Here's a true classic that can really benefit from a few modern upgrades. With better drags and a larger handle these old warriors needn't rust away in the garage anymore. Just a few simple improvements make them fish fantastic, and at a much lower price than you'd think. What I did to this reel cost only about $20!
When I took this reel apart I was surprised to see the insides were pretty clean...I guess since it's been retired and in storage for years. Usually these things have several greases packed inside from servicings over the years.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1843/30458083458_eea4987e76_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptD4Y)
The original drags are a phenolic base washer and a leather washer inside the gear. I replaced these with a carbontex set from Smooth Drag.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1875/29388951577_f0b6e017a8_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LM14pF)
These click plates are notorious for the plating flaking off and can be severe enough at times to make the drag rough. This one isn't too bad...but I'm going to sand and polish it anyway.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/30458082588_2ff15d1f09_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptCNY)
It should perform smooth as silk now.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1853/29388950317_7aa05d1d03_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LM142X)
Setting the drive shaft, AR dog, and base drag washer into position. The base washer got a coat of Cal's, the ratchet teeth got Penn blue, and the dog post got CorrosionX HD.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1895/30458081958_d66811254e_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptCC7)
The main gear's teeth got Penn blue while the inside drag washer got Cal's. One big "squish" and most of that Cal's will end up with the Penn grease, but they must mix well, as I've never had any problem with them not playing well together.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1865/29388949377_ff7149cc23_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LM13KK)
Top off the stack with the click plate, spring washer, drive shaft bearing, shims and spacers. A dab of grease on the pinion/yoke and oiling the clutch mechanisms leaves it ready to button up.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1890/30458080828_c235917e20_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptChC)
Now here's the original handle. Note how tiny it is...I have to turn it with my finger tips. This isn't a huge problem for bass and trout but for catfishing I'd prefer a better grip.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1891/30458079968_004758b061_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptC2N)
This replacement handle gives me something to hang onto. The blade was a bit too thick...I had to remove a little behind the mounting hole to catch a few more threads. Possibly my drive shaft's threads were worn, but these replacement handles are thicker than stock handles.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1855/29388948007_97a434b516_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LM13m8)
Sa-weet! Properly lubed and set up I think these old C models are as smooth as my modern 200 bearing Ambassadeurs.(hee hee...seems like they have that many bearings these days!) 8)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1851/30458079078_43d4e88888_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NptBLs)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1861/29388946807_490185c6e6_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/LM12Zr)
Great work, Mike! 5000 was my dad's favorite cat reel; I still have them. I put one of those handles on a 5600CB and love the power.
John
Me & round reels ::) don't see eye-to-eye ;D, but that's one nice rehab, Mike! :)
nice Job Mo, nice resurrection right there.
I have the bigger brother of that reel a 6600C, it feels really sturdy and real good shape after all these years but looks like a perfect candidate for a custom paint job (maybe later)
these are pics when I just got it, right now its already serviced and with new drag washers.
Mike,
Tell us more about the handle please.
Quote from: Gobi King on August 28, 2018, 11:00:26 PM
Mike,
Tell us more about the handle please.
Here's a thread that discusses these handles. 8)
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=25864.0
Nice job Mike!.......................Joe
Great info! I have a 5000C that is pretty much my "go to" baitcaster at the River, and I will be back at Lake Mohave in about 60 days so I am thinking I should tear into it and give it a once over!
Great little all-metal reels and so easy to work on. If only they had a more substantial drag! Best I could do was removing the drag clicker and filling in the space with a slightly larger drag disk.
Nice work Mo - that's a tidy looking 5000C, the older frames were made from pretty solid chromed brass. Just wondering about the main gear - I thought all the ABU main gears were brass on the older round reels, the gear on your reel looks to be silver in the photos??? If it's steel, can I have it please!! ::) ;D ;D
Mike
Quote from: nelz on August 29, 2018, 01:16:01 PM
Great little all-metal reels and so easy to work on. If only they had a more substantial drag! Best I could do was removing the drag clicker and filling in the space with a slightly larger drag disk.
The later models have a 3-stack drag, maybe you could modify this model to the later more powerful set up. I guess the way I look at it, using mono, I'm fishing 20lb. line(which is about as heavy as anyone would put on this reel), and the correct drag setting for that line should be 5-8lbs. If you were going to use a stronger braid more drag power might come in handy. 8)
Quote from: mhc on August 29, 2018, 01:55:29 PM
I thought all the ABU main gears were brass on the older round reels, the gear on your reel looks to be silver in the photos???
Yep...the gear is silver...but it's not steel. It's some kind of aluminum alloy. Although I doubt it's as strong as a bronze gear...it has to be the smoothest cranking Ambassadeur in my stable. 8)
Quote from: mo65 on August 29, 2018, 02:21:22 PM
Quote from: nelz on August 29, 2018, 01:16:01 PM
Great little all-metal reels and so easy to work on. If only they had a more substantial drag! Best I could do was removing the drag clicker and filling in the space with a slightly larger drag disk.
The later models have a 3-stack drag, maybe you could modify this model to the later more powerful set up. I guess the way I look at it, using mono, I'm fishing 20lb. line(which is about as heavy as anyone would put on this reel), and the correct drag setting for that line should be 5-8lbs. If you were going to use a stronger braid more drag power might come in handy. 8)
Yeah but they're not built with the same robustness (plastic parts inside). I've moved on anyway, sold all my Abu's for faster more powerful baitcasters.
Btw, I think that gear is indeed steel, just hold a magnet to it and see. I haven't seen any 5000c's with alloy, but your's does look like it could be though. Hmmm ???
