Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Ambassadeur Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: UKChris1 on July 22, 2025, 01:30:18 PM

Title: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on July 22, 2025, 01:30:18 PM
A friend acquired an Abu 10000C - non-level wind and asked me to give it a service. I've managed a variety of reels over the years, including a 7000C and my various 6500, but this one is driving me mad. It seemed to work when he got it, but judging by the black paint on the sideplates has probably has had a hard life.

Cracked it open and found it was full of dried grease, looking like varnish in some places or packed coffee grinds in others. Parts that ought to slide against one another were dry and the spool bearings were solid!

OK, take out all the parts, clean off the dried grease, free and re-oil the bearings and re-assemble with new lubricant. Spool spins nicely in freespool (well, that's something doen right), the automatic engagement works but not smoothly, winding is not as smooth as expected suggesting something is not aligned right, and the anti-reverse doesn't always engage. Finally, when I tighten the handle nut, the reel won't wind!

I've taken it apart and re-assembled several times, can't see anything really out of place according to the schematic, no parts missing or left over, but it ain't working right.

Any ideas folks?

Thanks, Chris
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: oc1 on July 22, 2025, 06:05:17 PM
Bent frame?
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: Swami805 on July 22, 2025, 06:17:10 PM
X2 on a bent frame
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: DougK on July 22, 2025, 10:10:14 PM
had one of those, remember it being very tricky because of that automatic gear shifting.. lots of tinkering with the drag stack that includes the transfer gear..
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on July 23, 2025, 12:50:26 PM
Thanks all. Frame is OK - spool spins well in freespool.

I think it must be to do with the drag and gear stack. I thought I'd put it back in the order it came out, but grrr... so many itty bits.

I'll try again tomorrow, or maybe the next day!
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on July 23, 2025, 04:04:31 PM
Loosen the handle nut slightly and see if it still won't wind.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on July 25, 2025, 04:39:41 PM
Winds ok-ish when the nut is loosened, but of course the handle is then wonky.

My plan is the take is completely apart and remove all the nice new grease (!) and replace it with thin oil before re-assembly to see if this is some weird mojo effect  >:D

But not till I've sorted a couple of other reels that ought to be easy (TLD20 and 4/0 Senator).
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: Gfish on July 26, 2025, 02:59:23 AM
Maybe try'n isolate the issue(s) by testing each part individually as you rebuild it. If possible, leave each suspect part out as you rebuild it and test the reel's function or partial function.
Some reels I've had never go back together right on the first try. They're my "ladies" and they demand lot's of reassembly attention and perfection.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on July 27, 2025, 09:24:23 AM
I think you are right there Gfish, got to go one step at a time and this one seems to want pandering to.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on August 25, 2025, 09:29:38 AM
Well, one problem sorted and the automatic re-engement now works as it should. Just a couple more things to sort... like the disengaging anti-reverse and the auto-two-speed not doing its stuff.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: Donnyboat on August 25, 2025, 01:19:04 PM
dont have any grease on the anti reverse, as it will restrict it from pivoting, some times you have to wind the handle back a little to get the 2 speed to work, good luck, cheers Don.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on August 26, 2025, 10:10:53 AM
Thank you Donnyboat! It's a funny little thing that seems to work till I put the sideplate back, then it stops after a few goes. I'll ensure it is clean and try again. The 'backwind a bit' is going to get tried too.

I may tear down my own 9000C, which works fine, to compare the arrangement of bits in the gearing of this reel just in case...
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on September 15, 2025, 01:40:43 PM
Sorted - hooray  :D

Took it apart yet again and discovered the various drag washers were not exactly according to the schematic diagram; I'd reassembled as I'd found it - big mistake to assume whoever last took it apart knew how to put it back together again  >:( .

That now meant it would wind properly and the automatic re-engagement worked, but fixing the anti-reverse was trickier to understand, yet easy to do once I twigged how it ought to operate. Simply, the fins on the little wiggly thing needed squeezing together so they grip the toothed wheel and had no option but to engage the anti-reverse dog as the wheel tried to turn backwards.

Hope my mate appreciates it  ;)
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: JasonGotaProblem on September 15, 2025, 01:44:06 PM
I'm sure more than anything, he appreciates that you probably don't charge hourly.
Title: Re: 10000C driving me mad
Post by: UKChris1 on September 15, 2025, 01:46:46 PM
Haha - indeed.
Just a nice cold beer the next time we go fishing somewhere sunny  :d