New Kaikon

[DaFrogman]

Guys and Gals,

I picked this link up from Randy's site....

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Looks like they have modified the Kaikon to compete more with the Saltigas and Ishidais. I'm glad to see what seems to be a new one piece sideplate and a waterproof housing for the AR Roller Cluth Bearing. This at least addresses one of my gripes with the riveted housing being used in the entire Trini/Torium/Kaikon/OJ family. Hopefully this will mean that the AR bearings will not see as many corrosion issues. It remains to be seen if they will also carry through these changes to the rest of the range.

I also wonder if they have upgraded the backup AR to use 2 AR pawls/dogs instead of one....

What is also amusing is that the new AR housing is pretty similar to the one used by Okuma in its convector star drag reels... imitation is the best form of flattery.

Saimee

[tuna]

Personally, I prefer the colour and look of the old Kaikon. I have never had any problem with my 4000T.

How

[DaFrogman]

Tuna dude,

I have a Kaikon 4000 and there have been the usual problems with the AR pawl getting worn through the tip. The rivetted AR housing rarely gives problems, but it is still an area where the steel rivets meet the thin aluminium sideplate used in the Kaikon and can have the dissimilar metal corrosion issues. The AR RCB is also susceptible to corrosion if the plastic washer bearing shield under the star gets worn through or torn/cut.

My Kaikon is used almost exclusively by a commercial fsherman friend of mine who is also one of my captains. It has seen a lot of time on the water and fish over the last 3-4 years and after the second year of hard use, I noticed there was a slight looseness in the housing, nothing very noticeable unless you really pay attention whilst working on the reel.

At the time, I was also about to install the 1st set of Carbontex drags I ever tried, so I decided to get a new sideplate just to make sure all was shipshape. You should also keep an eye on the handle bearings, they are prone to destruction if not washed properly, although I get a feeling you are pretty meticulous on your tackle maintenance.

Regards,

Saimee

[tuna]

Tuna dude,

although I get a feeling you are pretty meticulous on your tackle maintenance.

Regards,

Saimee

Hi Saimee,

Thanks for sharing your experience with the old kaikon. I myself am quite lazy when it comes to maintenance. All I do is rinse the reels, spray corrosion X and apply oil and grease. I do send my reels to the shops for proper cleaning and maintenance after a long range trip.

I have kind of retired my kaikon 4000T. I am using more of my 870 and torsa nowadays.

How

[DaFrogman]

All I do is rinse the reels, spray corrosion X and apply oil and grease. I do send my reels to the shops for proper cleaning and maintenance after a long range trip.

How,

Trust me that is a lot more than a lot of anglers do.... I have seen a bunch of reel horror stories coming in. Last week a guy brought in a Trinidad 30 complaining that the handle knob was loose....

Guess what?.... All that was left of the handle bearings were two of the bearing housings... the rest was gone...rusted to bits...

Thats the fourth or fifth time I have seen this problem, I have also seen it on a Stella, Kaikon, and Jigger and I suspect your Torsa has the same style handle knob and bearings so its worth keeping in mind. Most US reels like the Accurates and Avets don't have this problem simply because they don't use bearings in their handles... That said, my 665 is still my favorite reel currently, pending the addtion of an OJ5000 to my meagre store of gear.....

Regards,

Saimee

[Akudou]

How,

Trust me that is a lot more than a lot of anglers do.... I have seen a bunch of reel horror stories coming in. Last week a guy brought in a Trinidad 30 complaining that the handle knob was loose....

Guess what?.... All that was left of the handle bearings were two of the bearing housings... the rest was gone...rusted to bits...

Thats the fourth or fifth time I have seen this problem, I have also seen it on a Stella, Kaikon, and Jigger and I suspect your Torsa has the same style handle knob and bearings so its worth keeping in mind. Most US reels like the Accurates and Avets don't have this problem simply because they don't use bearings in their handles... That said, my 665 is still my favorite reel currently, pending the addtion of an OJ5000 to my meagre store of gear.....

Regards,

Saimee

Saimee dude,
If you do decide to get the OJ5000p, please let me know cos i might wanna get one too. Try keepin it a hush hush frm the mrs tho. HAHAHAHA!

[DaFrogman]

Try keepin it a hush hush frm the mrs tho. HAHAHAHA!

Ah Felix dude .....

1. She knows about this forum,

2. She knows your nick in this forum

3. Your gonna get busted .

Saimee