I picked up an assortment of Abu Ambassadeur reels. I am going to rig these up for Grandma for jigging and trolling. I picked these as they are light and it will be easy for Grandma to handle.
1. I want to put on a power handle on these, which handles fit these? I remember seeing a daiwa being a fit but I can't seem to find the thread.
2. Drag - what do I need to order drag kits from smooth? serial #?
3. Lower ratio gears - where can I find lower ratio gears for them?
I plan to load them up with 30 lb sufix braid
You can find them at the big auction site. I would recommend using one built for an Ambassadeur and nothing more because the gears and gear sleeves are somewhat delicate. I've landed some big fish but have always sweated gear damage.
Mike
Here's a place to start studying: http://www.amb01.com/01custom.html
I think there a very many different variations of the drag system and some are interchangeable. I think most people who hot-rod Ambassadeurs do so to increase casting distance.
Mike
Quote from: PacRat on January 08, 2018, 05:48:22 PM
Here's a place to start studying: http://www.amb01.com/01custom.html
I think there a very many different variations of the drag system and some are interchangeable. I think most people who hot-rod Ambassadeurs do so to increase casting distance.
Mike
Thanks for the link, Mike, it's a very helpful page.
Quote from: PacRat on January 08, 2018, 05:06:05 PM
You can find them at the big auction site. I would recommend using one built for an Ambassadeur and nothing more because the gears and gear sleeves are somewhat delicate. I've landed some big fish but have always sweated gear damage.
Mike
Thanks for the link, good info, I am going through it right now.
Nothing really big , she is not able to handle anything more than few lbs of drag by herself, gearing down will make is it a light cranking machine for her and give her the confidence to reel em in.
Got a few handles and ABU parts here and there, GK.
Here are a few loose handles -- some are longer, about half are NOS.
The one in the front is a little larger, lightweight, and also new.
If any of these could be of help to your Mom, I'll send it out at N/C.
Best,
Fred
Quote from: foakes on January 08, 2018, 09:31:52 PM
Got a few handles and ABU parts here and there, GK.
Here are a few loose handles -- some are longer, about half are NOS.
The one in the front is a little larger, lightweight, and also new.
If any of these could be of help to your Mom, I'll send it out at N/C.
Best,
Fred
Fred,
Sure,
That is most generous of you.
Yes the one in front will be perfect, could you throw in a couple of the bigger ones behind it also please.
I will pm you contact info,
Thanks!
Did a quick inventory today. I went ahead and ordered cf drag off ebay and found out today that those drags only fit the round C, C3 and so on and NOT the S, SX, STX models.
# Model Drag Line Cap CF Drag Weight RB Switch Handle Line
1 5000 ? 205/12 skip 10 ? skip skip
2 6000 ? 14/245 ordered 10 ? skip tdb
3 4600-C3 15 170/10 Ordered 9 ? Yes 30 Braid
4 5501-S 11 230/14 need order 10 ? skip 30 Braid
5 6501-C3 15 320/12 ordered 10 ? skip 30 Braid
6 6601-SX 12.5 17/255 need order 11 Y Yes 30 Braid
7 6601-SX 12.5 17/255 need order 11 Y Yes 30 Braid
I did not know the SXs takes a different CF drag than the Cs.
1. Lower ratio gears, is this still doable? I could not find any online source for the gears.
2. How do I find out if any of the above have roller bearings?
3. I plan to oil the bearings (tsi 321), switch out the drag, anything else I should address while I have them open?
I have customized many of those reels.
Dawn at Smooth Drag has drag upgrades for many of them. It will include new metal washers and Carbontex washers.
The metal washers are ground flat and the top washer is full size of the drag washer. It replaces the top metal washer the has the hump in the center that only contacts half of the top drag washer. That's a lot of "washer".
Keith
Quote from: handi2 on January 24, 2018, 11:25:22 PM
I have customized many of those reels.
Dawn at Smooth Drag has drag upgrades for many of them. It will include new metal washers and Carbontex washers.
