Dad bought it new on July 2, 1998 for $104.98 from the local Wal-Mart. He passed away four years later, and it's been sitting in the boat shed ever since.
How bad can it be, right? There's some boat rash, a bent handle, and 16 years of grime. Nothing an old Abu can't handle.
Full restoration to come.
Reel Seat # 050106
I's recently tryin to figure out the foot # on an older 5000 model. Many (subjective to Abu) variables to these numbers, but mine was pretty easy: yymm & new update, i.e., 1973, May, update #1 = 730501. Yours looks like a diffrent system.
Yeah, the final digit "6" might mean that it was made in 1996; but who knows.
It looks like the same cast frame as the silver max, black max and pro-max. Does anyone know how this differs from the "max" reels? I saw a great thread on another site detailing the differences between those reels, it's mostly paint and bearing count.
http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=360806
So I'm wondering if I can replace bushings with bearings, and wind up with a pro-max?
Edit: Upon further Googling, I think that the S series uses a different cast body, with a drawn palm-side plate, rather than the cast palm-side plate that the Max series uses. So they're definitely not the same.
My plan, then, will be to fully restore and hotrod this reel, and make it the best it can be.
The reel says "two stainless ball bearings" but so far I've only located one, on the handle side of the spool. Maybe the second is the roller ARB?
Dating ambassadeur reels. This might help.
http://www.realsreels.com/reels/ambassadeur/datingABUreels.html
seems like an excellent candidate for a full restoration with great personal value
its that a abu morrum ?
My son asked me tonight, "Tell me again why you've been working in that reel for three weeks now?"
So many possible answers!
I went with, "no, this is the third reel in three weeks."
Anyone know how to remove the thumb bar assembly from the frame for cleaning/servicing?
Or the level wind cover?
The same son and I cleaned up the reel tonight. It was in remarkably good condition for a 20 year old saltwater reel.
The only thing broken on it was the E-clip on the palm side of the level wind. I had a spare in my bucket, so I popped it on.
I can confirm there is no second ball bearing, just one on the spool, and the ARB. I'm simply amazed at how smooth it is with one ball bearing. Longer freespool times than anything else I own.
This might help to disassemble / reassemble the reel.
http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/content/purefishing/Abu%20Garcia/Schematics/S5600C%200501.PDF
There is tiny e-clip that holds thumb bar pin. If memory serves correctly it has to be removed to open thumb bar assembly. I do not have S5600C but BM 3600c and the structure is very much same.
To remove worm gear cover you need to open screw 21715.
GulfofBothnia's schamatic reference shows 2 b.bearings for the spool, same part #.
That's odd. Mine is definitely one bearing and one bushing.
I didn't remove the leveleind cover. It might be corroded in place, or something. But I don't think there's any reason to force the issue at this point. There's no surface corrosion, nothing to keep the levelwind from moving freely.
I'm going to leave it alone for now.