Kastking Rover 40R Review part 2 The Teardown By PMR

[@michaelmichellevillareal2487]

I can’t wait to try mine out this summer

[@growleym504]

Great video! Was the promised Part 3 ever posted? I don't see it.

[@PimpMyReel]

No, covid, the day job and family stuff got in the way... but I will get round to it

[@greenpea9412]

Jamie this was a brilliant review. All the detail one could ask for. I'm looking to purchase a couple reels for cat fishing with my boys. I'm leaning towards a 60 size and believe after seeing this I have found what I'm looking for. Thank you.

[@Suko1983]

I just bought the 40L for kayak fishing (u$s 32 on AliExpress). Thanks a lot for the video. Greetings from Argentina.

[@jasonsotomayor2037]

Your vids are very important to all cast people . I only use cast reel for boat and surf . Great job my friend well done

[@ocshaman7323]

Where's part three? I want to know about bearing sizes and upgraded drag washers.

[@aramayel]

Hi Jamie, yet another really great video. I was wondering, could it be that there are 2 bearings in the paddle grips on the handle? Might explain the two missing bearings. Do let us know. Thanks!

[@Suko1983]

Yes.

[@GetOutTheHouseGoFish]

Ive has my KastKing Rover 50L for a little over a year and was very happy to see brass gears in it instead of nylon plastic gears like I’ve found in my Piscifun Chaos reel. Great budget friendly reel.

[@darkiee69]

The only plastic gears are the leverwind gear, the same as on any ABU reel.

[@bomvu]

Thanks Jamie, really enjoyed this along with your review. I have been looking for a boat reel for some time now and I think this is it. 50L is in the post. Can't wait to have a go with it after using hire kit and borrowing for friends the last few trips.

[@mitchellhelms7238]

I've purchased 3 last year and I have no problem with this reel I've caught some nice fish on them and I have outcast my stepson he uses abu 6500s and I recently purchased the kastking 60 it seems to be a good reel VERY GOOD VIDEO

[@chepachii]

Great review Jamie I wonder if the larger versions use the same design for their internals.

[@lindajones1592]

I recently purchased 3-60s & 3-70s. Originally i was gonna use the 60s for channel cats and the 70s for flattys & blues but i way underestimated these reels. The 60s are more than enough to land anything you hook into so i robbed the power handles off the 70s to use on some other reels and now they are just sitting here collecting dust.

[@dennisharrison4744]

Just got my rover 40 today it's realy built well for a cheap price reel $43 here in the U.S. got the feel of a ambassadeur

[@petermiller5114]

I got one after seeing the first review just to use as a flattie reel but found the level wind just wasn't for me . so I used an Abu 5500 ct conversion kit and my god I was surprised . it will cast a long way with ease on a bass rod , it quieter then a tronixpro tournament mag which to be fair its a better reel then any tronix multiplier . all the parts are excellent quality and for 28 quid its a steal !

[@PimpMyReel]

There is a non levelwind version of the KastKing called a Captain's Special. I am trying to get hold of one for a review. A PMR mono mag kit for an Abu 5500/6500 will work on the Kastking as well

[@petermiller5114]

Yeah seen the captain special but I believe its only the larger sizes plus its still got a top bar on it as well . but the 40r is a great light beach , estuary reel so thanks for putting me on it !

[@ryanpfefferkorn1135]

You can pull side plates off remove the worm gear assembly, take out the pawl and brass drive gear, put the tube back in and re-assemble reel and do away with levelwind.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

I'm convinced after seeing this that this is a great little reel....and I'm getting one with my fingers crossed that nothing has changed with the spec's as of today 7/6/18.

[@officialplayboy7463]

great tear down look foward to you pimping the reel i have ceramics in my rover 50r and 60r would love to see your add ons. i am a penn guy but really enjoy casting my rover a mile away!

[@ocshaman7323]

What size ceramics did you use?

[@panasangler6603]

nice video! i was to sell mine but after seeing this video, I am keeping it! Thank you PMR!

[@johnathonkelp3587]

The epiglottis breathing is killing me but other wise great review.. the inner diameter of the spool bearings are different tho. I have a 50r and the handle side bearing has a larger inner diameter than the other side.

[@moment-a-part7114]

Update video on kastking rover upgrades!!

[@beachfishinguk9586]

Nice video, I have 2 of these, they are great reels and so cheap!

[@dennisharrison4744]

I used my rover 40 kastking this weekend it cast pretty good smooth but I can tell the gears are a touch louder than a ambassadeur say because idle gear is brass but no biggie lol it work great for the price

[@wstewart5532]

Lets hear about some upgrades!

[@roderickbawalan730]

Wow looks good, is still available in the market? I want to have one.

