The New 08' Stellas (US Version) are here!

[BAOSABI]

It's seems to me that the Paladin gear is much smoother than the Barrier gear on the Japanese SW model.

[tmd]

I sent an enquiry to Shimano, and was told that the gears inside the Japanese reels are identical to those in the export version sold in the USA, Australia, etc.

They said Barrier gear is the marketing name of the new gears in japan
Paladin is the marketing name for it in USA & Australia
And it is marketed as HDGear (high durability gear) in Europe


He nearly laughed at my suggestion that they would put different gears in export models to the japanese ones

[d-a]

Originally Posted by tmd

I sent an enquiry to Shimano, and was told that the gears inside the Japanese reels are identical to those in the export version sold in the USA, Australia, etc.

They said Barrier gear is the marketing name of the new gears in japan
Paladin is the marketing name for it in USA & Australia
And it is marketed as HDGear (high durability gear) in Europe


He nearly laughed at my suggestion that they would put different gears in export models to the japanese ones

You should have asked him why Shimano USA wont service a JDM reel since there the supposedly the same?


d-a

[tmd]

Because they want you to buy from them, not Japan.

[BAOSABI]

Originally Posted by tmd

I sent an enquiry to Shimano, and was told that the gears inside the Japanese reels are identical to those in the export version sold in the USA, Australia, etc.

They said Barrier gear is the marketing name of the new gears in japan
Paladin is the marketing name for it in USA & Australia
And it is marketed as HDGear (high durability gear) in Europe


He nearly laughed at my suggestion that they would put different gears in export models to the japanese ones

That would mean that I had a SW20KPG with a some issues with the gear or a bad bearing.

[d-a]

Originally Posted by tmd

Because they want you to buy from them, not Japan.

Shimano doesn't care where there profits come from, just as long as they get them.


d-a

[tmd]

Originally Posted by BAOSABI

That would mean that I had a SW20KPG with a some issues with the gear or a bad bearing.

Could be. I can't afford one in the near future, but I've been asking around and hearing nothing but excellent feedback on how buttery smooth the reel is, Japanese and international versions.

If you ever open up your reel or see the internals of a Paladin Stella, it should be easy to tell by looking at the gears. If the pinion is made of stainless steel and the drive gear is yellow as in this attached photo, then it would be a definitive proof that international reels have the same JDM gears. Hopefully someone will be brave enough to open his and share the information with us

[d-a]

The drive gear is coated and the worm gear the rides under the spool shaft is bigger as well as its shaft in the JDM models. I should have stated they were the 2002-2007 models

Either way there both great reels

d-a

[ichibahn]

I have both new '08 SW20k, JDM and US version.
From outside only different handle color and JDM had nicer reel bag.
I will open it if I have time, to see what is the different inside.

For the FA model for sure the JDM had different coating on some gear.

[BAOSABI]

I would have opened it up if I still had it. That reel was fatally wounded on the Big E in August before I even made the first cast. The grill broke loose and fell right on top of it. I now have 2 US model and both are buttery smooth.