Daiwa MQ Body opening tool

[Leprechaun]

As discussed on this board and many others across the Interwebs, Daiwa is moving their entire line of spinning reels away from "regular" reel bodies meaning with a side plate held on with three or four small screws, to their proprietary "monocoque" design, which is screw-less. Instead the "side plate," such as it is, screws directly into the body frame. Reels of this type all have an "MQ" designation in their name. Daiwa is making a pretty big deal of this new body type - marketing is marketing, after all.

Actually, if I’m not mistaken, Van Staal was doing this over 20 years ago. So there’s that as well. What’s old is new again. Always seems to be the case.

Anyway, I understand and appreciate the engineering advantages of such a design. But I do not appreciate that Daiwa has steadfastly refused to offer the specialized "wrench" needed for a do-it-yourselfer to take these reels apart for service.

To be honest there have been a vendor on Ebay that does sell this tool - but there are several sizes, and the descriptions are a bit sketchy in determining which of their tools are used for which size Daiwa. Best to know that before ordering, as the seller is in Korea, and the tools are all darn expensive.

So, it appears that I've found the answer, or maybe more correctly - an answer. This popped up in my AliExpress feed, just this morning:

And here's the relevant page to order it:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804686426685.html?pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2423.00%21US%20%2413.57%21%21%21%21%21%402101f49f16756006456065906e13cb%2112000030838422019%21sh01&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.productList_10586137.pic_6&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

The measurements are clearly shown, and the buyer comments state that it definitely fits the 2500-size Daiwa reels in this new monocoque body style. The best part is that its only $13.57 shipped, which is a pittance compared to what the Korean vendor on Ebay is asking.

Even though its made of carbon fiber, I'm sure that used intelligently it will hold up fine. Just last Fall I bought a CF 10mm handle nut wrench from AliExpress - and its been great. Very strong, no wear to speak of, and it will never mar the finish of color-anodized aluminum handle nuts. Plus, it was only a few dollars, at best. Definitely a great find.

The availability of this wrench now makes the consideration of purchasing a Daiwa with this new body style a lot more palatable.

So, if you've already purchased a smaller BG MQ reel (for instance) and have had no real way to service it, now you do - assuming that this wrench fits the slots in your reel's side plate. Check that before ordering. Lep

 

[Roccus7]

Add to your list of Daiwa peeves the most probably locked software for their WiFi enabled reel...

 

[Leprechaun]

Meh, Daiwa products are good as any other leading fishing gear manufacturer that I've dealt with. I very much enjoy using my 2500-sized Ballisitic LT for deep fluking on those days that a spinning setup is called for. Of course mine is pretty heavily modded, with a longer machined aluminum arm (I ditched the dopey tiny EVA knob),

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802922257618.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.313.45c918025r8Qka&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt&_randl_shipto=US

And far more comfortable "door knob-type" EVA knob,

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801541946032.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.43.e8b81802tZ4RQX&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

Better CF drag washers,

DAIWA BALLISTIC 2500SH, 3000SH PROCYON 2500SH, 3000SH CARBONTEX DRAG WASHERS | eBay

Procyon 2500SH, 3000SH. Ballistic 2500SH, 3000SH. New Generation Carbon Fiber Drag Washers. Smooth Drag. Outstanding consistency.

www.ebay.com

and a full internal ball-bearing upgrade kit from hpbearings.

Pardon Our Interruption...

Taken together, this reel, with the above upgrades, is as nice a moderately-priced spinning reel as there is out there. Don't forget that the Zaion body knocks a bunch of weight out of it, while giving up nothing to an aluminum-bodied reel in the rigidity department. Used on my little 6' Grappler, the whole outfit is super light in my hands. Makes a big difference when casting/jigging for a couple of hours.

I also very much like my Daiwa low-pros as well.. I go with a pair of original generation Zillions, a Catalina TW, and just ordered a Tatula 150P CT in the 5.5 gear ratio, a late Xmas gift to myself, to replace my balky Gen 3 Revo Winch. All are also heavily modded and all for deep fluking. Not all come along on every trip - even for me that's too many setups! But they all get their turns in-season. So yes, I do like Daiwa reels very much!

 

[pequa1]

I really like my BG2000 and BG2500 reels, but even though I admit that I have yet to truly lube them, (they are still running as smooth as new, have never been dunked, only used in backbay waters and are sprayed down after ever outing) needing a special tool to open up the gear case is a bit of a turnoff for me. Lep, can I ask if the new MQ design results in a "seal" all around the gear case as good as the 3 or 4 screwed in plate did ?

 

[Leprechaun]

I would think so. No one has brought me an MQ for service as yet, so can't say for sure.

