Just to let you know that Shimano techs will be at the San Mateo fishing show from Feb 5-6. I think that if you are going to "modify your reel that maybe first you should know how to maintain it before you mess with it. These guys are top notch and are the foremost experts on Shimano reels. They bring tools and parts and you bring YOUR reel down and they teach you how to take it apart and where to grease/oil etc; So I envite you all to come down and check it out so that maybe you'll have a better understanding of what you are doing}(