LIVRE handles, widely popular among freshwater and saltwater anglers who enjoy reel customization, take the spotlight this time.

Custom handles are often associated with carbon materials, but all LIVRE handles are made of metal.

The robust, all-metal handle body, the uniquely shaped knobs designed for various fishing scenes, and the exclusive fire-pattern colors achieved through heat treatment of the knobs are just some of the features that distinguish LIVRE from other brands. But in fact, the internal structure of the handle itself is also significantly different.

Today, we introduce this unique structure and a very convenient customization method that utilizes it.



*Convenient Structure Unique to LIVRE Handles

Custom handles currently on the market generally come in two types depending on the reel: “For SHIMANO” and “For DAIWA/Abu.”




This is because the diameter of the handle shaft differs. Simply put, DAIWA/Abu reel shafts are thicker than SHIMANO reel shafts.
(*The reason is unknown, but DAIWA and Abu reel shafts share the same thickness.)

Thus, to accommodate this size difference, custom handles are made available in two types: for SHIMANO and for DAIWA/Abu.





As a side note, for the same reason, handle lock nuts are also available in SHIMANO and DAIWA/Abu versions. As shown in the photo, DAIWA/Abu handle lock nuts have larger holes. In the custom industry, SHIMANO nuts may be referred to as M7, and DAIWA, Abu, and some larger SHIMANO reels (such as SW series) as M8 — often labeled as “DAIWA/Abu/SHIMANO M8.”

Additionally, some DAIWA reels use bolt-type locks, but since the shaft diameter is standardized, DAIWA/Abu-type custom handles can still be used.


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“There Are Two Types of Custom Handles: For SHIMANO and For DAIWA/Abu”

This is the basic rule of custom handles. Due to this specialized structure, a SHIMANO handle cannot be attached to a DAIWA/Abu reel and vice versa. They won’t mount properly or won’t fit at all.

If you mistakenly purchase the wrong type, you'll need to repurchase the correct one, costing another 10,000 to 15,000 yen.





However! With a LIVRE handle, by simply purchasing a few extra parts for about 1,500 yen, a handle bought for SHIMANO reels can be mounted on DAIWA/Abu reels!

This is made possible by LIVRE’s unique structure: the “Quick Change System.”


Technically, LIVRE handles are also sold as either for SHIMANO or DAIWA/Abu, but by replacing just two parts — the “Center Nut” and the “Hexagonal Washer” — they can be installed on any of the three brands.


The most important of these is the “Hexagonal Washer.”



This part sits between the star drag and the handle body and is mounted on the back of the handle.

As explained earlier, other custom handles require you to buy a new handle if you purchase the wrong type because the mounting hole is directly built into the handle body. This results in high additional costs.




In contrast, LIVRE custom handles feature a separate Hexagonal Washer that can be easily removed from the handle body. The brilliance of this structure is that the most expensive component — the handle body — can be reused. Since the size-specific component is the relatively inexpensive Hexagonal Washer, you can reuse the handle for about 1/10 the cost.


⇒[LIVRE] Hexagonal Washer t1.5 for Quick Change System

This is the product page for the Hexagonal Washer.
Please select the appropriate model based on your reel.



Now, about the Center Nut.



This part is installed from the top of the handle to firmly secure it to the reel.

This component also differs by manufacturer, so when swapping brands, it must be replaced. Note that there are three types of Center Nuts: SHIMANO, DAIWA (Nut Type), and DAIWA (Bolt Type).

Here, we will explain while actually checking the handle shafts.




First is for SHIMANO.
SHIMANO reels use a nut-type system, and only one type is needed. Just ensure you match the handle side correctly.


Next is for DAIWA. DAIWA has two types of locking systems, so choose the appropriate Center Nut accordingly.



First is the Nut Type, which is structurally the same as SHIMANO.

While it may look identical in photos, as explained earlier, the shaft diameter differs, so be sure to buy the DAIWA-specific type.



⇒[LIVRE] Center Handle Nut (for SHIMANO/DAIWA/Abu)

You can purchase the Nut Type Center Nut here.
Please select according to your reel’s specifications.



Now, here’s the tricky one — the Bolt Type for DAIWA.



At first glance, it looks the same as the Nut Type, but the Bolt Type has a hole in the center of the shaft. Since the securing part is a bolt, you can identify it visually.



⇒[LIVRE] Center Handle Bolt (B1 Type) for STEEZ, ZILLION, etc.

The Bolt Type can be purchased from this page. Note that it is compatible with both left- and right-hand handles.


If you’re unsure of your reel type, please refer to the parts section on our special pages or LIVRE’s compatibility charts.
(*“Daiwa B1” indicates Bolt Type.)

- HEDGEHOG STUDIO Special Pages
SHIMANO⇒https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/page/2
DAIWA⇒https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/page/3
Abu⇒https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/page/1

To sum up, LIVRE’s freshwater bait reel handles can be mounted on various reels simply by swapping the Hexagonal Washer and Center Nut.

It’s truly a well-thought-out mechanism.



Let’s Try Swapping Parts!

Now, let’s actually install a LIVRE custom handle onto SHIMANO, DAIWA, and Abu bait reels by swapping parts!



The handle originally purchased is the “LIVRE CRANK 90 For SHIMANO, Left Handle.”



Assume it was purchased for installation on the SHIMANO 16 Chronarch MGL Left Handle Model.

Let’s start the installation!




Since the correct handle was purchased, it installed without issue.
This 16 Chronarch MGL is fitted with champagne gold color parts from HEDGEHOG STUDIO and hexagonal star drag and mechanical brake knob from Avail.



Now for the important part.

Next, we will try installing it on a DAIWA SS SV Right Handle Model.



At this time, the parts that need to be replaced are the “Center Nut” and the “Hexagonal Washer,” as previously explained.




First, prepare a new “DAIWA/Abu Right Handle” Center Nut and “DAIWA/Abu” Hexagonal Washer.
The handle body remains the same “LIVRE CRANK 90.”

With these parts ready, the assembly method is the same, so let’s build it.




Successfully installed!



Finally, let’s try installing it on a DAIWA TATULA HD CUSTOM Left Handle Model.



Again, the parts that need to be replaced are the “Center Nut” and “Hexagonal Washer.”




Now, a key point. The TATULA HD CUSTOM uses a bolt-type nut to secure the handle, so prepare the “Center Nut Bolt Type.” The Hexagonal Washer should be “DAIWA/Abu.”

With these parts ready, the assembly method is the same, so proceed with the build.




Installation complete!



As demonstrated, the initially purchased CRANK 90 for SHIMANO can be adapted to DAIWA reels simply by changing the Center Nut and Hexagonal Washer accordingly! The process is not difficult — just select and prepare the two parts based on the target reel.

This mechanism, briefly described as the “Quick Change System” in LIVRE catalogs and product pages, lacked detail on which parts to change, so we created this guide.

If you have a LIVRE handle that you haven’t used due to compatibility issues, why not revive it by adapting it to a different reel using this method?


*LIVRE Custom Handles Compatible with This Customization (As of March 2017)
- CRANK Series
- CRANK Feather Series