Tournament Procaster SS-45II

The SS-45II is the successor to the SS-45. Daiwa updated the line roller and gave the reel a fresh new look, with a full champagne-gold finish and dark grey accents, giving it a technical and refined appearance typical of early 90s reels. Not everyone loves this style today, which makes the SS-45II slightly less sought-after by those who prefer the classic look of earlier models. But this reel is still a very special one, being Daiwa’s top-of-the-line casting reel of its time. A very rare reel on the banks!

History

In 1987 Daiwa introduced the SS-45, a super long stroke casting reel developed for long distance casting, focusing on minimal line resistance and weight.

In the early 90s, many mid-range and high-end spinning reels began to feature ball bearing line rollers. This reduces friction during retrieval, making the reel smoother and easier to use. It also helps reduce line twist and wear, improving line life. The high-end SS-45 and SS-35 couldn’t be left behind, so in 1991 Daiwa updated them with the new line roller. Additionally, it was oversized, allowing for smoother line pickup. They also refreshed the colours, giving the reel a new look.

In the 1995 catalogue, it carried the tagline: “A long distance casting reel that opens up an uncharted zone.” It further mentions: “A super long casting reel born from a relentless pursuit of thorough refinement. Designed to perform under harsh conditions where casting and retrieving are repeated continuously, it incorporates specialised features throughout to allow the use of light lines with complete confidence.”

The SS-35II was discontinued after 1995, and succeeded by the Z45T.

Releases

The SS-45II was released in 1991 as a JDM model. It came in three versions, for extra light lines, light lines and for heavy lines. All were offered in left- and right-handed versions. Apart from the handle position, the versions differ only in their spools.

The extra light line version was dedicated for sport casting and came with three ultra-shallow aluminium spools: a 4-degree tapered PE1 spool, a 4-degree tapered PE1.2 spool, and a 5-degree tapered PE1.5 spool. The light line (PE2) version included three 6-degree tapered shallow spools: a standard aluminium PE2 spool, a graphite PE2 spool, and a graphite PE3 spool. The heavy-line (PE5) version came with a 3-degree tapered aluminium PE5 spool, along with an extra die-cast aluminium spool. Each box also contained one or two spool protectors (depending on the version), a cloth bag, and a maintenance kit.

Model comparison

Compared to the other 45 models, the SS-45II stands out with its full champagne-gold finish and dark grey accents. The bail kicker is dark grey with silver lettering. The screw-in handle is black and features a soft touch handle knob, just like the SS-45.

As the successor to the SS-45, this model features an updated line roller. The U-type TiN line roller is now fitted with a ball bearing, a small but noticeable improvement. Beyond this, the design remains largely unchanged. The SS-45II features a drive gear with a durable black almite finish.

Collectabillity

The SS-45II is not often seen on the banks, partly because these reels need to be converted. But especially because there are left- and right-handed versions, of which the left-handed ones are much rarer. For these reasons, the 45 mm stroke casting reels such as the SS-45II are rare in Europe. The SS-45II is less sought after than its predecessor, the SS-45, due to its looks, but more sought after than its successor for the same reason. Unconverted, they are sometimes being used for spodding. Prices are high, although a bit lower then the SS-45.

Specifications

All models in this group are very similar in terms of technical design. Click the button ’45 series’ for general technical information, or further info on certain subjects below.

General specifications

Model: Tournament Procaster SS-45II
Country of manufacture: Japan
Production period: 1991 till 1995
Catalogue weight:
– Extra light line version: 510 g
– Light line version: 495g
– Heavy line version: 540 g

Body & rotor

Body material: Whisker Carbon
Rotor material: Magnesium alloy
Balanced rotor: No

Internal mechanics

Drive type: Threaded drive
Gear material: Super duralumin
Gear ratio: 4.1 : 1
Osc. type: Worm gear oscillation
Main shaft: Titanium alloy, Ø6 mm
Anti-reverse: Ratchet, inside body
Ball bearings (left-handed): 5 (Koyo)
– Pinion gear: 2 BB (10x20x5 mm)
– Drive gear: 2 BB (10x20x5 + 8x14x3,5 mm)
– Line roller: 1 BB (5x8x2,5 mm)

Spool & bail system

Spool design: Skirtless spool
Stroke: 45 mm
Spool type: Long cast
Spool material: Aluminium, graphite
Spool lip: Aluminium, graphite
Line capacity (mm/m):
Extra light line version (PE1):
– Aluminium: 0.148-250, 0.165-200
– Aluminium: 0.185-200
– Aluminium: 0.205-200
Light line version: (PE2):
– Aluminium: 0.205-250, 0.235-200
– Graphite: 0.205-250, 0.235-200
– Graphite: 0.235-300, 0.285-200
Heavy line version (PE5):
– Aluminium: 0.37-300, 0.40-250, 0.43-200
– Aluminium: 0.37-300, 0.40-250, 0.43-200
Retrieve speed: 83 cm/turn
Bail type: Two-piece
Line roller: U-type TiN (with ball bearing)

Drag system

Drag type: No drag
Drag washers: N/A
Clicker sound: N/A

Handle assembly

Handle type: Screw-in
Handle shaft: Threaded
Handle length: 85 mm
Handle knob: Soft touch
Ambidextrous: No

Schematics

See the schematic below for the left-handed version. Some original part numbers may have been replaced with newer compatible part numbers.

Other 45 models: