Do you trust aluminum gears?

[Fishing4Fun]

Why yes I do, even more so than a fart at times

[SSS]

Not before i got the new Zillion. Now i prefer aluminum over brass unless its for a large reel such as the Z2020.

[LowRange]

Why yes I do, even more so than a fart at times

After getting the covid I now understand this fear. "That wasn't a-"

[DirtyD64]

I've never used a reel with anything other than brass or aluminum. They do make stainless steel and bronze gears too though, right? Not sure what advantage those give.

[Senkobass1]

I think the argument for me leans to both and is situational. Brass gears for moving baits or heavier duty fishing. Aluminum gears for finesse or bottom contact. Aluminum gears just feel better for bottom contact to me. Lighter reel and more sensitive to me.

[John2204]

I was disappointed that the new Conquest BFS has aluminum gears, I was hoping for brass gears, however I have an 18 Aldebaran BFS and an older Aldebaran MG7 with aluminum gears and have had no problems with either one, both have been smooth reels over the years so maybe I shouldn’t worry about it.

[montey]

The only aluminum gear reels I have are old Aldebaran MG7 and the newer Zillion G.
Neither of these reels have any issues with the gears or anything else. I can't believe how well these old Aldebaran reels hold up.
The Zillion G reels are solid as a rock after hundreds of fish.

[DirtyD64]

I was disappointed that the new Conquest BFS has aluminum gears, I was hoping for brass gears, however I have an 18 Aldebaran BFS and an older Aldebaran MG7 with aluminum gears and have had no problems with either one, both have been smooth reels over the years so maybe I shouldn’t worry about it.

Does the Aldebaran BFS have an aluminum mail gear and pinion? Or it is just the main gear? From the picture I saw, the new Conquest BFS has the same aluminum main gear but possibly a brass pinion (which is the more important of the 2).

[SSS]

Stainless steel gears inside a Millionaire SW i tried were super not so smooth compared to brass and the current aluminum gears from daiwa, so i don't think its a good material for gears when all you're fishing is bass.

[hoohoorjoo]

I was disappointed that the new Conquest BFS has aluminum gears, I was hoping for brass gears, however I have an 18 Aldebaran BFS and an older Aldebaran MG7 with aluminum gears and have had no problems with either one, both have been smooth reels over the years so maybe I shouldn’t worry about it.

Does the Aldebaran BFS have an aluminum mail gear and pinion? Or it is just the main gear? From the picture I saw, the new Conquest BFS has the same aluminum main gear but possibly a brass pinion (which is the more important of the 2).

Every Daiwa I've seen with aluminum main gear has a brass pinion. The Core has a brass pinion and aluminum main gear as well, but not sure about most other shimano reels. I suspect yes.

[ss30378]

I was disappointed that the new Conquest BFS has aluminum gears, I was hoping for brass gears, however I have an 18 Aldebaran BFS and an older Aldebaran MG7 with aluminum gears and have had no problems with either one, both have been smooth reels over the years so maybe I shouldn’t worry about it.

Does the Aldebaran BFS have an aluminum mail gear and pinion? Or it is just the main gear? From the picture I saw, the new Conquest BFS has the same aluminum main gear but possibly a brass pinion (which is the more important of the 2).

Aldebaran has an aluminum main with brass pinion.

[DirtyD64]

I was disappointed that the new Conquest BFS has aluminum gears, I was hoping for brass gears, however I have an 18 Aldebaran BFS and an older Aldebaran MG7 with aluminum gears and have had no problems with either one, both have been smooth reels over the years so maybe I shouldn’t worry about it.

Does the Aldebaran BFS have an aluminum mail gear and pinion? Or it is just the main gear? From the picture I saw, the new Conquest BFS has the same aluminum main gear but possibly a brass pinion (which is the more important of the 2).

Aldebaran has an aluminum main with brass pinion.

Good. Don't remember for sure if the 2016 Metanium MGL had aluminum for both or a brass pinion. Regardless, I'm happy to hear that the pinion is brass on the Aldebaran, assume the same for the upcoming Conquest BFS?

Had another question/thought, had Shimano ever made or used tier 1 (extra micro) aluminum micro module gears? I know my 2021 Conquest has the extra micro brass gears, so does the Antares. Just wondered if an aluminum version of those had ever been used.

[M Perry]

I fish some big fish waters and heavy cover with the new Zillions and have yet to see an issue at all. They get used often and fairly hard.

[Senkobass1]

I fish some big fish waters and heavy cover with the new Zillions and have yet to see an issue at all. They get used often and fairly hard.

These the Jdm zillions? The jdm is aluminum, usdm is brass. I’ve had no issues with both, but stick to the USDM one for heavy cover.

[FamKench]

Really depends, landing 10lb fish is not as abused as pulling snag with the reel or cranking some big deep crank. I have brass Shimano gears gone bad on a few reels as well as brass from Alphas SV TW. My alde mg 7 and core 50mg as smooth as it can be when sold.
I assume me pulling snag all days ruin the gear set while my finesse reels land numbers of big bass but nothing happens.

One should never pull snags by applying force to the reel the rod. This "maneuver" is also notoriously responsible for broken rods, bent shafts on Daiwa spinners and deformation of BC spools and hard on gears. That's why I always carry a couple sets of gloves to wrap line and pull out snags or snap the line.

Yep, my fish grippers only have 2 uses. For those pesky Northern Pike and wrapping my line a few times around to pull out snags.