Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Ambassadeur Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: kevin cozens on January 05, 2024, 09:11:42 PM

Title: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: kevin cozens on January 05, 2024, 09:11:42 PM
i have a lovely No 6000 that i just purchased for £36 with three other reels.
The abu is a late 50's / early 60's model with no foot number and has a tiny round knob on the red handle.
Its a lovely little reel and runs like new with no unwanted clicks, groans or grinding noised.
What i want to know is how to free off the knob. i soaked in in wd40 overnight and it made no difference
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: ExcessiveAngler on January 06, 2024, 05:24:34 AM
I like PB blaster much better than WD-40, when it comes to unsticking, stuck parts!
Not sure if you have access to that or something similar, where you're located at.
Handle looks a little roughed up, the pliers didn't work out for you huh lol!
I have one of these oldies in 5000, think mine has a double white handle though.
Those white handles are prone to cracking too, which makes it even Harder to work on.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Midway Tommy on January 06, 2024, 05:28:53 AM
Soak it in hot water to free it up. Once it turns add some penetrating oil and keep turning it. A replacement handle should be an easy find, though.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Donnyboat on January 06, 2024, 02:05:30 PM
You have to be careful, not to damage the plastic handle, with some chemicals, I would try some liquid detergent, in a cap from a milk bottle, mix it with 1/3 tea spoon of bi carb soda, work it in around the handle, leave it for 15 minutes, than scrub it with a tooth brush and hot water, you may have do it two or 3 times, and dont than me, it was Mo 65, who first posted this on the forum, good luck cheers Don.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Walleye Guy on January 28, 2026, 05:33:35 PM
That particular handle with the bulb-shaped counterweight and single off-white knob is hard to find.  Do what you can to save it.  Acetone or similar chemicals will damage the plastic.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Swami805 on January 28, 2026, 07:06:36 PM
Sometimes the reel has been dropped and that shaft gets bent, doesn't take much to make it stick if that's the case
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Keta on January 28, 2026, 07:47:04 PM
If you can find it where you live Kroil works well too.

Soak it in warm water and try running hot water down the shaft to try flushing the crud out.  Blowing it out with compressed air might help too.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: jgp12000 on January 28, 2026, 11:25:27 PM
Tractor supply sells kroil now
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: Keta on January 29, 2026, 12:24:30 AM
Nice to know, we got a TS last year.
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: work2fish on January 29, 2026, 07:12:41 PM
Just for clarification, are you trying to remove the white knob from the handle, or just get the white knob to turn freely?
Title: Re: Handle knob seized on early ambasseaduer 6000
Post by: jgp12000 on January 29, 2026, 10:13:06 PM
I have put lucas reel oil on knobs before.I took the handle off propped it up against a box,let a few drops soak in from the top overnight then repeat on the other end of the knob let gravity do the work.