The metal washers are ground flat and the top washer is full size of the drag washer. It replaces the top metal washer the has the hump in the center that only contacts half of the top drag washer. That's a lot of "washer".
Keith
Keith,
Howdy,
Gotcha, I will get the full set from Dawn with the washers.
How about the low ratio gears, do they still make em?
On a side note:
We came down to check out the hotel for spring break trip in Navarre ;D.
I spent some time at half hitch and ate at shrimp basket.
Some Abu porn :D
I didn't know you were here. You should have stopped by.
Check out Jerry Foran online. He has anything needed to do whatever you want to those reels. I have a few myself, probably a couple of dozen, that im collecting. I have a bunch of 5000 sized reels.
Keith
Quote from: handi2 on January 25, 2018, 12:43:43 AM
I didn't know you were here. You should have stopped by.
Check out Jerry Foran online. He has anything needed to do whatever you want to those reels. I have a few myself, probably a couple of dozen, that im collecting. I have a bunch of 5000 sized reels.
Keith
Yes Sir will do, this trip was a wash as Grandma was not feeling well. Definitely this spring, we will be down 4/4 to 4/6.
I checked out Jerry Foran's website, that is a lot of abu stuff, but he did not have any lower ratio gears (pinion and main gear).
What kinda drag should I expect out of these with the cf drag and washer change?
awesome reels I love my round abu garcia reels, I alway change the paddle handle to a power handle and install carbontex drag washers.
on my 6500c3 I switched the stock handle for a power handle for calcutta/corvalus reels "BNT3444 Handle Assembly", its not a direct fit, you have to file some mm each side to fit on the abu shaft.
your mom might like the size 7000 more practical, have good size, its not heavy as it looks, its stronger and already with power handle, I let my wife to use it from the shore everytime, althoug a 5000 and 6500 size can handle anything that you can catch from the shore here
@Fred, that is a beautiful handle you got there amigo, awesome move to send it, not a surprise coming from you.
One of my 5601 C4 reels has a low speed gear set from either a C3 or C4 tank, they are 3. something to 1. All mine have AR dogs and AR bearings.
How about her using one of the 2 speed Ambassaduer reels? They have a large handle and the lower gear. I think I have a couple of them.
Keith
How about a Newell reel? Lightweight, big handle, and many gear options. All the ones I have are 5 to 1 or higher.
The 3.8:1 gears were in the 'Winch' models. Part numbers are main gear #24973, pinion gear #24972. This is for RH drive reels (eg 6500) only, I am not sure if they made the Winch in a lefty. Getting a hold of these gears will be your next problem, start with Abu, then any big service centre you can find I guess. Good luck!
Andrew
Edit: LH drive reels (eg 6501) use main gear #24975, pinion gear #24974.
Quote from: handi2 on January 25, 2018, 11:03:23 PM
How about her using one of the 2 speed Ambassaduer reels? They have a large handle and the lower gear. I think I have a couple of them.
Keith
How about a Newell reel? Lightweight, big handle, and many gear options. All the ones I have are 5 to 1 or higher.
I did not know ABU made 2 speeds,
I looked em up, nice but litte $$$ :-(.
Also, 3.8:1 is a good ratio, I am going to have grandma do a dry run at home with a Okuma Solterra. I am going to put a little line in so she has more CCP (Cold Cranking Power :-))
On the topic of large handles, I ordered some from Tuna Tom and they are not that "large". I was hoping they would be little bit longer.
The power handle will still be a good upgrade she wears gloves most of the time in walleye/coho season.
Yeah, I have no experience with the other reels you mentioned,
Let's how my CCP test goes
After trying out the reels I am afraid the Abu's are not the best option for grandma.
I compared Okuma SLR, Okuma Low 350 and Abu.
The Okumas as effortless to reel in heavy mock load (back pack with some water bottles).
Here is what I compared with some test line.
The Okuma SLR (SLX) was the winner hands down, this is an older model with just 1 TB, the newer ones have 2 TBs.
The weight difference will not be factor as I help support the rod for her and the girls.