Abu ultra mag XL (formerly mystery)

[JasonGotaProblem]

Game on.

[thorhammer]

dmntttt now i want one.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Well I gave it a once over the best I could. Do I need a special tool to remove the spool pin or is there another option?

Other than that, it seemingly went pretty smooth inside. And this is definitely the best I've seen thus far when I opened a fleabay reel, condition wise. No visible wear on gears whatsoever.

But then on reassembly it won't go into freespool and the button is staying depressed. What did I screw up?
There's a little c shaped nylon piece on the pinion that the yoke connects to. If that's facing the main gear not the yoke, ya reel don't do the fishing stuff.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Also, I definitely ordered the wrong size bearings. A very well meaning but in this case incorrect member suggested it would likely be the same 3x10x4 bearings in a lot of old abu reels (With the caveat to check first, which I did not do because the reel hadn't arrived yet and i wanted a head start on parts shipping). But these are definitely larger.

So i bought some 3x10x4 ceramics that I guess will now go into a different old abu, and I gotta figure out what size these are but can't find my caliper.

Thankfully the original bearings are still in good shape. But i want better than good. I want great.

[Gfish]

I did what Allen suggested for spool pins. Bought a cheap-tool bin needle nose vice-grip and dremel cut a groove in one jaw. Works good if you're careful about positioning and slow on the pressure.

Made the same mistake with the yoke about 3 reassembly times.

JMO, I'm really disliking ball bearings in fishing reels. Replacement is expensive and getting the right size is time consuming. Recently, for Abu and other metric size requirements, I bought cheap-o 10 packs and will replace more often. Just can't see the need for better ones, when cast controls(thumb, centrifugal, mag. and friction) are gonna be used. I think bushing systems are much better, and easier to lube properly. I especially hate ARB's.

[Gfish]

Almost forgot; the B.B. in the tail-plate is in a graphite depression and on mine the graphite was deformed or "notched" to hold the bearing in there. Gotta carefully flatten-out those notches to get it out. Could be how I screwed-up the alignment on mine...?

[JasonGotaProblem]

Almost forgot; the B.B. in the tail-plate is in a graphite depression and on mine the graphite was deformed or "notched" to hold the bearing in there. Gotta carefully flatten-out those notches to get it out. Could be how I screwed-up the alignment on mine...?

I noticed that, but was more worried about the spoon pin. Why would they hold the bearing in place with something I may have to destroy to remove it? Abu is usually better about such things.

With regard to better bearings, mag brakes etc are predictable, controllable, and can be disabled. But the difference in friction between ceramic and standard bearings can at best only check the box for predictability.

Now I can't and won't justify the cost difference. Which small performance increases are or aren't worth spending money on is something every angler must decide. This would be my 2nd reel with ceramics, the other being a spinner that I love using. I figured what the heck I'll give it a shot. I'm certainly no expert

[steelfish]

Well I gave it a once over the best I could. Do I need a special tool to remove the spool pin or is there another option?

depending on the size of the spool and the space between the spool pin and the bearing/spool you can make your own pin removal tool aka alantani invention which most of us have duplicated
I made my own pin removal tool just as my amigo Gfish said, with a cheap vice-grip and cutting a groove on a jaw, that work pretty good on standar size casting reels as the shimano trinidad and other similar reels

for small baitcaster and lowprofile reels I couldnt use that big vice-grip tool and didnt wanted to "made" one using an smaller vice-grip so, I went with the special tool to remove pins on small spools, its the HEDGEHOG STUDIO Spool Bearing Pin Remover Type:R

[philaroman]

...You should be able to cast 1 - 4 oz pretty well with it...

double-check those #'s
I'd guess the reel is intended for 1/4-1 oz...  1/2-1.5 oz., tops
it's not the cast -- it's the retrieve
cranking 3-4 oz. cast-after-cast, would eventually chew up the gears akin to moderate winching
(especially, if there's added resistance from bills, blades, paddle-tails, etc.)

of course, you can go much heavier if you basically move the terminal weight w/ rod & pick up slack w/ reel

Are we all talking about the same reel here? The "V" size that is delayed in shipping but supposedly arriving tomorrow, is the 2nd largest one. Not the lil guy i got That started the thread. That big'n cant throw a 4oz lure? And if it can't retrieve a 4oz lure how the f am I fighting a ___# fish on it?

     
sorry...  as you guessed, I scrolled back to the bass-size "lil guy that started the thread"

[JasonGotaProblem]

I know the feeling. I'm the king of misreading and answering a different question.

