waynem Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 I picked up a Tranx 301A during the TW sale. When I took it out of the box, I found that it took a LOT of effort cranking the handle to get it from free spool into gear and even in gear only the line guide engaged, not the spool. The drag setting had no effect- it was just a screwed up reel. I've owned many Shimanos (currently running 301s and Conquest reels for swimbaits) and never got a bad one before. I returned the reel to TW and got the replacement this week. This replacement reel does have the spool go into gear when you crank the handle as it should. HOWEVER the force it takes to get the handle to turn when you are getting out of free spool is about 3 times harder than any of the other bait casters I have used. And I have owned dozens and dozens of Daiwa, Shimano, and Abu bait casters over the last 50 years. The reel is usable but annoying- you have to concentrate on pushing on the handle kind of hard to get it to engage. With other reels, I just start a normal receive cycle and the reel kicks out of free spool easily and engages for the retrieve. I'd like to hear from guys that own Tranx reels if this is normal with the reels you have. Are they all like this? Like I said I have already returned one of these to TW for a defect. I'm tempted to send this one back too unless you guys say all the Tranxs are built that way. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LUV-2-CATCH'EM Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 NOT Normal...I have 3 in the 5.8 ration(none do that)... I would return Very strange... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelpMePickABobber Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 Not the first I've heard of this issue with the tranx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MA Frog Man Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 It definitely has an audible click and requires some force to get going. Extra sealing will do that to any reel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codyc Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 It gets better with some run time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfla Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 Just checked my 300hg against a lightly used 300 Curado. Takes more force to engage the Tranx but not an excessive amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swole_t Posted September 29, 2017 Report Share Posted September 29, 2017 I think it's normal, I had one and it did the same exact thing. Took way too much force to engage the spool after a cast/freespool. I've seen other people saying the same thing. I did not like that, and returned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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