. The rest have to pay for it, at a reduced rate of course, but still it is money out of their own pockets. I would say that at least 75% of the field on any given tournament day had to pay for everything they use on that day. Most sponsors pay an entry fee and that is it.



These days there's very little in the manufacturer's gear of equal quality & some of you guys should really not be so negative with other new brands.

Mate I agree 100% that’s why I said –


Every make has it’s loyal following of users and I guess anglers these days need to do more research before they just jump in and buy something that’s sports more than the right NAME.

People just need to look and listen and make a judgment call on what they are buying to ensure it suits the main reason they want the reel for. Sometimes looking away from the Top 2 manufacturers can reveal a whole new world of tackle.

Cheers

Lee

[Dog Catcher]

Lee you're one of the select few who do own his tackle & you'll find only those who have a genuine love for the sport do own the top of the range gear.

What you have to consider here is that you're average guy who posts a Q in regards to tackle in forums like this isn't about to run out & spend $700 on one of those overpriced outfits.

And that's where I start getting arguementive cause the 1st thing people start doing is suggesting that sort of gear because they've been influenced by marketing but very few of them would go out & fork out that sort of money themselves.

I also think your jaw would drop if you saw the range & sort of tackle that I have I dont keep cr*p & dont go out & buy top of the range expensive shimano/daiwa just to say I've got them.

If there's a equivellent brand which is as good & a hell of alot less expensive then I'm not afraid to use it & I'm not just restricted to the the viva brand of gear either which I'm favouring @ present.

I build just about all my rods & a mate is sponsored by Loomis we've loaded up both our rods & there's Seria Foxtrot Alpha between the actions etc between them.

Only difference is $500-$600 opposed to around $100 when you go out & buy them & the viva rods dont run fuji's but I'll go one better than that I put my viva RAP blank aside & favour my Browning factory built rods with full fuji gear these rods are a beautifull blank & if you're into lure casting you cant help being impressed but I cant get those blanks on their own & it would be a crying shame to strip an existing rod just to re-build it as I cant flaw them & I'm talking about a top of the line 7' 1 piece rod that retails for around $220

Mate I could go on about tackle all day, I get my info from those who know & not from 2nd & 3rd info passed down.

Whether peeps like the idea or not China is becoming the world capital in regards to fishing tackle & once they get it right & start bring out the good gear which they have every means to do so then you guys wont be talking japanese gear.

But they're only catering for market demand @ present, I get see what they they do have & I'm impressed & so are a few of my mates who fush those ABT thingys, I had to beat them off with a stick when they grabbed my new set of spin reels which haven't been released yet.

Again I'm talking about a very very affordable reel that once people get over that Shimano/Daiwa is the best barrier will start buying & enjoying I cant flaw my set nor can those who've used them.

[leelee]

Yes spot on the money DC.

The average punter does not need a $300 reel to chase bream and flathead and most other bread and butter species for that matter.

I always sold gear to customers that was in their budget and mad sure it actually suited the scenario they were going to use it for.

I always take pride in my gear and always give a true rap to other people wanting advice for stuff that I have actually used on fish or sold to customers and I have some feedback from. I am not sponsored so I will tell them the good and bad about most reel s when comparing brands, but people just see a 10 year warranty these days and automatically think that everything is covered for those 10 years. READ THE FINE PRINT.

Personally I blame the tackle retailers as everyone I have spoke pushes the warranty fact at a customer and makes the customer assume it’s a warranty covers all type of deal. Not all retailers do it but most I have encountered do.

Like I have said many times before to people asking advice - Head down to your local tackle shop and grab the reels and compare them yourself against each other. That is the easiest way to do it. Just have a rough idea of what you want prior and don’t be closed off to other manufacturers.

Cheers

Lee

[Dog Catcher]

Well the problem with Tackle retailers is they can only go by what the Reps tell them & most of those Reps really dont have a clue & will do just about anything to get a sale.

Next time you see one of these Reps pull out one of his reels & ask him to pull it apart them put it back together in it's original state.

I'll bet not to many of them are capable of doing that :devil-smiley:

Personally I love pulling new toys apart just to see how good they're designed & believe it or not I have micro-surgeons tools which a good mate gave to me these tools make it a breeze to rip reels apart then re-assemble them.

Another thing with retailers they wont neccesarily push the most expensive product either, they'll go for the one with highest profit margin & that's sensible buisness.

Retailers have to make a buck & there's a sh*iteload of peeps trying to start up a internet retail shop.

Most of the decent wholesalers decline to supply these guys & rightfully so.

I'm retired & dont work & occasionally answer the phone back @ viva when I visit & have virtually hung up the phone on these internet guys trying to buy gear.

I tell them to come back after they've signed up a lease on a Shopfront they p*ss me off.

Cause I do most of my fushing during the week all the tackle shops in my area dont open their doors till 10 am where once upon a time [not that I get up that early] but these shops were open @ 4 am.

I had no choice & went out & purchased another freezer just so as I can keep box's of pilly's for that un-planed trip out.

[thehairynurse]

so, back to my question. does anyone know where i can get a shimano btr upgrade, or how much they are?

[imnotafish]

yeah seems this thread has been a bit hijacked hairy sorry thought id edited an earlier post to reply to you somewhere, but in answer you should just be able to get any tackle shop to send your reel to shimano for upgrade, or just buy them from the store with the handle and fit the drag washers yourself.
Cheers mate