Back on the topic of the lil guy, I took the spool out last night to take a look, and it went from a curiosity reel that I may one day restore and use, to something I'm very interested in. No spool pin remover needed.

Unlike every other baitcaster I've ever opened (which still ain't many) the spool is independent of the spool shaft. It doesn't contact the shaft at all, it rides entirely on the bearings. To my understanding on most, the spool shaft is still spinning inside the pinion which is a source of friction. I wonder why this design isn't more common. Maybe not as robust? Those bars above the bearing shown below slip into the groove on the pinion, the way a spool pin would on every other baitcaster I've touched (including the 'V'). I figured I'd put my bearings that are undersized (for the V) on my 5000c. I think it's gonna go on the small UM XL instead.

Spool is surprisingly deep though. Would be nice to find a shallow version.

[Gfish]

Interesting. Abu seems to be like that. They make those moderate changes within the range of a model. Some fine tuned engineering/design. I usually can't figure-out why they do those things, but it's gotta be for a good reason. Then again, the auto 2-speed design is almost beyond me. Yup, the b.bearings are real easy to access on the lil' guy. One good thing perhaps, there's no need for another b.bearing under the gear-side cast control cap, torquing it just puts force on the outer spool shaft which as you said, doesn't turn. How does that slow down the spool though?(talkin bout the lil' guy).

[DougK]

the spool is independent of the spool shaft. It doesn't contact the shaft at all, it rides entirely on the bearings.

that's the Abu Ultracast system, started in late 80s I think, and common on Abu baitcasters for the next 20 years or so. My modern Abu RevoX doesn't use it, 4600C3 does. The RevoX with ceramic bearings casts just a little bit further than the 4600C3 Ultracast with stock Abu bearings..

Not sure why it was discontinued. But I find it suspicious that it was discontinued at much the same time that Abu become just another brand and shifted manufacturing Eastwards..

Once was poking around at Dadsoletackle website for an Ultracast-specific part. The list of reels it fits is probably a good starting point for a list of Ultracast reels.. now we can add the Ultra Mag reels too..

