Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Ambassadeur Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: pompano joe on May 07, 2014, 02:38:08 AM

Title: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: pompano joe on May 07, 2014, 02:38:08 AM
I don't want my Ambassadeur to engage the gear with handle movement.  Anybody got an idea on disabling and changing the thumb release so it can be lifted?
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Keta on May 07, 2014, 02:53:22 AM
Do you want it to engage when you take thumb pressure off of the thumb bar?
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Ken_D on May 07, 2014, 04:00:36 PM
Quote from: pompano joe on May 07, 2014, 02:38:08 AM
I don't want my Ambassadeur to engage the gear with handle movement.  Anybody got an idea on disabling and changing the thumb release so it can be lifted?

And how did you envision the reel _making_ crank, from cast? Which Abu do you have?

Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: pompano joe on May 07, 2014, 04:37:15 PM
I'm surf casting a modified 5500 C3 with a power knob that doesn't have a counter-balance.  Engages the gear unless I put the handle in a full-down position.  Obviously, sometimes I don't! 

I like the light weight of the Ambassadeurs for the type fishing we do here on the Gulf Coast, so I'm trying to make my 5000-6000 series reels manual...kind of like the eccentric lever on a Penn Senator, Daiwa Sealine, etc.  I've modified one already by removing the bottom of the clutch bar and the small spring from the clutch module.  Turning the handle no longer engages the gears.  I push the button down to cast, then pull it back up to engage.  It works...just a little awkward.  Wondering if anyone else has a better solution?

Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: ossipeter on May 07, 2014, 08:20:20 PM
Thanks for sharing! Nice reel!
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Ken_D on May 07, 2014, 10:08:16 PM
Edited. Post below from planetfishing solves all.
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Fish-aholic on May 07, 2014, 11:03:40 PM
Here's the remedy to your engaging troubles  ;)

http://www.planetseafishing.com/tutorials/read/top-notch
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Ron Jones on May 07, 2014, 11:09:01 PM
That is brilliant. I have seen that notch before and wondered what it was for.
Ron
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Ken_D on May 08, 2014, 07:22:07 AM
X2 brilliant... end of case. Perfect.
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: alantani on May 08, 2014, 04:02:33 PM
stickied!
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: pompano joe on May 09, 2014, 03:19:46 AM
Thanks guys!  I did the mod. on my 6500 Pro Rocket Black Edition tonight and it's perfect.  Note to self:  Ask first, cut later!!!  lol!

You guys are absolutely the best!
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: steelfish on September 06, 2016, 07:51:17 PM
Im doing this cuts tonight to my 6500c3 and 5500c

Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: mo65 on September 06, 2016, 07:58:46 PM
How about that? I've seen those slots cut also and wondered what was up...cool! 8)
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: fishhawk on June 29, 2017, 04:23:04 PM
Do you think it was the power handle that caused early engagement? I always thought ambassadeur's do this if you use heavy weights ( 3oz and up) I know my bigger ambassadeur's (7000-10000) all do this and I have the handle your describing on mine. Not quite ready to whack on my abu's!
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: nelz on June 30, 2017, 04:38:31 AM
So how do you re-engage?
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: oc1 on June 30, 2017, 06:38:58 AM
Pull the button back and crank the handle to engage.  This was a great hack.
-steve
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: fishhawk on July 15, 2017, 03:58:30 PM
Is there another fix? Not that I don't have a problem with cutting notches but a couple of my 'bassadeur's  7000's have double bars and I would think that you would have to cut both bars and they better be true. Right?????
Mark
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Cor on July 15, 2017, 04:20:49 PM
Quote from: pompano joe on May 07, 2014, 04:37:15 PM
..........  I've modified one already by removing the bottom of the clutch bar and the small spring from the clutch module.  Turning the handle no longer engages the gears.  I push the button down to cast, then pull it back up to engage.  It works...just a little awkward.  Wondering if anyone else has a better solution?

,
Ive done this to 3 of my Shimano's that I use for artificial lure angling so I make huge number of casts and retrieves.  I can't say it's awkward at all but what I have found is that on the reel i've used the most, is that there is some sort of play developing on the side of the "Clutch Bar" and because of the slight flex in it it is beginning to stick and not disengage easily.   
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: Fishit 2 on August 08, 2017, 03:17:20 PM
Quote from: fishhawk on July 15, 2017, 03:58:30 PM
Is there another fix? Not that I don't have a problem with cutting notches but a couple of my 'bassadeur's  7000's have double bars and I would think that you would have to cut both bars and they better be true. Right?????
Mark
No need to do this with the 7000's since you need to engage the crank more than one turn to activate the clutch. I do this mod with my Dremel in under 5 seconds - no need to use a hacksaw.
Title: Re: How to make gear engagement manual vs. automatic
Post by: fishhawk on August 08, 2017, 04:07:33 PM
Quote from: Fishit 2 on August 08, 2017, 03:17:20 PM
Quote from: fishhawk on July 15, 2017, 03:58:30 PM
Is there another fix? Not that I don't have a problem with cutting notches but a couple of my 'bassadeur's  7000's have double bars and I would think that you would have to cut both bars and they better be true. Right?????
Mark
No need to do this with the 7000's since you need to engage the crank more than one turn to activate the clutch. I do this mod with my Dremel in under 5 seconds - no need to use a hacksaw.

getting in gear is no problem, The reel staying in free spool is the problem. Kinda dangerous to sling a 1/4 lb of lead as hard as you can only to have it recoil back at you when reel prematurely engages.
Thanx
Mark