Emblem series

The Emblem series is a large family of long cast reels designed for long distance casting, succeeding the Longbeam series. It can be divided into two main groups: the ‘original Emblems‘, introduced in Japan in 1993, and the ‘updated T-Emblems’, introduced in 1995. Alongside them, the entry-level Procasters were replaced by the Powercast models, surf casting reels without drag that share the same design as the Emblems. For clarity, all are grouped under the ‘Emblem series’.

The original Emblems are technically very similar to the Longbeams, but feature Gyrospin as the most notable difference alongside several other refinements. In addition, some cost savings were made compared to their predecessors, such as Thai ball bearings. The line-up remained exactly the same. Today, the S-H and Z series are the most sought after, while the S30H is also worth mentioning.

The updated T-Emblems introduced Twistbuster (T), replacing the original Emblems (and Powercast models) already after a few years. They are nearly identical, apart from upgraded line rollers and their looks. Of these, the Z-T series and the single-size re-release X5000T Black Edition are the most sought-after models today.

Below, you will find general technical information. The reel is broken down into different segments presented in the order in which the reel is typically assembled. For detailed model info, click the models below.

Body assembly

The bodies are made from an unspecified carbon material. The Z series bodies are perhaps made from Whisker Carbon, but this is not specified. Apart from the rear section, they are very similar to the Longbeam bodies. A clear difference is the use of two rear covers instead of one. The right-hand rear cover now has to be removed in order to take out the worm shaft.

Furthermore, the side decals with the model name have been replaced with a printed marking or a sticker, likely to reduce production costs. A similar cost-saving change can be seen in the bail kicker. Whereas many of the predecessors (the P-H, G-H/P and SS series) still featured a roller in the bail kicker, only the premium Z and Z-T series retained this feature. Furthermore, unlike their predecessors, all other models shared an identical bail kicker.

The bodies come in two sizes: a smaller size for the 30 mm stroke models and a larger size for the 35 mm stroke models. So aside from colours and prints / stickers, all models in this group share a common body, in one of these two sizes.

Anti-reverse

The anti-reverse mechanism is housed inside the body and uses a pawl (2) that engages with the ratchet (3) on the pinion gear. When the anti-reverse lever (1) is activated, a small double torsion spring pushes the pawl into the ratchet. During forward handle rotation, a freely turning spring (4) on the drive gear lifts the pawl slightly, allowing the ratchet teeth to pass and enabling normal retrieve. When the handle is turned backwards, this spring forces the pawl back into the ratchet teeth, preventing backwinding. When the lever is switched off, it lifts the pawl clear of the ratchet, allowing the pinion gear to rotate freely in both directions. In this position, the spring on the drive gear no longer acts on the pawl, as it can no longer push it down. Besides the lever, some components differ between the small and the large models. It consists of the following main components:

Lever (1)
Pawl (2)
Ratchet (on pinion gear) (3)
Pawl spring (on drive gear) (4)

Worm gear oscillation

The worm gear oscillation or ‘flat winding system’ translates rotary motion into an up-and-down movement of the spool, ensuring an even and smooth line lay. The pinion gear drives the worm shaft gear (1), which turns the worm shaft (2), that is supported by bushes (3). As it turns, the oscillating slider (4) that is attached to the main shaft follows the grooves on the worm shaft via an oscillating pawl, translating this motion into the up-and-down movement. The design of these grooves ensure a slightly crossed line lay, improving casting distance. Smaller models use identical worm shafts (except Z/Z-T), likely brass with wear-resistant nickel plating. Larger models also share identical worm shafts (except Z/Z-T), made from super duralumin. Z and Z-T models use super duralumin worm shafts across all sizes, though larger Z/Z-T models have different part numbers than other large models for unknown reasons. Worm shaft gears differ between size groups (30 mm stroke and 35 mm stroke) and gear ratios. In terms of materials: Smaller models (except Z/Z-T) use brass gears. Larger models and the complete Z and Z-T series use super duralumin worm shaft gears with a black almite finish. It consists of the following main components:

Worm shaft gear (1)
Worm shaft (2)
Bushes (3)
Oscillating slider (4)

The oscillating slider houses the oscillating pawl (5) in a bush (6) and tiny washer (7), secured by a cover plate (8). Two cover screws are installed with a blue thread lock, and are very tight when removed for the first time. Be careful, using the wrong screwdriver can easily damage them. The oscillating slider differs for the two size groups. The oscillating slider houses the following components:

Oscillating pawl (5)
Pawl bush (6)
Pawl washer (7)
Cover plate + screws (8)

Drive train

The drive train transmittes the power. The drive gear, powered by the handle, drives the pinion gear, which is directly connected to the rotor. In addition to rotating the rotor, the pinion gear also drives the worm gear oscillation system.

