Daily beater Curado

A friend went snakehead hunting sometime back and decided that it's about time to service his super reliable daily beater of Shimano's Curado. This reel hasn't been serviced for a while and only grease top up was done way back too.

The outlook of this reel is a no frills, straight to business type of reel. No fancy trickery, just awesome value. There aren't any issues with this reel, it just keeps going. A quick crank and drag test says that it's very well used, well integrated mechanical functions. Smooth, light and no hiccups. It should be a straight forward service.

Ready to be dissected, cleaned, re-lubed and put together.

1 ball bearing for each handle. Lock nut doubles up as a washer bearing. No rust, just works. Can definitely spin better, creamier and smoother with new packing of marine grease.

1 ball bearing for each handle while the lock nut doubles up as a washer bearing.

Clean exterior, no gunks around external fasterners. Light stains around the body and that's about as dirty this reel gets.

Spool's out, peeking through is RP Custom hybrid ceramic bearings. Main shaft is super clean with no signs of grease too.

Both RP Custom hybrid ceramic bearing looks to be in excellent condition. Spins freely without grit. Best left as it is.

One way bearing's clean too, no rust, no grease. Gearbox is a little dry. Drags too.

Apart from a dry gearbox, the drag system too is a little dry. Needs simple contact cleaning and re-lubed with drag grease to restore its smooth and full stopping power.

The first sign of grease top up, possibly mixed with original factory grease. Ultrasonic cleaning in the cards together with some mixed grease bearings.

Mixed grease combo to spanking clean surfaces in minutes ready for new layer of marine grease.

The crank case and cover's brushed down, contact cleaned and ready for a new coat of marine grease to displace water.

As value reel goes, there aren't many ball bearings installed. Marine grease pack some of them, re-coat all internal surfaces and the reel's ready for reassembly.

Top left, one way bearing's contact cleaned with a new application of one-way bearing oil. Top right, a few bearings to be packed with marine grease. The remainder gears and drag discs awaiting their respective lubrication coating.

Gears are all in excellent condition with no damages. Stock drag discs are also in excellent condition.

A typical rebuild layering lubrication in between parts installation.

Ready for more daily beating with minimal fuss.

This truly is a fire and forget reel. Strong alloy based body, simple mechanical functions, ball bearings loaded where it mattered reducing chances of mechanical failure of premature rust damages.

The difference before and after this service is that it's slightly tighter, smoother and creamier to crank. Drag take is also slightly smoother. It should serve the owner many more years to come.

My last Rarenium check

All good things must come to an end. This is my old trusty Shimano Rarenium 2500 which I've proudly pimped up to becoming my most used and trusted reel fighting a good variety of species from small fish to lunkers. It has never failed me and have been thoroughly enjoyable to fish with as it is very light and super smooth with maxed out hybrid ceramic and full ceramic bearings. It's even got some communal Stella parts inside in order for it to take on more bearings.

This will be my last check in with this reel before I hand it to a happy new owner. As previously salt water bashing prepared many moons ago, I've not had any issues with it and therefore didn't really open it up for a routine service.

A thorough strip down and check will be done to ensure that the reel is in tip top operating condition before leaving me for good.

Stripped down, like a DIY kit.

Top left and right, marine grease still covers all internal surfaces of the crank case. Bottom left, main gear's in excellent condition with no signs of wear. Bottom right, worm gear system like new, bearings smooth as silk.

Top left, pinion gear with no signs of wear. Top right, one way bearing's still nicely lubricated without grease spills inside. Spool has no pitting or damages. Carbontex drag washer's in excellent condition, just some well used grease that needs replacement.

Top left, rotor in excellent condition. Top right, spool support clicker and line roller's like new, just need grease top up into the line roller system. Bottom, knob shaft and bearing's still packed with marine grease.

Bottom left, pinion support full ceramic bearings will be replaced with hybrid ceramic variants and packed with new marine grease for longevity and smoothness.

Full ceramic bearings will be kept for my other pimping projects.

Top, reassembly with some marine grease top up. Bottom, line roller system filled with marine grease for a water tight seal against any water intrusion, excess squeezed and wiped off.

Crank handle screw and main gear support bearing's also packed with marine grease for a physical seal against water intrusion.

Complete reassembly with some minor marine grease top up.

My last Rarenium check is now done and completed. I'm proud to say that the extra care put into this reel has paid off very well in maintaining the condition of the reel for long life coming out of various battles without breaking a sweat. I'm sure the new owner will find just as much joy in fishing with this reel as I have.