Shimano Sedona 2500FD - Service and Maintenance

[REEFMAN]

Shimano Sedona 2500FD - Quick Service, Maintenance and Review





Features
     

• Propulsion Line Management System: Propulsion Spool Lip, Power Roller III, S-Arm Cam
• Redesigned Bail Trip (500 size only)
• Varispeed Oscillation (slow oscillation on 500 size)
• Shielded Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
• Lightweight Graphite Frame Sideplate, & Rotor
• Cold Forged Aluminum Spool
• S-Concept: S-Rotor (500 size only), S-Guard, S-Arm Cam
• Ported Handle Shank (except 500 size)
• Rubber Handle Grips
• Maintenance Port (500 size only)
• Fluidrive II
• Dyna-Balance
• Super Stopper II
• Repairable Clicker
• Approved for use in Saltwater
• Rated for use with Mono, Fluorocarbon and PowerPro lines

Specs
 

Nice looking reel. Out the box, the line lay is ok, could do with a bit of spacer adjustment to change the cone angle slightly.




Remove the Drag Knob



The spool, top and bottom






Remove the Spool support clicker gear, spacer washers, Rotor nut and screw and the Rotor.





The Anti-reverse housing can be removed with the 3 SILVER screws.




Brass pinion, Stainless steel drive shaft, Sealed stainless steel shaft bearing.






Remove the left side plate screws




And the rear cover screws




Another side plate screw underneath the Rear cover




Remove the side plate. Reveals Drive gear bearings both sides.

Why are Shimano Spinning reels so smooth? It's the "Fluidrive II" machining process, where the tooth processes on the Gears are polished via a wrapping process.






Pop the Drive gear off with the bearing and washers. Then remove the Oscillating slider.




NB: Make sure when re-assembling that the 2 arrows on the Drive Gear are aligned with the arrow and pin on the Oscillating gear, as in the diagram below.





Interesting that the Oscillating gear fits directly onto the stub on the reel frame - there is not even a bushing. Not ideal.

Also the Pinion gear fits directly into the Reel frame... equally not ideal.

Nor does the Oscillating gear have an O-ring on the nipple...





Parts so far... a very simple reel, and extremely easy to service.



Soak all parts in Benzine, scrub with a toothbrush. Grease all bearings properly, all moving parts and the reel frame.

To re-assemble, just follow the steps backwards again.




Inspection of the handle...

Seems as if the cheaper model Shimano's all have an issue with corrosion of the handle hinge. There is a very definite galvanic reaction where the 2 different metals meet. This reel was brand new, used for a few spinning sessions, then opened 3 weeks later. If left, this corrosion would have fused the hinge. Had a similar problem with the Ultegra range. This hinge joint must be greased liberally out the box and frequent mantenance is required.





The Bail arm Roller bearing

Simple to take apart, clean and re-lube. Examine the bearing closely for corrosion, as this is the first bearing that will seize on this reel.






The Drag system is very similar to the Stradic, with 6 washers in total, 3 oiled felt and 3 metal.

[Willie]

Great review 

[Charles]

  Thanks REEFMAN! I have the same problem with my Ultegra 14000. The handle seems to be completely "fused" and I am reluctant to force it open as I have this knack of breaking things 

[REEFMAN]

Thanks REEFMAN! I have the same problem with my Ultegra 14000. The handle seems to be completely "fused" and I am reluctant to force it open as I have this knack of breaking things 

Yup, with my Ultegra 5500, the handle fused at the hinge. Had to put it in a vice and hammer it loose... 
Would suggest soaking it with Q20 for a few days, then some Vinegar for a few days, then q20 again...
 

[Charles]

Reefs do you also clean the drag felt with benzine?

[REEFMAN]

Ya, I soak them in benzine for a few minutes to get the old oil out, then dry them properly. Re-oil them with Quantum Hot sauce or Shimano oil.
The thicker felt washers, like in the Aerlex, I grease with Cal's.