[@dennisharrison4744]

I have fished several times with mine I can tell a huge difference in it and my ambassadeurs I can feel the gears there little ruff than a ambassadeur think il stick with ambassadeurs I have a kastking Spartacus plus now its smoothest real I have ever seen

[@tff847]

Thanks for the review. Will you be doing other Kastking products? Thanks again. ...

[@bsdgffishtuna5186]

Jamie - can you suggest a inexpensive low profile baitcast reel for float fishing on a river (so smooth drift is important)...I like the kastking rover but want to try a low profile style.(abu revo is too much $)..does kastking make a low profile you like? Cheers from BC!

[@brucesr8744]

i bought one way back, mlooking forward to see if you male it cast

[@PimpMyReel]

I was casting 50 yards from the back of the boat using a 10 class rod and a 4 ounce lead. The reel casts very well as standard and with a few bearing changes will go like a rocket. There is also a KastKing Rover captains special which is an open cage non level wind reel for casting. That will be my next Project

[@ENGDyna]

Hi. Where can you get replacement nuts for the handle?

[@kiwimoto9056]

Cmon Jamie...finally customise this thing with some fast bearings, big power handle and fat EVA knob and whatever else you can do to enhance the look and performance. Then put a ‘Rover Pimp Kit’ on eBay for no more than the price of the reel and you’ll have a winner winner chicken dinner! Keep up the good work.

[@PimpMyReel]

This is such a good reel for the price that its not so easy to pimp, I will get round to it...

[@johnnymissfire8464]

@@PimpMyReel can you please pimp one of these soon. Pretty please...

[@lohkokilang]

what are the bearing dimensions?

[@kyredneckoutdoors]

I have a Rover 40 and I love it I can out cast my Abu 6500s no problem

[@huntepic6325]

Hi jamie! How did the reel held up today? I am looking forward to buying this after watching you video

[@johnnymissfire3288]

I have been waiting for this, thanks! Could there be a bearing on the back side of the level wind idler gear?

[@PimpMyReel]

I did take the idler gear off to have a look (no bearing) but cut it out of the video as I was trying to keep the video under 30 minutes and had to be very brutal with the editing.

[@easyfishing1936]

Hi Jamie, I’ve only just found this video. I’m so impressed by the build quality of this cheap reel, drag washers, bearings, centrifugal brakes etc that I’m going to get one to use on my short range bass rod! Puts Abu to shame and just proves that cheap is not always shoddy or rubbish. If it only lasted 2 years for £28 who cares and I won’t be modifying it either! Tight Lines

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Well to be fair I have some old vintage Southbend #775 and a Abu 5000D they are great reels and not made to the same spec's as these and they lasted for decades, so these should last a couple lifetimes if taken care of, with this build quality, I'd be pissed if it only lasted 2 years.

[@easyfishing1936]

Den Smith I agree they seem to be well made but I still have some 60 year old Penn reels still going strong, excellent engineering but very dated design, and several old Abu’s one very old 5000c, a 1988 7000c that still functions and casts beautifully and a 1970 ish 5000. I don’t think reels are made to these standards these days. Down to a price seems the normal state of affairs, shame but that is life.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Is your Abu 5000 a Direct Drive the Green one?, mine is and I think I see a 76" under the reel seat, I like it but the drag is weak and it has serious road rash around the side plate edges and I'm retiring so it doesn't get banged up anymore, but this R40, I love it even more.

[@easyfishing1936]

Den Smith. Hi well my really old 5000 has black side plates and a freespool. The other one is a much later 5000c with red sideplates. When I stripped the old 5000 it had the very odd double conical ball bearings that the early ones were fitted with and as they still function well I see no need to change to the later type of bearings. I still use them from the beach for close range work as they still have the level wind and I have no intention of butchering the frames.

[@VitMcG]

Can you use this like th3 baitcasters? Will it cast smoothly on 10g lures?

[@ENGDyna]

Kastking are pretty transparent, thry do say they cut allot of the middle men out therefore allowing a quality item at pretty dirt cheap money. Would you say the 50 would of been better suited? I'm thinking of getting a 40 or 50L for my heavy lure rod.

[@PimpMyReel]

40

[@nicklausb]

How much do you weight? I breath heavily like this and I'm over 300lb I saw these online, when I ordered a couple of the little low profile 9.3 to 1 castkings, and just ignored them figuring they were nothing special

[@s_s-g4d]

now that's a great video. do you think this reel in the 40 size is going to be all right for casting jerkbaits weighing around 80-100g? it sure does look reliable enough, but what about the brake system? that one looks somewhat underdeveloped to me, especially compared to some other Chinese reels such as the Haibo smart that have six centrifugal weights allowing for pretty fine tuning. how does it show itself in practice?

