Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Ambassadeur Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Stuck on January 02, 2013, 11:05:10 AM

Title: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Stuck on January 02, 2013, 11:05:10 AM
What's the maximum practical / workable drag pressure that's acheivable on a 6500. I've got a couple of stock ones that I have to clamp down very hard to make 6lbs of drag but I'm reading about blokes fishing 30lb braid from them  ???.

Thanks,
Anthony.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 02, 2013, 11:46:11 AM

Really wanna know?

End of page 4 and top of page 5...

http://www.stripersonline.com/t/575545/anyone-know-how-much-drag-lbs-a-abu-garcia-can-put-out

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Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 02, 2013, 02:51:21 PM
I have trouble bielieving they are getting 22+ pounds, I'll try to remember to check what I get out of one of my hotrodded 5601C4s.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 02, 2013, 03:17:44 PM
If you read more carefully, you'll notice that one of them was a to-the-point-of-destruction test.

That was me, who got fed up with several pages of golly gee, chin scratch, pseudoscientific blablabla, and simply pulled out a reel and did it.

YMMV.

(reel survived.  :)  I'd run into the Parts & Service Manager for Abu a while back. He sent over a new pinion. Thanx pal ;) )

.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: akfish on January 02, 2013, 03:26:50 PM
I wouldn't push more than 6# of drag on a 6500C3. More than that and you'll fry the gears. Notice how small the (brass) gear teeth are and the frame just isn't very stiff. The 6500 is a good reel -- for light line applications.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 02, 2013, 03:43:34 PM
Quote from: Robert Janssen on January 02, 2013, 03:17:44 PM
If you read more carefully, you'll notice that one of them was a to-the-point-of-destruction test.

That was me, who got fed up with several pages of golly gee, chin scratch, pseudoscientific blablabla, and simply pulled out a reel and did it.

YMMV.

(reel survived.  :)  I'd run into the Parts & Service Manager for Abu a while back. He sent over a new pinion. Thanx pal ;) )

.

Thanks for destroying your reel for knowledge.  Destructive testing tells us what goes bad, always something good to know, but usable max drag is more important for fishermen.  I can get well over 10lbs of drag out of my 5601s but fish them as 30lb.   These reels are about as small as I'd use for albacore.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 02, 2013, 08:12:30 PM
I just got back from town and when I was at the shop I tested one of my 5601C4's (not factory) and got a bit over 20lbs with a straight pull, no rod, using a calibrated scale.  My topshot broke at a knot at 21lbs so I'm sure the reel can do 24lbs but it took two thumbs to tighten the star this tight.  No pinion gear dammage but I think if one fished these reels as 50/60 they would not hold up.  They make a good 20lb/30lb reel at 8lb-10lbs drag.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Ken_D on January 02, 2013, 08:28:14 PM
Great threads, both here and the sol.

1: Locate a swivel.

2: Cut a circular disk of leather the size of a USA/CAD/quarter/pashenko token.
     Burn a small hole in the top, like a key tag.

3: Insert swivel in hole.

4: Attach swivel to cross bar and through the top of the line carriage.

5: Remove ergonomic thumbrest if reel is so equipped.

6: When you get a fish, place disk on spool, and press firmly.

7: It works.   ;D
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 02, 2013, 08:36:35 PM
A properly placed spring washer, Carbontex drag washers and a spring loaded anti reverse dog is all I feel is needed to make these good salmon reels into an albacore reel.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: alantani on January 04, 2013, 10:17:22 AM
figure 3-4 pounds for a good working range.  it's a pretty light reel.  you're not trying to deliberately destroy it. 
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Bryan Young on January 04, 2013, 10:19:53 AM
I've got mine maxed at 5# without any issues yet.  Note that I do not crank the reel while line is going out and pump my rod when reeling line in though.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: alantani on January 04, 2013, 10:20:52 AM
hey, it's late!  go to bed!
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Bryan Young on January 04, 2013, 10:24:58 AM
It's only 12:30 am for me right now.   ;D  you must be working Alan.  Going to see about visiting Kamu and Bradah Bill in Ewa Beach tomorrow.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Fish-aholic on January 04, 2013, 04:40:01 PM
To those who have tested and reached 20lb+ of drag on a spring scale with their Abu's; how come the IAR bearing held up to 20lb+ of drag without being damaged - or at least give and slip?





 

Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Fish-aholic on January 04, 2013, 04:44:40 PM
Also, how do people successfully test drag ranges that surpass the capabilities of those conventional reels using IAR bearings without doing any damage? IAR bearings ain't cheap to replace, and although I'd like to test the max drag capabilites on my reels, I fear damaging IAR bearings in the quest for a max drag figure  ???
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 04, 2013, 05:02:01 PM
Curiosity often costs me $.  

When I checked mine I put the reel on a reel seat, clamped it in my vice and pulled directly from the reel, a rod would have increesed the drag.  

I service my 5601C4's every time they get around saltwater and leave the AR bearings dry and these reels have an AR bearing and 2 AR dogs.  They are not factory reels.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Robert Janssen on January 04, 2013, 07:14:47 PM
Mine doesn't have an IAR bearing.

Box stock; no mods.

.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 04, 2013, 07:22:01 PM
Double dog it.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Fish-aholic on January 04, 2013, 07:38:30 PM
That makes better sense! I thought 20lb+ worth of drag wouldn't be possible with an Abu fitted with 'modern' IAR bearings. Would anyone know what the IAR bearing in Abu's would max out to before failing? At a pure guess, I would think it would be below 10lb ???

Keta, I never knew Abu's could be double dogged - or is this only feasible with select models like your reel? 
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Keta on January 04, 2013, 08:59:56 PM
D'oh!!! My memory is shot!  I took the reel apart before I remembered it is a AR bearing and a SINGLE mechanical dog.

Here's a link to the information.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=2631.0 (http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=2631.0)


And here's the reel.
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g104/IGFA19Keta/Reels/6501II.jpg)
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Fish-aholic on January 05, 2013, 12:08:16 AM
Thanks for the update and links, Keta!

I'm shocked that such little AR bearings found in Abu's would hold up to 20lb+ worth of drag. :o



Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Ken_D on January 05, 2013, 07:26:28 PM
Quote from: Keta on January 04, 2013, 07:22:01 PM
Double dog it.

If anybody's interested in obtaining the posts for the dogs, especially those that presently have only the IAR one way clutch, I'll dig up the info from my hard drive.... the posts run about 2.00 each, landed, and the dogs are about the same.  Posts come from a Swedish shop, and the dogs from any Abu dealer over here.

Folks that have brake plates with a dog already there,   just locate a LH reel with the dog, or the other way round if you are left handed.   New brake plates are about 20.00 a pop.  Or you can use a nut and bolt as a post.
Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: day0ne on January 06, 2013, 07:08:51 AM
Quote from: Fish-aholic on January 04, 2013, 04:40:01 PM
To those who have tested and reached 20lb+ of drag on a spring scale with their Abu's; how come the IAR bearing held up to 20lb+ of drag without being damaged - or at least give and slip?


The reels they were testing probably had dogs not IAR's. I usually try to set my Abu's up with both (mix and match parts), CT or aluminum frames and anything else I can think of


 


Title: Re: Max. practical drag on 6500c3/4
Post by: Dr. Jekyll - AKA MeL B on January 07, 2013, 02:09:43 PM
Quote from: Fish-aholic on January 05, 2013, 12:08:16 AM
Thanks for the update and links, Keta!

I'm shocked that such little AR bearings found in Abu's would hold up to 20lb+ worth of drag. :o

maybe because  it's an INA made bearing ??? ??? ???