[minnow]

Hi Reefman,


Recently added one of these feels to my growing collection of reels. Your serving tutorial is superb and to the point. Certainly will come in handy when the time arises to service. I also have an Okuma Salina 2 5000,  a Shimano Torium 30, Solstice 4000 FI and a Daiwa Silvercast 120 that will benefit from the likes of your tutorial. Will trawl the forum to see if you have tutorials for my stated reels.

[REEFMAN]

Only have 1 for the Torium 30. Haven't done the Salina, Solstace or Silvercast.

[minnow]

Only have 1 for the Torium 30. Haven't done the Salina, Solstace or Silvercast.

Thanks Reefman will look it up shortly and permanently book mark...

[craigb]

 ive successfully serviced my GW 50 twice using your wsome tut,I can now almost do wth my ys cosed,thank you.Now......where can view the one for my tor 30? for the awesome tuts reefz.

[REEFMAN]

All the reel service tuts are on this board... http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?board=24.0
Just go through the pages to find what you're looking for, or do a search specifically on that Board.
There are over 40 tuts for different reels....

[rofflign]

Thanks Reefs, this tutorial saved my bacon, thought my little sienna 2500 was stuffed after I serviced it and got it horribly wrong when refitting the main gear assembly.

[REEFMAN]

Cool beans Dave! 

Ja the gearing on the smaller Shimano's are quite tricky now with aligning up those arrows on the gears. Reckon many okes have had problems with these reels without realizing what the problem is!

[REEFMAN]

So the reason for the problem with the gearing on this reel is that the Oscillating gear is not perfectly round. It has some straight edges!
You need to make sure the arrows line up on the Drive gear and the Oscillating gear!

[REEFMAN]

Bearing sizes for the Sedona 2500 FD
Line Roller - 4 x 7 x 2.5
(2x) Left and Right Side plate - 7 x 13 x 4
Pinion bearing - 7 x 14 x 5

[ABombs]

So the reason for the problem with the gearing on this reel is that the Oscillating gear is not perfectly round. It has some straight edges!
You need to make sure the arrows line up on the Drive gear and the Oscillating gear!

Hey Everybody, I have had a really tough time with this reel. Found it in my Dad's garage, and the pole had several broken line guides. Thought I would fix it up overall.... I know this reel is supposed to be a SMOOTH one. And from day 1 of trying it out it was not smooth, binding up, felt like it needed lubrication, maybe had sand in it? Wasn't sure. Took the cover off and lubed it without taking the gears apart, and it was better, but still not smooth.

Eventually I investigated further and found the pinion gear was a little chewed up. Other gear teeth look fine.

Ordered a new pinion gear, and put it back together, and was VERY careful to match up the markings with respect to each other. Seemed to spin smooth when there was no tension. But if I reel in line with any load whatsoever, it is binding up at every half turn. Is the alignment of the gears off by one tooth or something like that?

I know this reel is supposed to be a nice smooth one, so this is frustrating. It can't just be this way... I don't understand why this required an oscillating gear in the first place.
Any input appreciated. Thank you!

[ABombs]

Hey Everybody, I have had a really tough time with this reel. Found it in my Dad's garage, and the pole had several broken line guides. Thought I would fix it up overall.... I know this reel is supposed to be a SMOOTH one. And from day 1 of trying it out it was not smooth, binding up, felt like it needed lubrication, maybe had sand in it? Wasn't sure. Took the cover off and lubed it without taking the gears apart, and it was better, but still not smooth.

Eventually I investigated further and found the pinion gear was a little chewed up. Other gear teeth look fine.

Ordered a new pinion gear, and put it back together, and was VERY careful to match up the markings with respect to each other. Seemed to spin smooth when there was no tension. But if I reel in line with any load whatsoever, it is binding up at every half turn. Is the alignment of the gears off by one tooth or something like that?

I know this reel is supposed to be a nice smooth one, so this is frustrating. It can't just be this way... I don't understand why this required an oscillating gear in the first place.
Any input appreciated. Thank you!

Update: I took this apart and put it back together many times making super sure the oscillating gear was aligned properly. And it was! It was my method of testing its performance that was flawed.


