Another 2500C, from scratch

[tincanary]

This one is an IAR model with instant anti reverse.  I acquired a set of new old stock side plates and a pinion yoke and already had the spool cap and star wheel in the parts bin, the rest are parts from Avail and Valleyhill who make parts for these for the Japanese market.  This one uses a 7.5mm offset frame so it sits and palms like a low profile reel.  Other parts are a lightweight shallow spool, double bearing ported cog, double bearing worm, lightweight line guide, 6.1:1 gears, aluminum click wheel with integrated AR sleeve, lighter brake plate, an aluminum pushbutton clutch, and rounded out with a 70mm Haneda Craft handle.  She comes in at a whopping 7 ounces, nearly 2.5 ounces less than a stock 2500C.  I can't wait to fish it, shouldn't be long.  I'm planning on spooling 6lb Berkley x9 and taking to the trout streams plus a little bass and panfish in between.

[pointbob]

oooh...love the white handles. looks liek you should where white gloves to match when fishing 

[Donnyboat]

Sweet love it, thanks for posting, cheers Don.

[ReelClean]

Noice!

[mo65]

Great looking reel!

[ExcessiveAngler]

Ooooooohhhhh, very, very nice job!
Thought...!!! I knew a little bit about Abu Garcia, until I jumped on some of these forums a few years ago. I was quickly humbled and almost embarrassed, would be a better way to put it, at the lack of my knowledge!
I never really knew, just how many different models had been made through the years!
Those are very hard to come by and especially in that beautiful condition!
And I don't believe I've ever saw one with white handles either, very nice!
Can't believe some of the prices being commanded for these, on the bay of thieves!
I've seen quite a few videos of the trout guys using these 2500's for ultra light finesse fishing. They're flicking really ultralight lures back under the overhanging trees, quite easily with not a lot of effort!

EA

[DougK]

excellent, thank you..

many of the aftermarket handles look frankly ugly to me, but those white handles are a modern classic, very nice.

[handi2]

You build some really cool, nice, and pretty reels!!

I too like the the white knobs!

Keith

[tincanary]

Thanks everybody.  I really dig the white knobs, they set these old girls off really well.  Here is a link to the handle in case anybody else is interested, they come in 70mm and 80mm.  https://www.hedgehog-studio.co.jp/product/2467  They also come in duralumin which weighs about 3/8 oz less than the chromed brass, but I love that polished look and don't feel the weight problematic.

[Swami805]

That's a very nice reel, must be a blast to fish it
I have a 2500C that I got with a bunch of other abu's. I haven't cracked it open yet but it has back play in the handle like it has a AR dog. Did you add the IAR or is it stock?  Is it something I could add or does it require a different side plate?
Trying to resist going down another rabbit hole but it is a weakness I have

[tincanary]

That's a very nice reel, must be a blast to fish it
I have a 2500C that I got with a bunch of other abu's. I haven't cracked it open yet but it has back play in the handle like it has a AR dog. Did you add the IAR or is it stock?  Is it something I could add or does it require a different side plate?
Trying to resist going down another rabbit hole but it is a weakness I have

The 2500C IAR reels were made from 1994 to 2004 for the Japanese market.  In the US, they were sold as the 2500CI from 1994 to 1997, the only differences are the stamping on the palm side plate and the handle.  Furthermore, the CI was sold only at Kmart and Sports Authority as all Abu CI models whether a 2500CI or 6500CI were made for particular stores and not sold specifically by tackle shops.
 Functionally both reels are identical. The IAR came with an 80mm double round knob handle and the CI came with the shorter counterbalance handle that was common in Abus in past years.  All models made prior to 1994 use an AR dog.  If you were to add instant anti reverse, you would need a new crank side plate, driveshaft, and brake plate plus an AR sleeve, pair of Belleville washers, and a pair of shims.  The driveshaft stud on the IAR models is longer than that of the dogged reels to accommodate the anti reverse sleeve.  Everything else drops right in.

[Swami805]

Thanks sounds like it would be better to just get one with an IAR than retrofit this one. Nice little reel

[tincanary]

Thanks sounds like it would be better to just get one with an IAR than retrofit this one. Nice little reel

Yahoo Auctions out of Japan, many proxy services are available.  I've seen them anywhere from $200 to $300.  Expensive but prices on these have really shot up the last few years.  It's the one everybody fishing light line on baitcasters lusts after.

[Swami805]

I checked a bit on eBay, they get up there decent on the model and condition

[tincanary]

I checked a bit on eBay, they get up there decent on the model and condition

eBay reels can be hit or miss.  The Japanese sellers price them astronomically due to eBay seller fees.  You'll often see the exact same reel from the same seller on Yahoo Auctions priced a lot cheaper, this is because Yahoo charges a flat rate and not a percentage of the sale.