Shimano Stella 18000 SW HGC Spinning Reel

Infinite power

The new Shimano Stella 18000 SW HGC Spinning Reel comes with significant upgrades that deliver Infinite Power. Infinity Drive has been introduced to complement the existing X-Ship system to deliver light and powerful winding. This development removes any contact the inner part of the pinion gear has with the main shaft, as a high-sliding bushing supports it. A special skid coating has been incorporated to further reduce sliding resistance. As a result, handle rotation torque is reduced by 26% when compared to the conventional system, so winding, even under extreme load, is now even easier.

A water resistant rating of IPX8 is achieved through X-Protect and X-Shield with the aluminium Hagane Body acting as a rigid and super tough outer shell. Now special X-Protect rubber gaskets have been incorporated into the line roller, making this mechanism ten times more durable than the previous model. The HG model is designed for both casting and jigging.

Infinity Drive: Light and Powerful Winding
The new Stella SW employs ‘Infinity Drive’ where the pinion gear inner does not make contact with the main shaft, as a high-sliding bushing supports the main shaft. With this new structure, sliding resistance of the main shaft is drastically reduced. In addition to this, a special skidding coating on the main shaft helps to further reduce sliding resistance. InfinityDrive cuts handle rotation torque by about 30 per cent in comparison to the conventional system, and makes the reel more powerful.

Heatsink Drag: Upgraded Drag with Heat Resistance
The ‘Heat Sink Panel’, where the heat generated by drag is released, stops any decrease in drag performance, due to thermal sagging, by around 50%. The ‘Insulation Sheet’, which blocks heat transfer to the spool, prevents spool temperatures from increasing by around 30%. The evolution of the new drag system is easier on the line and more stable than ever. Featured in models 10000 to 30000.

X-Protect: IPX8 Water Resistant Performance
X-Protect was developed for stopper bearing protection in the previous model and provided high-level waterproofing. The new Stella SW employs X-Protect for its line roller as well and further improves its waterproofing performance. The new structure protects bearings inside the line roller from the harsh saltwater environment, and bearing durability is ten times greater than conventional designs.

Hagane Gear: Precision Cold-Forged for Strength
The Hagane Gear is produced by applying approximately 200 tons of pressure to the raw metal through unique technology called Precision Cold Forging. Delivered with micron accuracy, no cutting work is involved. Hard and tough, the Hagane Gear has high durability and delivers smooth winding.

Hagane Body: Rigid Aluminium Body for Protection
The Hagane Body chassis is made of highly rigid aluminium alloy. It eliminates flex, warp and distortion of the reel, and protects the engagement of gears inside. This allows for smoother winding.

X-Rigid Rotor: Strong and Balanced
By verifying the thickness of the aluminium alloy rotor body through detailed 3D analysis, strong rigidity, high durability and excellent rotational balance is created. Thanks to its strong rigidity, the X-Rigid Rotor contributes to improved effectiveness of various parts such as the drag.

Silent Drive: Silky Smooth Winding Performance
From the basic body design through to the most intricate parts of the drive train including the drive gear, worm shaft, worm shaft pin and worm shaft gear, every piece has been carefully reviewed. Consequently, the smallest clearance gaps and wobbles have been eliminated to the highest tolerances. As a result, a new generation of silky smooth winding performance and pristine silence has been achieved.

X-Ship: Supported Pinion Gear
In addition to an enlarged drive gear, optimum positioning of the pinion and drive gears, and two-point support of the pinion gear whose ends are supported by bearings, all these mechanisms deliver robust gear engagement. The X-Ship system permits smooth winding, even under heavy loads.

X-Tough Drag
Each drag washer is composed of metal or carbon, which have high resistance to friction. Supporting the spool from both the top and bottom means highly durable and stable drag performance.

Rigid Support Drag
Supporting the spool at two-points of the main shaft and bearing inside the spool eliminates spool wobble and delivers stable, smooth drag function.

Shimano Stella 18000 SW HGC Spinning Reel Features:

• Hagane Gear
• Hagane Body
• Infinity Drive
• Silent Drive
• X-Ship
• X-Shield
• X-Protect
• X-Tough Drag
• Heatsink Drag
• AR-C Spool
• Rigid Support Drag
• S-ARB
• One Piece Bail

Shimano Stella 18000 SW HGC Spinning Reel Specifications:

• Model: 18000 HGC
• Retrieve: 129cm
• Bearings: 13/1
• Gear Ratio: 5.7:1
• Max Drag: 28kg
• Weight: 875g
• Line Capacity PE (no./m): 5/500, 6/400, 8/300