TUTORIAL: ABU 10000CL

[Steve V.]

I can click on the pitcher and see a larger version but can't download or copy it without signing up.

I figured out a way. I went to it and signed in with my Gmail account and it let me download it.

[Barishi]

Dunno the answer to that, Ruffy, but in my searches for info on this reel I've come across people using them for 'larger' catches.  One guy even uses his for shark.  So, I'd guess they're pretty tuff.

How or what makes these reels a "2-speed" reel?  Found one in a box of my grandfather's stuff, and it seems to work pretty well but can't figure out how to 'shift' it.

I get this is an old post but I want to share my experience handling one of these reels.

Picture the two speed mechanism this way:

You have a low gear on top of the high gear, both held down by drag pressure. In a normal star drag, when a fish overcomes that drag pressure, your gear will slip and let the fish "pull" drag.

In the Abu 10k, the high gear slips before the low gear, so under some load the high gear engages while the low gear stays engaged. Under a certain amount of load, you can turn the low gear, while the high gear's action is negated by slipping.

Of course, given enough force, both gears will slip and the fish will run.

I never understood why Ambassadeurs cost more than Penns or Daiwas of the same era till I touched a 10k. Way more solid than my 980 from the same era.

Some notes:
- the handle cannot push in and out like you can in a Penn
- everything is metal unlike the 980 with its plastic sideplates
- everything fits together way better: the screws are spring loaded, the mounting points have divots and slots that faciliate easy alignment
- the abu geartrain feels way more stably mounted since its on the reel frame and not the sideplate
- the dog is not spring loaded
- the gears are HUGE

[Patudo]

Picture the two speed mechanism this way:

You have a low gear on top of the high gear, both held down by drag pressure. In a normal star drag, when a fish overcomes that drag pressure, your gear will slip and let the fish "pull" drag.

In the Abu 10k, the high gear slips before the low gear, so under some load the high gear engages while the low gear stays engaged. Under a certain amount of load, you can turn the low gear, while the high gear's action is negated by slipping.

Of course, given enough force, both gears will slip and the fish will run.

Very helpful description.  I had been wondering what made these reels decide to slip into low gear. 

They are handsome, classic looking reels that are pleasant to handle; but the big issue I have with them in my own fishing is that I normally set the drag quite light (light trolling for fast swimming game fish) and the low gear "kicks in" earlier than I would like.  I prefer to decide when to go from high to low gear and vice versa myself; I don't like the feeling of the reel shifting into low gear, or cycling back and forth between gears under me.  I had been hoping there'd be a way, short of increasing the drag, to get the reel to shift down only under more pressure - a pressure washer or some similar device. 

FWIW I wouldn't use any of them with heavier than 30 lb test, not if intending to push the line to close to its limits (as opposed to using heavier line for abrasion resistance/more durability).