Send it back mate - if its not right it's not right, you can't be expected to fix a new reel with washers!
Shimano has obviously gone down hill a bit with the quality of their reels.
My new spod reel ceased up on it's first outing, I got it moving again but really not the point, I have the expectation now that it will happen again mid session, didn't think I would ever be bad mouthing Shimmy but a sign of the times., I should have sent that back but didn't - you've reminded me what a fool I've been.