It would spin smooth with no load, and then spin different with a load. I tried tying the line to a railing and walking it in as I reeled (too much load force), or tying it to a small pillow and dragging it across the floor (better load force). I was convinced it wasn't working right.... Since it was a puzzle to solve, I just decided to rig up a spoon and go cast it into the Gulf for a REEL WORLD TEST. So I did. Casting and retrieving a spoon was fine. It works. Pretty smooth. But comparing to the most similar reel I have available--a mint condition Penn Battle II, 2500 size--it just doesn't really compare. Under load the Penn cranks smooth until the counter force of the drag is met, and you can still crank without a wobble feeling. Just feels like turning a wheel under tension. The Shimano Sedona 2500FD, however, has a crank wobble under the same conditions. I have a hard time interpreting whether the wobble comes from the oscillating gear, or from the spin characteristics of the bail arm....


This is all interesting because the Shimano reel has a better drag system, which using a suitcase scale I measure at 13 lbs of smooth drag (with a satisfying click sound). The Penn Battle II has about 10 lb of smooth drag, but cranks much better under load, (but no click sound). With the Shimano Sedona you have to pull up with the rod, and reel the slack in quick if you have a big fish on. With the Penn Battle II you can keep the rod tip up and just reel that fish in. A difference in torque conversion due to design difference? I am not sure. I haven't yet taken apart the Penn Battle II.

What I have learned is that if I were to find one of these used for cheap I would probably pass on it in favor of something else. I enjoy fixing up old reels, but I demand a little more from my hand chosen fishing gear.

Anyways, thanks for this great resource! I would have gotten stuck without the alignment diagram. Simply examining the gears wasn't obvious enough as to how it went back together.

[REEFMAN]

I have had a Sedona for 10 years and it's still a champion little reel! Weird that you're having issues with the gearing, as my experience with Shimano's is that you'd battle to find smoother reels at the same price point from any other manufacturer. Bear in mind too, that the Sedona is at the bottom of the price range that Shimano offers. I think only the Sienna is below it. Still think that the Sedona is very hard to beat for value for money.
But thanks for your input. All very interesting.

[ABombs]

I have had a Sedona for 10 years and it's still a champion little reel! Weird that you're having issues with the gearing, as my experience with Shimano's is that you'd battle to find smoother reels at the same price point from any other manufacturer. Bear in mind too, that the Sedona is at the bottom of the price range that Shimano offers. I think only the Sienna is below it. Still think that the Sedona is very hard to beat for value for money.
But thanks for your input. All very interesting.

I am sure you are right about getting great value for money. My dad swears by this reel being really great. Unfortunately his health has been in decline, but with some help, this is something we can still enjoy together for some time to come... I am mechanically inclined, but still learning the subtle art of fishing. Still trying to figure out if this is normal reel behavior or not. Frustrating, but this has become a labor of love.

I ruled out the bearings. They feel smooth individually.

I don't think it can be the main shaft (I considered maybe it was slightly bent). Doesn't seem to be. I will need to verify this next time I take it apart again. TBD.

The rotor touches plastic on plastic under load and makes noise, but I don't think that is why it is jerky. The whole assembly flexes a bit, and that seems to be how it is.

WRT the oscillating slider, it moves as it should. After further reviewing the mechanics of this, it is appears that the action of this slider is why it has an oscillating gear to begin with. Different speeds for different parts of the stroke. I am suspicious of this part... I have tried lighter oil, and also a heavier grease, to see if the type of lubrication changes anything. Not really! Medium-light grease seems to be best. Something that coats, but not too tacky or gooey to slow it down.

I am not even sure what else to think about? Maybe I am just hypercritical??

Here is a 30 second video showing you the reel's free spin behavior vs under load (finger-pinched line):  https://youtu.be/yfH3b40DfXQ

[ABombs]

Here is a 30 second video showing you the reel's free spin behavior vs under load (finger-pinched line):  https://youtu.be/yfH3b40DfXQ

Anyone have any thoughts or comments? Thanks.