[@PimpMyReel]

KastKing cast great when I used it for up-tiding on the boat! The Haibo smart costs 3 times the price and is a different style reel. Would be very difficult to compare with the KastKing

[@s_s-g4d]

Sorry if that's been answered in the video, but can you please tell what's the actual (braided) line capacity of the 40 size model in your case? I mean meters - advertised line diameter - advertised breaking strain. It looks like the manufacturer's stated line capacity isn't real. I'm trying to decide whether I want the 4000 or 5000 size for a 40 kg-ish braided line which sells in 135m spools (power pro super 8 slick). Any hint will be appreciated, thanks.

[@morganbryan572]

Hey Jamie, purchased the 50r model do you know what power handles would fit it, thanks?

[@golforfishing]

Is that "flimsy" metal plate with the 0 to 9 numbers a working dial (centrifugal brake system)? Or is it just a numbered plate for the knob (so that you can fine tighten)?

[@PimpMyReel]

That "flimsy" metal plate with the 0 to 9 numbers is the same on Abu, Akios, Daiwa, its stainless steel and a throwback from the 60's & 70's when spindles and spools were all in one. This was your tension setting!

[@golforfishing]

Thanks for the reply. In all my years I've never owned a round baitcaster until my Kastking Rover. So if it's a non-functioning tension setting, then where is the "2-pin centrifugal brakes"?

[@PimpMyReel]

golforfishing The centrifugal brakes don't have settings as such, you choose to have one centrifugal brake block active, two centrifugal brake blocks Active or no centrifugal brake blocks active. This is something you have to do manually before fishing.

[@golforfishing]

Thanks PMR! Good stuff good stuff I tell ya.

[@growleym504]

It is for user reference only. The idea is center your spool with enough tension for casting an average size weight for how you fish. Then don't mess with the knob on the handle side at all anymore. The numbered plate can be turned to where you want it. Set it so that the zero lines up with an arbitrary number, say 5. As you get used to the reel you will know that for instance casting a 3 oz weight into the surf for all the distance you can get, calls for lets say a 7 on your reference, but casting a 1/4 oz beetle spin for sac-a-lait calls for a 2. You may still have to adjust as you go but now you have a starting point. if you take that piece off, the function of the reel is not harmed, you just lose that maybe handy, maybe not, reference marker. On mills and lathes you have a similar thing for every axis, an etched ring for setting a zero point, that with a bit of resistance can be turned to set a zero reference. Same principle. So center your spool, then forever leave the handle side alone, adjust your clean side spool tension knob, and arbitrarily set the reference thingie to indicate what you want for that tension setting. There's your baseline setting and indicator.

[@zjoaquin]

Hi Jaime, I'm from Chicago. in your opinion what would be the lightest braid line that could be used on this reel? Almost looks like a Daiwa Millionaire.

[@PimpMyReel]

I don't think this reel has a limit as to how light you want to go, but if I had to put a limit on it I would guess about 10lb braid. Going the other way I put 50lb braid on it. This reel is about the same size as an Abu 5500, it's a little smaller than a Daiwa 7HT

[@zjoaquin]

Thank you.

[@mackserg]

Hi Jamie, Any success on customization super tuned / upgrade PMR version?

[@PimpMyReel]

It's on my to-do list for this spring

[@handyallaround5776]

i have a 6600c4 , the thumbar presses but realeases when casting stopping the cast,,,,any ideas of the problem and do you convert these reels ?

[@PimpMyReel]

Yes, it's an easy conversion

[@handyallaround5776]

what about my thumbar , why is it when i press it and cast it ,,, it releases and stops the cast?

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

I want some of those thumb screws for my Rover 40, where do I find those side plate thumb screws, what are they called? what size? where do I find them and what brand name are they under? Thanks.

[@PimpMyReel]

Den Smith They are PMR bespoke custom 316 marine grade stainless steel quick-release crown screws. You can buy them on the Bay of evil and thieves, on my website www.pimpmyreel.co.uk, or direct from me at; [e-mail]

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Thank you sir

[@김진우-f7i4f]

I’m curious that this one’s spool is compatible with abu.

[@PimpMyReel]

No it's not.

[@jarekziedarski7391]

China great's solid rells ,steel manufaktura fishing .

[@jasonbaughn5861]

Part 3?

[@PimpMyReel]

I must admit I do have all the parts now to do the Pimping of the Reel, I just have to find time!

[@Sertao2013]

They are carbon fiber drag washers .

[@HOTexasCatfish]

What size are the spool bearings?

