The older Shimano Calcuttas, such as the CT-250, have one weak spot, especially if you like to throw big baits. It is a little cheap plastic grey bushing on the spool shaft. By replacing it with a bearing the spool shaft will stay more centered under a load. You can tell Shimano realized this because now the bearing comes standard. This also turns a 2 bb reel to a 3 bb reel. What I find odd is that at the same time Shimano was putting the bushing on the Calcutta the bearing came standard on the Curado 200B's, so why not the Calcutta? Especially since it was a 140 dollar reel when it first came out. So now we have to take matters into our own hands and do it ourselves.So now lets replace the bushing! You will need.......
(1) 5x11x3 Sealed ball bearing
Shimano pin removal tool
Small punch
Hammer
Reel oil
Lets start, when you first take off the sideplate and remove the spool assembly you will notice the cheap gray bushing behind the pin. Now, take your pin removal tool and press or squeeze out the pin. If you cant get it out all the way, take a small punch and finish punching it out. Remove the cheap Grey bushing and slide on the ball bearing. Put back in the pin, and viola, the upgrade is done.
I have only 1 more thing to add, Shimano bring back the original 25o 5:1 Calcutta series reel.
Upon request here is the Shimano pin removal tool. It was made using a pair of duck bill pliers and drilling a hole in one side so the pin can be pushed through and putting a small dimple on the other side so the pin can sit and not move.
