Put a ring on it!

Remember this OJ? Yes, this is the minced metal edition Shimano Ocea Jigger. It's functioning flawlessly ever since the offending parts removal but a new ring retainer has arrived and it's time to put it back into the gear box.

OJ non-metal mincer edition about to get restored back to stock internals and a new ring.

The insides are in excellent condition even after several off-shore trips. Protective coating doing its best. The top stack looks bare without the drag clicker system in place.

Custom drag's been thoroughly put through its paces and new custom sized carbontex drags ready to maximize contact patch for a slight bump in drag force and consistency.

Top, clicker wheel in storage with the new ring hot off Shimano's factory. Bottom left, stock ring vs new ring on the right.

I believe Shimano's aware of the clicker ring metal mincing issue and has quietly upgraded the retainer ring as it looks a tad beefier compared to the old ring.

Thickness don't lie. Slight bump in thickness in the hopes that it'll hold the clicker wheel in place better as well as preventing metal mincing action.

Drag stack back to stock configuration.

Engaging the clicker arm from the peep hole.

Ready for some action.

The new ring should be an improvement and hopefully will not turn to its old habits of mincing metal. With a few off shore trips in the works, we'll see if the OJ with a new ring on it can prove its worth.