Stradic FI handles (grips)
Does anyone know of aftermarket replacement handles or grips for the Stradic FI series?
I have 5 Stradic FI's (4) 4000's and (1) 3000. The rubber grip on all five of the reels are coming apart.
They have seen normal use and have always been taken care of, but now they are sticky and coming apart.
When contacting my local dealer they said the entire handle must be replaced ($55 each).
With all of the complaints on the new "round" handles on the CI4 and other models and the higher price for parts I'm surprised that a third party company has not started manufacturing handles for these reels. I'm sure that others will share the same thought that having multiple options (T-handle, paddle handle, round handle, large knob, etc.) would be nice.
Shimano should start selling all versions of the handles in the local tackle shop so that customers can buy whichever handle they prefer.
Any chance this rubber coming off is covered under warranty?
Regards,
Josh B.
I have 5 Stradic FI's (4) 4000's and (1) 3000. The rubber grip on all five of the reels are coming apart.
They have seen normal use and have always been taken care of, but now they are sticky and coming apart.
When contacting my local dealer they said the entire handle must be replaced ($55 each).
With all of the complaints on the new "round" handles on the CI4 and other models and the higher price for parts I'm surprised that a third party company has not started manufacturing handles for these reels. I'm sure that others will share the same thought that having multiple options (T-handle, paddle handle, round handle, large knob, etc.) would be nice.
Shimano should start selling all versions of the handles in the local tackle shop so that customers can buy whichever handle they prefer.
Any chance this rubber coming off is covered under warranty?
Regards,
Josh B.
| Pathfinder 23 HPS | Yamaha 300 | Power-Pole | Minn-Kota | JL AUDIO | YETI |
Replies
this guy turned one down on a lathe.
http://www.tackletour.net/TTForums/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=29947
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-4-SHIMANO-SPINNING-REEL-WOOD-T-KNOB-HANDLES-NEW-WRAPPED-DISCONTINUED-/190631414407?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c62848a87
It seems to be a design flaw on the part of Shimano. To replace the entire handle assembly (the only option), is expensive.
Has anyone come up with a way to fix this?
you do know that grip comes off with one flat headed screw..pretty sure you don't have to order the whole handle assembly.
combination of the direct sunlight and sunscreen does it.
http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/customer_service0/Reel_Schematics.html
call 877-577-0600
That part (RD8170) costs about $30 including shipping. That is almost 1/4 the price of the entire reel. That is outrageous.
You would think that Shimano would make this part available at cost and a very low price given that they used a rubber compound that dissolves when exposed to commonly used substances like sun screen or WD40. I don't buy the excuse that they can't test every sunscreen or lubricant. There are compounds that they could and could have used that are known to be highly resistant to most solvent-like substances. Shimano just screwed up.
By the way, the diagram you posted is NOT for the Stradic 4000FI. The right one is at: http://fish.shimano.com/media/fishing/SAC/techdocs/en/Spinning/08ST4000FI_v1_m56577569830631943.pdf
I really don't think that the problem with the handles dissolving is due to WD40, however. My handle is the second one, and I was careful to not expose it to WD40. I got a new handle from Shimano, after much foot dragging. Then I did not use any WD on the handle. Shimano did not mention the sunscreen issue.
Even though I use very little sunscreen, and normally apply it only before leaving for fishing -- giving little or no opportunity for anything other than trace amounts of sunscreen to get on the handle --- the handle (the second one) still started dissolving.
I called Shimano two days ago, and after much resistance, they agreed that they would send me a new handle -- but I had to send them my old one. I guess they thought that I or someone would be accumulating handles. After considering that I did not want to give up using my reel for a couple of weeks, I did my own fix.
The thinnest part of the handle that dissolves first is the part over the spindle where the handle screws into the crank. So, I took the handle off, and I happened to have some good shrink tubing that fits over the spindle. That covered the split rubber over the spindle and should last a long time. The first handle dissolved all over before I realized it was happening, so now being careful I expect to get a long time out of the handle. I also gave it a few coats of ArmorAll to rid the handle of most of its stickiness on the thicker part that had not yet dissolved completely away.
I would have hoped that Shimano would have offered to send me and others an replacement handle without having to jump through the hoops of mailing our handle back and losing the use of the reel until a new handle.
So either there is something in the water or the air in your state, or there are some chemicals that we are not thinking of that are causing the problem. This is the same material we used on the Stella. This is the same material we have been using on several reel models over the years. This is why I am confused as to why all of a sudden there is a problem. It isn't as wide spread as you all think. We sell thousands of reels in this territory and have minimal complaints. This is why I feel there is something else causing the break down.
Seriously though. It has to be something with the sunlight or humidity *if* the problem is isolated to FL. I am not using sunscreen, or any other chemicals, cleaners, lubricants or de-greasers. The only thing that comes into contact with my reels is sun, air, fresh water out of a lake, tobacco residue, and fish slime from my bass catchin. I spoke with the guys at Bitter's Bait and Tackle today, and they are also aware of the problem on the Stradic handles.
As a final note, the handle on the Sahara looks like the handles on the old Stradic. Are they interchangeable?
I'm not sure if the handles will interchange. I have only played with a sample reel and not the final product. Sometimes there are small changes for final production.
Finally we have something that is a possibility since I do use Gulp! occasionally!