In the past six months I have roasted five Shimano Calais. I am fishing mostly braided line and am "roasting" the reels on hook sets. The reel handle locks down and can only be turned with brute force. I have had the reels repaired by Southwestern Parts in Dallas and they come back working fine - for a while anyway. The reels are 5-6 years old but have been maintained very well. Has anyone else had these problems? Any ideas?

never had the problem or heard of it. What are the guys who repair it telling you? Is the line getting caught on the side of the spool? Meaning is it working it's way between the spool and the frame of the reel?

I have never personally seen anything like this, especially in a Calais. I'd love to take a look at one of those units...

Dan

Never heard of such, and I've got a ton of them ranging in age from the first year they were made to 2 years old.

Southwestern Parts is great, ask them more detailed questions about what they think. Calais is usually good, never heard of problems!

I talked to one of the guys at Southwest and he tells me there is a plastic gear on the level wind system that is made to break under immense pressure so as to keep the rest of the reel from shredding. I have never heard of this but he thinks that is the problem I have been having. It seems that my reflex of setting the hook and reeling at the exact same time causes this gear to break if I set the hook into something that doesn't move, i.e. a tree or a Falcon Lake 5 pounder. This seems to only happen when I flip and I have toasted several over the past couple of years. I guess it's time to find a beast of a reel for flipping.

hmm, we've seen alot of Calais in here. not seen that problem, but just maybe it is force of setting hook on a stationary object,very interesting problem, however, probably any reel might give same problem if alot of sudden force put upon it. My first thought is that possibly the drag tightened down too tight, braid does not give at allso there's no give what so ever and lots of pressure on the handle. You might try a larger reel, like a salt type that is probably built more for heavy hook sets. Sure don't know. but very interesting. sorry we not much help,seen alot of Calais, but not problem like you having. Good luck.

mystery solved. Anti-Reverse inner liner issue.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

Dan