550 Plus (91-0) Ambassadeur
550 Plus (01 01) Ambassadeur
550 Plus (01 02) Ambassadeur
550 Plus (01 05) Ambassadeur
650 Plus (91-0) Ambassadeur
650 Plus (01 02) Ambassadeur
650 Plus (01 05) Ambassadeur
4500 C (89-0) Fishing Reel
4500 CS (04 00) Ambassadeur
4600 C (89-0) Ambassadeur
4600 C3 (89-1) Ambassadeur
4600 C3 (99 03) Ambassadeur
4600 C3 (99 07) Ambassadeur
4600 CI (03 00) Ambassadeur
4600 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
4600 CL3 (08 01) Ambassadeur
4600 KC3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
4601 AB (08 00) Ambassadeur
4601 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
4601 Special Edition (08 00) Ambassadeur
5000 (89-0) Ambassadeur
5000 (05 01) Ambassadeur
5000 B (90-0) Ambassadeur
5000 C (91-0) Ambassadeur
5000 C (01 01) Ambassadeur
5000 C (01 02) Ambassadeur
5000 C (01 06) Ambassadeur
5000 C (01 07) Ambassadeur
5000 C (05 01) Ambassadeur
5000 C (99 02) Ambassadeur
5000 C (99 03) Ambassadeur
5000 C (99 06) Ambassadeur
5000 CA (06 01) Ambassadeur
5000 Spring (89-0) Ambassadeur
5000 Winch (89-0) Ambassadeur
5001 CA (06 01) Ambassadeur
5500 C (89-0) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 2-Speed (91-0) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 2-Speed (01 01) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 2-Speed (01 02) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (89-1) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (99 02) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (99 03) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (99 05) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (99 07) Ambassadeur
5500 C3 (99 08) Ambassadeur
5500 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
5500 C (89-0 Sprint) Ambassadeur
5500 C (89-0 Syncro) Ambassadeur
5500 KC3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
5501 C3 (01 03) Ambassadeur
5501 C3 (01 05) Ambassadeur
5501 C3 LH (91-0) Ambassadeur
5501 C3 LH (01 00) Ambassadeur
5501 C3 LH (01 02) Ambassadeur
5501 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
5600 AB (07 00) Ambassadeur
5600 C4 (07 00) Ambassadeur
5600 C4 (07 00 Elite) Ambassadeur
5600 CB (08 00) Ambassadeur
5600 CB (08 01) Ambassadeur
5600 CI (03 00) Ambassadeur
5601 CB (09 00 ) Ambassadeur
6000 (89-0) Ambassadeur
6000 (09 00) Ambassadeur
6000 C (91-0) Ambassadeur
6000 C (01 01) Ambassadeur
6000 C (01 02) Ambassadeur
6000 C (01 05) Ambassadeur
6000 C (01 06) Ambassadeur
6000 C (01 07) Ambassadeur
6000 C (99 02) Ambassadeur
6000 C (99 03) Ambassadeur
6000 C (99 06) Ambassadeur
6000 CA (06 00) Ambassadeur
6000 CA (06 01) Ambassadeur
6001 CA (07 00) Ambassadeur
6001 CA (07 01) Ambassadeur
6500 C (89-0) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (91-0 2-Speed) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (01 01 2-Speed) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (01 03 2-Speed) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (89-1) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (99 02) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (99 03) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (99 07) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 (99 09) Ambassadeur
6500 C3 CT (09 00 Blue Yonder) Ambassadeur
6500 C4 (07 00 Elite) Ambassadeur
6500 CI (03 00) Ambassadeur
6500 CL (07 00) Ambassadeur
6500 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 CS (04 00) Ambassadeur
6500 CS (09 00 Mag) Ambassadeur
6500 CS (01 04 Rocket) Ambassadeur
6500 C (89-0 Syncro) Ambassadeur
6500 C (99 01 Syncro) Ambassadeur
6500 CT (07 00) Ambassadeur
6500 KC3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 TCCM (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 TCCM (08 01) Ambassadeur
6500 TCM (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 TCR (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 TCS (08 00) Ambassadeur
6500 TCST (08 00) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 (01 00) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 (01 03) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 (01 04) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 (01 05) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 (01 06) Ambassadeur
6501 C3 LH (91-0) Ambassadeur
6501 CL3 (08 00) Ambassadeur
6000 (05 01) Ambassadeur
6500 C4 (07 00) Ambassadeur
6501 TCS (08 00) Ambassadeur
6600 AB (08 00) Ambassadeur
6600 CB (09 00) Ambassadeur
6601 AB (08 00) Ambassadeur
6601 CB (09 00) Ambassadeur
Axxar 500 (04 00) Ambassadeur
4600 C (89-0 Bass) Ambassadeur
BTC 5000 (08 00) Round Reel
BTC 5500 C4 (08 00) Round Reel
BTPC 5000 C (08 00) Round Reel
Royal Express II (99 02) Ambassadeur
Royal Express II (99 03) Ambassadeur
Royal Express III (91 0) Ambassadeur
USA 500 (00 02) Ambassadeur
USA 500 (90-0) Ambassadeur
USA 5000 C (05 01) Ambassadeur
USA 5000 C (08 00) Ambassadeur
USA 6000 C (05 01) Ambassadeur
USA 6000 C (08 00) Ambassadeur
USA Bass 4600 C (89-1) Ambassadeur
USA Bass 4600 C (03 01) Ambassadeur
USA Bass 4600 C (03 02) Ambassadeur
USA Bass 4600 C (99 03) Ambassadeur
USA Bass 4600 C (99 02) Ambassadeur
V5000 (07 00) Ambassadeur
VPC 5000 C (08 00) Ambassadeur
Five Star (07 00) Ambassadeur
Five Star (08 00) Ambassadeur
FLW 5500 HCL (08 01) Ambassadeur
FLW 5500 HCL (08 02) Ambassadeur
Power 4 (89-0) Ambassadeur Fishing Reel
Royal 1 (04 01) Ambassadeur
Royal 1 LH (04 01) Ambassadeur
Royal 4500 (09 00) Ambassadeur
Royal 4501 (09 00) Ambassadeur
Royal 5500 (09 00) Ambassadeur

[texasbass1]

I have over a dozen of these Ultra Mag reels. They are real work horses some of the best bass reels Abu made back in the day.

[JasonGotaProblem]

I finally got to fish my XLV with braid yesterday. Very happy with the casting. My elbows are still all kinds of messed up but I still hit about 100yds with a 3oz+bait. The line guide splits whenever line is being released not just on freespool. So that is contributing to uneven line lay a bit, a definite weakness in the design but really no big deal.

Nothing but sail cats landed but still a fun day.

[Gfish]

Cool. If one could find a way to replace the magnet in the levelwinder(hint, hint), that would be great. Mine was functional, but weak.