Shimano Curado 200E7 Cleaning Full Length How to Reel Repair

MattBFishing
In this video I show you how I clean and service my Shimano Curado 200E7 baitcasting reels. You will learn how to clean, disassemble, oil and grease and reassemble for maximum performance. I also share some of the optional upgrades I’ve made to my reels to increase performance. Minimal editing, so you can follow along in real time. I will list timecodes below, to skip ahead to the chapter you need (Tools, Cleaning, Disassembly and Assembly). You can follow these same steps for most of the Shimano E Series low profile baitcasting reels including Curado 200E5, Curado 200E6, Chronarch 200E5, Chronarch 200E6 and Chronarch 200E7.
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
1:15 - Tools & Supplies
6:25 - Cleaning
18:05 - Disassembly
1:01:15 - Assembly
Bearing Sizes
Spool Bearing (2) 3x10x4
Pinion Bearing 8x12x3.5
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[@andregreen8040]

Brilliant video. Every detail was clearly articulated. Followed every step of your tutorial in cleaning, re-greasing and oiling my Curado 201E7 Came up like new.

[@fernandoserraferraz4837]

Thx, my friend. Your video help me with a 201e7 and a 301e here in Brazil. Take care!

[@fredjohnson9856]

recommend you polish the drag and brake surfaces.

[@troyhunt1238]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing! After following along it feels pretty stiff when I turn the handle. If I try to spin it hard and let go the handle will turn less than one rotation before stopping. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

[@Sircaddo]

I ordered the bearings you recommended. What a difference!!! Those things are phenomenal. A little pricy, but worth every penny.

[@mattbfishing]

It’s unreal. I stopped buying new reels years ago, you can tune them better than anything you can buy.

[@zperque]

Where did you order your bearings from

[@larryfowler2111]

I'm cleaning a couple of Curado 201E7's for a friend. I've never done a conventional reel. I followed your Pod but I can't get the spool to turn. Any advice? e7

[@mbechti5413]

Also for the 201e and 301e. 👍

[@hondas2ooo]

hi. thank u for the video. very informative. can u share a link to where i can get the drag thingy? my drag sucks bc im still using the stock one and i think its about time I replace it

[@mattbfishing]

Just search “carbontex 200e7” on ebay.

[@user-wf4kc2vi4u]

👍👍👍💗

[@jason-ian-Van-Sloten]

This is very interesting. I have a Curado 201 7E and the thing is, i dont have , or almost, any drag pressure. Can you tell me how i can upgrade my drag pressure, or isnt this possible at all?

[@mattbfishing]

You probably have enough drag pressure, but your drag washers are slipping. The stock drag washers can wear and begin to slip and tear. The stock drag washers also become very slippery if grease or oil works it’s way into them. Your best bet would be to upgrade to CarbonTex drag washers. I use CarbonTex drag washers on all of my reels. CarbonTex will get you a smoother drag that won’t slip. CarbonTex is made from a carbon fiber material that is much stronger than the stock drag washer material. Great reel upgrade for $10-$15.

[@khairielfarrah229]

Where do you recommend buying the ceramic bearings upgrades?

[@mattbfishing]

Boca bearing has the best.

[@gabegabe7914]

Would it be possible to give the outside of the reel an initial light spray with rubbing alcohol to clean it?

[@mattbfishing]

Yes, I clean them with alcohol. The finish handles it fine, but sometimes the printing doesn’t like the alcohol. I just use a little bit on a qtip.

[@jeffmullis6218]

My thumbar cast lever is not engaging......it just slips up and down. In other words, I cannot wind the spool with the handle. Before I tear into it, could a spring have moved out of place, or is it more likely that a spring broke. Just wondering if I need to order a part before I tear it down.

[@mattbfishing]

Probobly a spring out of place, or dirt pushing parts out of alignment.

[@nathanw5747]

you can take that brass gear and get it almost looking brand new with a brass brush and some lime away!. just a tip it takes all the black discoloration off

[@Cornuts1000]

I got stuck at removing the side plate. I tried for over a half hour and gave up and put everything back together. Side plate would not come off without breaking it.

[@mattbfishing]

If you’re talking about the handle side you missed a screw, probably the long flat head screw on the level wind. If it’s the other side, try loosening the spool tension knob first.

[@johndursee5971]

Thanks, is it ok to grease or not grease the drag washers?

[@mattbfishing]

Very light grease is ok with stock washers, I prefer no grease. No grease with carbon fiber drag washers.

[@johndursee5971]

@@mattbfishing thank you..

[@jessedehoyos3787]

Can’t get my spool to come out any idea what may be the problem?

[@mattbfishing]

Did you loosen the spool tension knob?

[@jessedehoyos3787]

@@mattbfishing I got it out today it was seized up the bearing in the drag knob was corroded, got some sealed boca bearings be delivered tomorrow, your video was very helpful in this process

[@randyburr1131]

I followed the 90 minute video step by step. After reassembling everything, the spool does not turn. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[@mattbfishing]

First make sure the drag is engaged and tight. Then check the pinion gear that the spool shaft goes into, you should be able to see it where the spool shaft enters the hole. If the springs were not installed on the pinion gear posts or the plastic pinion gear tray was installed upside down, this could be your problem. Lastly, the big main drive gear may not be seated all the way. Some older reels require some force to get the drive gear fully seated onto the handle shaft. It should pop on and not come up easily, when completely seated. These are the most common solutions to your issue, try them in this order of easiest to hardest.

[@randyburr1131]

@@mattbfishing Thanks for your prompt response. I reseated everything and the only thing preventing the spool from turning is when I lock the left side cover in place. If I unlock it, everything spins fine, but once I lock the door cover, the spool stops spinning.

[@mattbfishing]

Maybe try loosening the spool tension knob.

[@randyburr1131]

@@mattbfishing Bingo, that worked !!

[@mattbfishing]

Sometimes it’a the easiest solution lol.

[@russdennis7026]

One of my brake tabs broke. Anyway to fix that?

[@mattbfishing]

The plastic brake, or the brass post it slips onto?

[@russdennis7026]

@@mattbfishing Plastic tab

[@mattbfishing]

If it’s the red or green brake just replace them, they pop right off and are available. If it’s one of the three the gray tabs between the brakes, you’re in trouble. The fix is a new spool, which are very hard to find. You could use the broken spool for flipping or pitching, where casting distance isn’t important. With one broken off, the spool may run unbalanced, and not cast far.

[@right8630]

I can’t figure out why the gears are grinding after doing this please help

[@mattbfishing]

You may have one of the drag washers flipped and not set completely or the main drive gear is not seated completely.

[@right8630]

@@mattbfishing found the problem the anti reverse pawl was pinched the end needed to be opened and put back in place thanks though.

[@danielsosa9679]

Where can you buy parts?

[@mattbfishing]

fishshop.shimano.com/ They have discontinued a lot of parts in these older reels.

[@davidphanh]

Can someone help a rookie out? I’ve watched this video & assemble so many time and every time it’s the same. The gear and the pinion gear seem to have hard time rotating smoothly when I turn the handle. It’s feel like it’s skipping a teeth

[@mattbfishing]

Hard to say. Something is missing or not seated. Make sure the main gear is fully seated, it will pop into place when downward pressure is applied. Also make sure the pinion gear springs are installed.

[@johndursee5971]

what was the cost?

[@mattbfishing]

Just qtips, alcohol and paper towels. Most will have the tools already.