New Stradic Fj With Loose Bail, Normal Or Send It Back? 2025
Tola reply :
Hi, First post, have been a lurker for a while. Just getting back into fishing with my son. Bought a new Shimano stradic fj 3000, reel is very nice but the bail is very loose at the hing opposite where line winds onto spool. It works fine but is loud when closing and rattles when tapped while closed with considerable left to right play towards screw. The screw can't be tightened any further. Is this normal or should I send it back to amazon for a replacement? Thanks!
kickerfish1 reply :
Not normal. I have 2 FJ series reels and neither has this or had this problem. I would contact the place of business where they were purchased and send it back for a new one or a refund. Most places have a 30 day money back guarantee. If it is reputable place they will take care of you.
Sorry to hear this, and welcome to BR!
kschultz76 reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 8:58 AM, kickerfish1 said:Not normal. I have 2 FJ series reels and neither has this or had this problem. I would contact the place of business where they were purchased and send it back for a new one or a refund. Most places have a 30 day money back guarantee. If it is reputable place they will take care of you.
Sorry to hear this, and welcome to BR!
X2
Tola reply :
Thanks for reply. I didn't think it was normal, bought it from amazon.com so return won't be a problem. This is my first shimano reel. I've always been pleased with their hing end bicycle components and the stradic reviews are great but many mention bail problems. I also bought a Daiwa lexa 2500 which is very nice but handle is horrible. Can only keep one and I do like the shimano more overall.
kschultz76 reply :
Between me and my father we have 5 Shimano spinning reels in service with no issues. 2 FJs, 1 CI4, 2 CI4+'s. I'd swap it for an exchange before giving up if you like the reel.
kickerfish1 reply :
Amazon is a funny place in more ways than one. I have heard lots of complaints of products being sold as "new" only to find they were used and returned, then boxed up again and sold. Not sure if that was the case but it may be a possibility and explanation as to why you are experiencing that problem. Could have also been a factory defect or even damaged during the shipping process. Sort of hard to say but yea returning it would a good bet. I was fortunate enough to find a 1000FJ New in Box for $114 shipped. With the new Stradic FK model set to be released soon, the FJ will be discontinued and will start showing up for discounted prices.
I have had my first 2500FJ for about 2 or 3 years and absolutely love it. Reel is smooth, powerful, casts well, and has an incredible drag that doesn't slip or jerk.
k3bass reply :
Yes this is normal!! They are all like that.
John G reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 11:29 AM, k3bass said:Yes this is normal!! They are all like that.
LOL
k3bass reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 12:05 PM, John G said:LOL
Whats funny? They are all like that. Go look at a stradic fj in the store and I guarantee the bail is loose where it attaches to the rotor. Nothing wrong with the reel. All mine are loose just like Tola is describing, they even make the same rattling noise. Every fj I've seen is like that.
And when I say loose it's not necessarily "loose" as in it's coming apart, it's just designed with a lot of play so the bail opens and closes easily.
John G reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 12:37 PM, k3bass said:Whats funny? They are all like that. Go look at a stradic fj in the store and I guarantee the bail is loose where it attaches to the rotor. Nothing wrong with the reel. All mine are loose just like Tola is describing, they even make the same rattling noise. Every fj I've seen is like that.
And when I say loose it's not necessarily "loose" as in it's coming apart, it's just designed with a lot of play so the bail opens and closes easily.
2 others besides you say it's not supposed to be loose and my Rareneium CI4+ 1000S is not loose so right now it is 3 against 1. I'll go with it is not supposed to be loose.
k3bass reply :
Hahaha geez... so since your rarenium ci4+ that has a totally different bail and rotor design isn't loose than I must be wrong huh? The bail on the fj connects on the inside of the rotor. The hinged part of the bail opposite of the line roller side definitely DOES fit loose on these reels.On 7/9/2015 at 1:35 PM, John G said:2 others besides you say it's not supposed to be loose and my Rareneium CI4+ 1000S is not loose so right now it is 3 against 1. I'll go with it is not supposed to be loose.
Tola, I can assure you that what you're describing is normal on a 2500 and 3000 stradic fj. If you have any stores near you that carry these reels check one before you send yours back.
SirSnookalot reply :
I don't think it's normal new out of the box, I'd return it. I've had floppy bails on my stradics, but not new, that issue took a few years to emerge, not that I remember the exact timing. Even using the reels while they had play in the bail the overall performance was not affected. I'm still using one with play in it, reel works fine but I would accept a new reel in that condition.
John G reply :
4 against 1! LOL
BTW K3, just having a little fun here.
Shanes7614 reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 2:42 PM, SirSnookalot said:I don't think it's normal new out of the box, I'd return it. I've had floppy bails on my stradics, but not new, that issue took a few years to emerge, not that I remember the exact timing. Even using the reels while they had play in the bail the overall performance was not affected. I'm still using one with play in it, reel works fine but I would accept a new reel in that condition.
May want to edit as I think your trying to say you would NOT accept a new reel in that condition.
SirSnookalot reply :
yeh I omitted NOT by mistake. I did say say in the first sentence that I don't think it's normal and I would return it, I'm sure most understood what I said.
*Hootie reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 2:49 PM, John G said:4 against 1! LOL
BTW K3, just having a little fun here.
Got mine in my hands right now, and it's not loose. Maybe I should send it back and get it unfixed. What do you think John?
Hootie
John G reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 6:52 PM, *Hootie said:Got mine in my hands right now, and it's not loose. Maybe I should send it back and get it unfixed. What do you think John?
Hootie
In this situation, if it ain't fixed, don't break it.
k3bass reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 2:42 PM, SirSnookalot said:I don't think it's normal new out of the box, I'd return it. I've had floppy bails on my stradics, but not new, that issue took a few years to emerge, not that I remember the exact timing. Even using the reels while they had play in the bail the overall performance was not affected. I'm still using one with play in it, reel works fine but I would accept a new reel in that condition.