In any case, part of my service regimen is to lay a fine bead of Yamalube green grease completely around the reel case edge, prior to putting the side plate back in place. This 100% keeps water from entering between the case and the plate. I see no reason to change this approach, should I ever get an MQ reel in for service. Just as a precaution I would lube the threads of an MQ side plate anyway, which I suppose serves to make its removal easy, while addressing the "side plate sealing" matter as well.

 

[pequa1]

I have done the same with a thin finger applied line of white lithium grease. Not sure if that is a good practice but it has worked for me. I used that grease on the zippers of my kayak bag all these years and decided to try it on the reel case edge as well.

 

[Leprechaun]

I've never cared for white lithium grease for use with SW-intended reels. In fact years ago I threw away a big tube of Lubriplate white lithium grease, after finding that it tended to harden and cake inside the reels, and caught salt crystals from any SW with which it came into contact. I know that many people do use it for reel lubrication, but there is better out there, and so that's how I roll.

I use Yamalube grease and find it to be about the best I've tried in the reels I service. Having said that, my supply of it is currently just about exhausted, and so I'm about to spring for a 1lb tub of Penn's blue grease. I hear good things about it as well and want to give it a whirl. I understand that its a bit lighter in viscosity than Yamalube, while still clinging very well to gear tooth surfaces. This should make some of the smaller spinners and bait casters I work on crank with a lighter touch - really more a FW thing than SW, but its a plus in any case.

 

[pequa1]

Thanks. Only used the white lithium once and will use other grease I have next time. Haven't gotten around to lubing my Penn reels I use surfcasting yet anyway. It does work well on kayak bag zippers !

 

[dirtymm]

As discussed on this board and many others across the Interwebs, Daiwa is moving their entire line of spinning reels away from "regular" reel bodies meaning with a side plate held on with three or four small screws, to their proprietary "monocoque" design, which is screw-less. Instead the "side plate," such as it is, screws directly into the body frame. Reels of this type all have an "MQ" designation in their name. Daiwa is making a pretty big deal of this new body type - marketing is marketing, after all.

Actually, if I’m not mistaken, Van Staal was doing this over 20 years ago. So there’s that as well. What’s old is new again. Always seems to be the case.

Anyway, I understand and appreciate the engineering advantages of such a design. But I do not appreciate that Daiwa has steadfastly refused to offer the specialized "wrench" needed for a do-it-yourselfer to take these reels apart for service.

To be honest there have been a vendor on Ebay that does sell this tool - but there are several sizes, and the descriptions are a bit sketchy in determining which of their tools are used for which size Daiwa. Best to know that before ordering, as the seller is in Korea, and the tools are all darn expensive.

So, it appears that I've found the answer, or maybe more correctly - an answer. This popped up in my AliExpress feed, just this morning:

View attachment 59122

And here's the relevant page to order it:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804686426685.html?pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2423.00%21US%20%2413.57%21%21%21%21%21%402101f49f16756006456065906e13cb%2112000030838422019%21sh01&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.productList_10586137.pic_6&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

The measurements are clearly shown, and the buyer comments state that it definitely fits the 2500-size Daiwa reels in this new monocoque body style. The best part is that its only $13.57 shipped, which is a pittance compared to what the Korean vendor on Ebay is asking.

Even though its made of carbon fiber, I'm sure that used intelligently it will hold up fine. Just last Fall I bought a CF 10mm handle nut wrench from AliExpress - and its been great. Very strong, no wear to speak of, and it will never mar the finish of color-anodized aluminum handle nuts. Plus, it was only a few dollars, at best. Definitely a great find.

The availability of this wrench now makes the consideration of purchasing a Daiwa with this new body style a lot more palatable.

So, if you've already purchased a smaller BG MQ reel (for instance) and have had no real way to service it, now you do - assuming that this wrench fits the slots in your reel's side plate. Check that before ordering. Lep

Did you receive this part? Sounds too good to be true.

 

[Leprechaun]

Howdy, I wrote out an answering message to you yesterday, but it seems to have disappeared. Anyway, no, I haven't purchased an MQ-bodied Daiwa, nor have I had any come to me for service/maintenance. Hence no need for the tool.

I have seen that the carbon-fiber versions have taken a price decrease on AliExpress, down to around $8 or so. For that kind of modest money, should I have a need for such a tool, that's what I'd buy, checking first that it does fit the reel that requires it.

I try hard not to buy from the PRC, but $40+ for the alternatives I've seen is not all that appetizing to me either. Based on my experience with the CF handle nut wrench I bought on Ali, I would have no qualms about trying out the CF MQ tool, should the need arise.