[@PimpMyReel]

All information on the size of bearings is in the video

[@HOTexasCatfish]

I did even notice. Thanks

[@konaboss83]

Just donated some more funds to Jeff Bezos “I have a soft spot for billionaires” :) anyways I have a kk 60r coming as well as a PENN fathom 2 a kk hawg tackle bag pliers and scale question is will they throw in any trinkets like you’d received my guess is hell no lol regardless I’m sure I’ll be happy with it not too many scathing reviews out there on these especially at their price point anyways thanks for posting your review

[@PatrickJHNewman]

Could the other two bearings be in the handle?

[@PimpMyReel]

Not according to the schematic I showed in the video. The other two bearings were originally in the spool when the spool and spindle were separate re the the original model. This model the Rover R only has 4 bearings + 1 anti reverse because the spool and spindle are all in one.

[@mojondro]

Jesus if only in kastking Head quarters somebody says hey guys let's make a 4000size of this reel that going to be awesome,what you think Jamie?

[@PimpMyReel]

Have a look at the KastKing Spartacus Plus or Stealth Carbon Fibre. I think they will give Abu Revo reels a run for the money

[@jasonsotomayor2037]

They are made in China ?

[@kiwimoto9056]

Of course they are, like every other budget (and not so budget) reel....duh.

[@DavidRice111]

I visit a large fishing forum and what follows is a critique of your review, posted on Feb. 21, 2018. Can you please respond? This forum has 64,000 members, many of whom might be a potential customer for you. Actually, I thought about joining that forum but after his diatribe I probably will just continue as a guest. "I think I'll critique PMR's video from post #20. Years ago I saw one of Pimpy's videos and picked it apart. It's refreshing to see he has not learned a thing over the years. Mostly he just likes to hear himself talk. 1. Locking plate is quite substantial, doesn't have to be. Irrelevant 2. Out side dimension of the handle nut is irrelevant. Inside dimension is standard for that size reel. 3. Star drag is in good condition after 3 months. Woopiedoo I would hope so. 4. The gears are no more substantial than any other open frame 5000 to 6000 reel an the market. 5. When he removes the right side plate there is not much grease on those gears. He should of greased that one before he used it. 6. Drag washer on either side of the main gear my ass. That bottom washer is a thrust washer not a drag washer. Your drag function is between the top of the main gear and the drag springs. 7. The reel has one drag washer the thickness of the drag washers is acting as a spacer. It's the surface area of a drag that matters. Surface area and pressure is where your drag comes from. 8. Multiple drag washers do not work against each other they work in conjunction with each other increasing the drags surface area. And reducing heat on the metal washers. Does he think expensive reels use multiple drag washers for no reason or maybe just for fun. 9. Pimpy said the bearing is not showing any signs of rough. I would hope not after only 3 months of use. I've got four 30 year old reels still using the same bearings. 10. Raves about substantial gear size, they are no bigger than any other gear. 11. Claims nothing is copied. Well I've seen that clicker before. 12. He goes on about brass gears on the level wind. If he was half the pimper he claims he is, he would know that ABS aka plastic gears are used for a reason. The first being if the level wind hangs up because of wear or sand. You won't damage a $40 worm gear. The second reason is there are are dynamics that happen during all long casts. First the weight of the lure initializes the spin of the spool but that spin ends later in the cast. At that point in the cast the weight of the lure pulls the line off the spool. The more weight the lure has to overcome to start up the spool, the less energy it has to pull line later in the cast. Added weight in the spool and level wind reduces casting distance. There is a reason that long distance casters agonize over weight and friction. In other words brass gears bad. They are just a bogus advertising gimmick."

[@PimpMyReel]

I am always happy to put my name on my reviews, shame this guy cant do the same. never mind, it was a good laugh to read...😂 He obviously needs to get out more!

[@DavidRice111]

Actually, his "handle" was omitted by me inadvertantly. It's "abudoc" since he's apparently so sold on abu-garcia reels. The forum is the USCA and you might be interested to read the thread- "KastKing 60 vs Abu 6600c4" in the Fishing Reel Review section.

[@mojondro]

So I see this guy is an expert,hey why you don't make a KZbin channel and teach us how to make a review or better yet stop been an@$$hole and put your name on the comments so we know who you are and yes that's me on the photo I'm not worry to show myself because there nothing to lose im not an expert and as a matter of fact a newbie and watching PMR i learn how to take my reels apart and put them together

[@PimpMyReel]

David After signing up to the forum and spending over 2 hours replying to questions on the KastKing v Abu 6600 thread, all of a sudden my user name was cancelled and I could not sign in so now I will have to assume that the USCA cant be trusted when there is a different opinion between some of their serial posters and a newbee. This means all their forums are one sided and the info in them is Fubar!! I urge anyone who sees this post to join the USAC forum and give them your thoughts!

[@mojondro]

PimpMyReel what you expect is an American and as Jeremy Clarkson says they know it all