My Abu 4500CS

[tincanary]

I built this guy for float and drift fishing salmon and steelhead here in the Great Lakes.  I took it from two to seven ball bearings, removed the brake blocks, and added Smooth Drag washers.  I'm hoping to get centerpin performance for much less money.  This is probably my favorite reel in my arsenal.



A video of the free spool action.

[Sharkb8]

That looks smooth for a level wind,good job

[Crow]

Nice job !

[Donnyboat]

Nice work Warren, well done, now catch some fish with it, cheers Don.

[steelfish]

nice job buddy..

video was great, now we need a picture of a fish caught with that reel

[Darin Crofton]

wow, that's some serious level-wind free spool, great job!

[Swami805]

I have a older 4500 somewhere. Inspiring. Love to see what you did to get there. Nice work!

[mo65]

Great work!

[bhale1]

Very impressive! Good job on that one
Brett

[tincanary]

I have a older 4500 somewhere. Inspiring. Love to see what you did to get there. Nice work!

This reel is from about 1994 going by the foot stamping (0400).  I really love the 4500CS reels but Abu doesn't seem to make them very often, and if they do it's in small runs.  I buy them any chance I get.  This one uses the fixed axle like most other Ambassadeurs from the late 80s until present.

[tristan]

Perhaps a tutorial on how to upgrade to bearings is in order?   

[Gobi King]

Nice, yeah teach us how to swap in more bearings

I stayed in Warren when I went to fish walleye off the wall.
I am all the way west from ya on 96 in GR.