The gear ratio is determined by the number of teeth on the drive gear compared to the pinion gear. It affects both line retrieval and power, as torque changes with the ratio. High-speed ratios provide faster line retrieve but less power, while power ratios offer more torque but slower line retrieve. The Longbeam models come in high-speed, standard and power ratios:

5,1:1 High-speed: Small S-H / X-H and Powercast S-30H / X-30H
4,6:1 High-speed: Large S-H / X-H
4,2:1 Standard: Z4500 / Z5000
4,3:1 Standard: Z5500
3,5:1 Power: Z6000P
3,2:1 Power: X5000P
3,1:1 Power: X5000P / X6000P

The drive train consists of two assemblies:

1: Pinion gear assembly

The pinion gears are made of brass for all models. They are identical between models that have both the same size and the same gear ratio. The pinion gear is supported by a bush and a ball bearing. Spacing sleeves can differ between models. It consists of the following:

Pinion holder (bush) (1)
Pinion gear (2)
Pinion washer (3)
Anti-reverse ratchet (4)
Spacing sleeve (5)
Ball bearing (6)
Bearing washer (7)

2: Drive gear assembly

The drive gear is supported by two, one, or no ball bearings, depending on the model, with the bearings housed in the side covers. It consists of the following:

Drive gear (1)
Drive gear washer (2)
Bushes / ball bearings (3)
Anti-reverse pawl spring (4)

All drive gears (except Z/Z-T) are die-cast aluminium with machined teeth. The Z/Z-T drive gears are fully machined from super duralumin with a black almite finish. Part numbers are shared by models with the same gear ratio and size group. This also applies to Z and Z-T models; however, due to their different material, those have different part numbers. When removing drive gear ball bearings, watch for corrosion on die-cast aluminium shafts, which can prevent bearing removal. Lightly grinding the shaft end allows the bearing to come off.

Main shaft assembly

The main shaft runs through the pinion gear and connects to the oscillating slider. The spool washers (1) sit in the holder (2). Line lay can be adjusted by adding or removing washers. A main shaft washer (3) sits beneath the holder. The main shaft (4) differs between the two size groups. The smallest sizes feature a 6 mm main shaft, while the larger sizes feature a 6,5 mm main shaft, which offers up to 37% higher stiffness, a significant increase from just a 0,5 mm difference. In terms of materials, all shafts are made of steel. The Powercast models require a Emblem 4500, Longbeam 2000 or PM2600H main shaft assembly when converting. It consists of the following components:

Spool washer(s) (1)
Click spring holder + click spring (2)
Main shaft washer (3)
Main shaft (4)
Rotor nut + holding plate (5)

Rotor assembly

The rotor assembly is attached to the pinion gear using a rotor nut, secured with a rotor nut holding plate. Be aware that the rotor nut on these reels is left-hand threaded, so it loosens by turning clockwise. The rotor assembly consists of a rotor, line guard system and bail assembly.

Rotor

The rotors are available in four sizes, with each size having its own rotor to match the different spool diameters. All models feature carbon rotors made from an unspecified carbon material. So each series shares the same rotor within a given reel size, differing only in colours and decals. The Emblems are very similar in terms of technical design to the Longbeam series, but feature Gyrospin, a rotor-balancing feature that reduces wobble and vibration, resulting in a smoother retrieve.

Line guard system

Because the spools are skirtless, line can get trapped underneath them, so the reels use a line guard system. The exact same line gurad system was inheritad from the Longbeam models. The spring loaded line guard shafts sit against the spool to prevent tangles and lift away during retrieval by centrifugal force, allowing smooth winding. The system is very reliable, although at slow retrieval speeds the shafts do not lift, causing slightly more resistance.

It consists of a set of the following components:

Line guard shaft (1)
Line guard retainer (2)
Line guard plate (3)
Line guard spring (4)

The components are largely the same, but the shafts are black or bare metal, with the larger models having longer shafts.