Quote from: nelz on August 29, 2018, 09:29:00 PM
Yeah but they're not built with the same robustness (plastic parts inside). I've moved on anyway, sold all my Abu's for faster more powerful baitcasters.
Btw, I think that gear is indeed steel, just hold a magnet to it and see. I haven't seen any 5000c's with alloy, but your's does look like it could be though. Hmmm ???
When I said "later" models I meant a later 5000c...like the one in this schematic:
https://www.reelschematic.com/wp-content/uploads/schematics/Abu%20Garcia/Round%20Baitcast/5000/AMBASSADEUR%205000C%20BLACK(01-07).pdf
After looking at all the schematics for the 5000C I may have to get one of the later 3-stack models myself. Also, that main gear is definitely aluminum. The only thing steel on it is that drag clicker spring in the center.
Very interesting, didn't know they made the 5000C with aluminum gears too. Guess I've only encountered the older releases. Anyway, that schematic shows the parts I was referring to. Part #22808 and 20664 being plastic.
I thought that was an early 1970's model until the subject of the main gear came up. What's the serial number on the foot Mike? Thanks for showing.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on August 30, 2018, 10:46:51 AM
I thought that was an early 1970's model until the subject of the main gear came up. What's the serial number on the foot Mike? Thanks for showing.
-steve
I believe it is early '70s Steve...731002...isn't that October of '73?
Wow. Twin brothers separated at birth. Bought new in 1973 after someone swiped my red 5000 out of the car. Now I'm going to have to open it to make sure that gear is brass. Sorry about the crappy photos.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/5000c%20(7).jpg)
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/5000c%20(5).jpg)
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/5000c%20(16).jpg)
-steve
Twins indeed! It even appears to have the same green mono on it. No wait...I remember you saying you used braid on your reels. You'll have to clean the gear to see what material it is...the grease is camouflaging the gear. I'd go ahead and give it the once over while it's apart. Mine sat around in a drawer so long I forgot what a great fishing reel these little guys are. I ordered some new line for mine, kind of excited about taking it to the river. 8)
I'm embarrassed that I've had this gear in my hand at least a dozen times and never noticed what it is made of. It's strongly magnetic.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/5000Cgear3.jpg)
The weight is 9.1 grams with about 1.27 cubic centimeters of volume so the density is about 7.12 grams/cubic centimeters.
(http://www.raingarden.us/snap/5000Cgear2.jpg)
Knowing that it's corrosion resistant, magnetic and the density, I though it would be easy to figure out exactly what the alloy is. Not so. There may be too many possibilities.
-steve
That's interesting Steve, like I said earlier, I thought they were all brass mains in the older round ABUs. The main magnetic metals are iron/steel, nickel and cobalt but they are all heavier than 7.2 g/cm3. Steel is around 7.8 - 8.0 and nickel and cobalt are both around 8.9 - given the complexity of the shape, your observations are in the ball park for some type of steel.....I think. ???
Mike, you've raised a couple of questions for me with this thread - the main gear and the tiny handle knobs. To me at least they looked out of place on the beveled side plates , they look more like the earlier handles, see photos below of an old 2000 and a 5600C with beveled plates. I just assumed it was a mismatch until Steve posted the photo of the twin reel with the same handles - it seems I was wrong yet again. :)
Mike
The handles on all those transitional reels with the white plastic spacers are similar or identical to handles on the early red 5000. When the black 5000C came out the knobs became pearl color instead of ivory color. A red counterbalance handle with paddle shaped knob became an available option pretty early; I think before they switched from four-screw to three-screw. They were calling it a power handle until they came out with the longer blade with fat knobs.
I get nervous talking about ABU because the history is confusing, but also very well documented. There's a lot of stuff to remember.
-steve
Well kick the dog and spit in the fire...that magnet hanging on the side of the gear has me perplexed. Granted, I never tested my gear for material type, but it just plain looked aluminum. My gear has that shiny white/silver look of aluminum...where Steve's has some spotting that makes it appear more like this steel gear pictured from an earlier 5000. It is easily identified as steel...it looks like steel. I have a hard time believing Steve and I have different gears...everything else on the reels is identical. Is that some kind of plating that has come off his more than mine? I hope someone can shed more light on this. Thanks for posting Steve. 8)
Just do the magnet test Mo!
Quote from: nelz on August 31, 2018, 03:56:34 PM
Just do the magnet test Mo!
My reel is all buttoned up man! I stuck a magnet on the side plate...but it fell off. ;)
Here's the reason I didn't want to take my reel back apart, my gold Stren came in the mail this morning! Check it out John(Thorhammer), your favorite classic mono. Now I'm really stoked to fish this reel. I think in a week or so I'm going over to my brothers place and get in some time on the river. 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDWnNU0zr0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDWnNU0zr0)
Sweeet little reels, and all you need for fresh water. The exploratory surgery can wait! ;D
Mike: You look as purdy in cutoffs as I do! ;) ;D ;D Nice reel bro.
Joe
The 5001 is the same reel with LH wind (I think), but have been told it was made with stronger internal parts. Any truth to that?
Frank
Quote from: mo65 on August 31, 2018, 07:45:28 PM
Here's the reason I didn't want to take my reel back apart, my gold Stren came in the mail this morning! Check it out John(Thorhammer), your favorite classic mono. Now I'm really stoked to fish this reel. I think in a week or so I'm going over to my brothers place and get in some time on the river. 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDWnNU0zr0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIDWnNU0zr0)
AWESOME