So which stradic models are you talking about?
SirSnookalot reply :
On 7/9/2015 at 9:50 PM, k3bass said:So which stradic models are you talking about?
I have 2 4000 fi. I don't feel any reel regardless of manufacturer or model should come with a loose bail. The question to ponder is why the bail has play when the screw it tight.
k3bass reply :
The fj has a completely different bail design. The bail mounts on the INSIDE of the rotor. The hinged part that connects to the rotor is aluminum. This hinged aluminum piece has side to side play it's not necessarily "loose". All my fj's were like this new out of the box, and they all work fine. The screw comes through the outside of the rotor and screws into a pin that goes through the bail.On 7/9/2015 at 10:13 PM, SirSnookalot said:I have 2 4000 fi. I don't feel any reel regardless of manufacturer or model should come with a loose bail. The question to ponder is why the bail has play when the screw it tight.
It's actually a great bail design in my opinion, I've never had a problem with any of mine.
Tola reply :
So anew one is on the way. That's the beauty of Amazon at times. A new reel is being sent before I return the current one. I don't have a huge problem with the bail and feel it will be a non issue when in use but it just didn't seem to match the quality of the rest of the reel. The previous post is correct. It looks like a good design and possibly how it's supposed to be? I'll find out tomorrow with new reel. On a different note, I got a symetre which I returned for the opposite issue, bail was too tight and it hung open almost every cast. That was bought at a box store new.
SirSnookalot reply :
The OP said the bail was very loose, plus the reel made noise, that's unacceptable for a new reel. In fairness the bail itself isn't really needed, there are bailess reels. Fingering the line under the roller is as easy as closing a bail by hand, just takes a little time to get used to it.
k3bass reply :
On 7/10/2015 at 12:20 AM, Tola said:So anew one is on the way. That's the beauty of Amazon at times. A new reel is being sent before I return the current one. I don't have a huge problem with the bail and feel it will be a non issue when in use but it just didn't seem to match the quality of the rest of the reel. The previous post is correct. It looks like a good design and possibly how it's supposed to be? I'll find out tomorrow with new reel. On a different note, I got a symetre which I returned for the opposite issue, bail was too tight and it hung open almost every cast. That was bought at a box store new.
They're going to send you a new reel next day without returning the old one?? Maybe I should start shopping on amazon more often!!
Tola reply :
Yup, I buy everything I can from amazon if the price is competitive. We're members of amazon prime so shipping is always 2 day and free or usually $3.99 for next day IF amazon is the one selling or shipping the item ( there are 3rd party sellers and I try to not use them). Then if the item is defective they'll usually send you a replacement asap and you send the bad one back within 30 days, if you don't send it back then they charge you for it. I'm not affiliated with amazon!
As far as the other poster saying a bail isn't really needed, maybe so for surf casting, but show me someone who uses one for bass fishing. ;] also, besides the bail rattling, the rest of the reel is fine but I have to admit, the Daiwa lexa for $50 less is just as nice besides the hard plastic handle with rough edges.
k3bass reply :
On 7/10/2015 at 9:40 AM, Tola said:Yup, I buy everything I can from amazon if the price is competitive. We're members of amazon prime so shipping is always 2 day and free or usually $3.99 for next day IF amazon is the one selling or shipping the item ( there are 3rd party sellers and I try to not use them). Then if the item is defective they'll usually send you a replacement asap and you send the bad one back within 30 days, if you don't send it back then they charge you for it. I'm not affiliated with amazon!
As far as the other poster saying a bail isn't really needed, maybe so for surf casting, but show me someone who uses one for bass fishing. ;] also, besides the bail rattling, the rest of the reel is fine but I have to admit, the Daiwa lexa for $50 less is just as nice besides the hard plastic handle with rough edges.
I actually use a few daiwa tournament ss1300's with the bail cut off Lol.
I've had the Lexa and have many fjs. The fj is a better reel and I'm definitely not a shimano fan. If you put some grease between the bail and the rotor and around the pin that attaches it to the rotor the rattling will go away.
SirSnookalot reply :
On 7/10/2015 at 9:40 AM, Tola said:
As far as the other poster saying a bail isn't really needed, maybe so for surf casting, but show me someone who uses one for bass fishing. ;] also, besides the bail rattling, the rest of the reel is fine but I have to admit, the Daiwa lexa for $50 less is just as nice besides the hard plastic handle with rough edges.
When closing the bail the line does not always gets placed under the roller, the bail wire allows the line to slide under the roller. Learning a slightly different procedure isn't difficult, or using a bailess reel is any more time consuming.
I happen to have a spheros, not much bigger than a bass reel that I cast and retrieve just same the as my bass spinners. About a year the line started to catch on the wire where it gets inserted into the roller. I just move the line over with my finger, don't lose a split second as it's become second nature.
As I said in the first place, I don't think a brand new reel should have a loose or floppy bail and I would return it. However if in time that bail gets wobbly it really isn't that big a deal. 2 stradics and 1 spheros with bail problems, that said those reels still perform pretty good.
k3bass reply :
On 7/10/2015 at 12:20 AM, Tola said:So anew one is on the way. That's the beauty of Amazon at times. A new reel is being sent before I return the current one. I don't have a huge problem with the bail and feel it will be a non issue when in use but it just didn't seem to match the quality of the rest of the reel. The previous post is correct. It looks like a good design and possibly how it's supposed to be? I'll find out tomorrow with new reel. On a different note, I got a symetre which I returned for the opposite issue, bail was too tight and it hung open almost every cast. That was bought at a box store new.
So did you get it? Was the bail the same?
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