Bail assembly

All models feature a very similar bail assembly, consisting of a bail arm, bail wire and line roller components. A coil spring in the rotor controls the opening and closing of the bail arm. Daiwa marketed this as ‘Lifetime bail spring’, as these coil springs last significantly longer than earlier springs. The bail spring components are the same across all models, although the power models (GS-P and SS-9000P) and Procasters use different spring part numbers, indicating a stronger spring or different material. The line roller is fitted between the bail arm and bail wire, which are secured together by the line roller screw.

All models (except SS) feature black ceramic SiC line rollers on bushes. These line rollers use both U-grooves or flat-bottomed V-grooves on the same reels, indicating a design change over time. The SS series differs by using a ball bearing in the (oversized) line roller, meaning both the line roller components, the bail arm and the bail wire differ on the SS series. The line rollers on the SS series are made of metal instead of SiC. Furthermore, across all models, the bail wire varies by reel size and is finished in either bare metal or black. The bail assembly consists of the following main components:

Bail arm (1)
Line roller screw (2)
Line roller collar (3)
Line roller (4)
Line roller bush or bearing (5)
Bail wire (6)
Bail spring components (7)

Spool and drag

As the reels come in different sizes, the spools are different too. There are four spool sizes available, as shown below (front diameter / rear diameter – length):

Emblem 4500: 62/68-32 mm
Emblem 5000: 66/72-33 mm
Emblem 5500: 67/73-38 mm
Emblem 6000: 71/77-38 mm
Powercast models: 62/68-32 mm

While the spool dimensions of the Powercasts are equal to the smallest models in the other series, these spools have no drag. This means they must be replaced with Emblem 4500, Longbeam 2000 or PM2600H spools when used for carp fishing.

All spools are made of graphite, with some featuring a polished metal spool lip to reduce friction and line wear. All are optimised for distance casting, with a long tapered design. The standard line clips are not suited for “hitting the clip” but can be upgraded if desired.

The front mounted drag system uses five metal and five felt washers. All spring-loaded drag knobs are identical in size across different sizes, making them interchangeable. The drag knobs have no click spring, so there is no clicking sound when adjusting. The adjustment range is very wide, but it can be converted to quick drag if desired.

Handle

All reels feature shaft-through foldable handles, where the shaft passes through the drive gear and is secured with a screw. The handles are 85 mm, but the hex shafts are longer on the larger models than on the smaller models and the Procasters. Different hex shaft lengths can also be found within both the smaller models and the Procasters, indicating a design change over time. The newer models appear to use the shortest shafts, but handles can still be swapped between the smaller models without any issues. The hex shafts are finished in black or silver. On SS models, the handle matches the reel colour.

The most obvious difference is the handle knob, which varies by model grade. Entry-level models and both Procasters use basic hard plastic knobs. Mid-range models (GS-H, GS-P) feature soft-touch knobs, while high-end SS models come with premium wooden knobs. All handles are ambidextrous and can be mounted on either side.

Ball bearings

The pinion gear uses a large single ball bearing (10×20×5 mm, ID×OD×width) across all models. The drive gear has one bearing in the X models and two in the Z series; these are smaller bearings (9×17×4 mm). The Z series also has a second ball bearing on the right-hand side of the drive gear; this bearing (9× 14×3 mm) is smaller than the other one. In addition, the X and Z series feature a ball bearing in the line roller.

Unlike their predecessors, the Emblems are fitted with Thai ball bearings. This change was part of a broader set of cost-saving measures compared with the Longbeams.

Reels can be upgraded by adding or replacing ball bearings, although adding them is limited to the drive gear. This can make a noticeable difference, especially on models originally fitted with bushes only (S-H series, S30H). Ball bearings cannot be added to the worm shafts or handle knobs, adding one to the line roller requires replacing the entire bail assembly.

Model name	Pinion gear	Drive gear	Worm shaft	Handle knob	Line roller	Total bearings
ST-H series	●	-	-	-	-	●
GS-H/P series	●	●	-	-	-	●●
SS series	●	●●	-	-	●	●●●●
PM-H series	●	-	-	-	-	●
ST-30H	●	-	-	-	-	●
GS-30H	●	●	-	-	-	●●