Abu Garcia 6600C, Restore It?

[jason41987]

so in another thread i mentioned this reel i got at an auction for $4.. its an abu garcia ambassadeur 6600C, on the foot it looks like one of the letters is missing but it looks like (7_0200).. does anyone know what year these particular reels were made ,and whether or not i should rebuild it?.. it feels a little rough, so it could use new bearings.. a little scuffed so i was thinking of polishing up some of the parts, maybe even re-annodize the size plates.. also, it would appear theres no instant anti-reverse.. im wondering if it would be possible to upgrade it to that feature?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Yes indeed restore it .many upgrades i dont have links now but the abu possee will chime in shortly ..btw you stole that reel yeeeehaww

[jason41987]

well ive completely torn this reel down and i have completely cleaned every nook and cranny from the 40 year old grease.. the gears all look to be in pristine condition, main gear looks to be stainless steel or something, a magnet will actually stick to it.. .. im going to finish assembling it tomorrow with some fresh grease and oil.. replace the bearings in the very near future, and look into options for refinishing the side plates... 

 

any idea on whether this can be converted to instant anti-reverse or not?

[Maxximus Redneckus]

No the iar is built into the newer models side plate .there may be a extra dog you can put into it if it has a post for it.but unlikely.it will serve you well as a catfish reel or a swimabait reel if you dont mind 11.oz

[jason41987]

anyone know a list of mods that could be good for this reel?

[frogflogger]

In my worthless opinion instant anti reverse is over rated.

[jason41987]

omg.. i finally got this stupid tortion spring for the pawl back in.. my god was that a nightmare i dont want to have over again.. anyway, im trying to figure out where this one spring goes.. it looks like.. its very fine, maybe inch and a half long.. i believe it belongs to the brake plate somewhere?.. also, i did come across one piece that needs to be replaced.. the drag washer, looks like some sort of a felt material.. anyway, its too badly torn up and will need to be replaced.. do i need an original part here or would a felt washer do?

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Upgrade the drag to Carbontex. I may have a kit in stock if you want to email me the model details. AS for the spring I think that's for the Bait clicker. You'll have to fiddle with it. I can put it in but couldn't begin to explain it here. If you don't have one, get online and find a Schematic for any reel before opening it.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Never heard of a spring in the pawl

[jason41987]

sorry, the sprig i had a pain in the ass getting in i found listed as the "pinion yoke spring".. its pinned in and that pin is held in with a e-clip

 

now, the one i drew above doesnt go to the bait clicker, it looks slimilar but the one for the bait clicker has sort of a hook on it, and i had no problem getting that one installed and the bait clicker works fine

 

the spring i cant seem to figure out where it goes i found shown in a brake plate spring mod kit.. i think its the skinny little spring next to the e-clips that i cant find a home for.. ill look into getting a new drag kit, and maybe even these springs to replace the old ones in there now (one is a bit stretched so it wont hurt to replace them anyway)

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

http://www.abugarcia.com/sites/default/files/schematics/6600C%2081-08-00.PDF part This shows the spring and its general location but orientation and installation will be trial and error.

[jason41987]

anyone have a photo showing that spring installed in the reel?.. the tail end on mine looks shorter than normal, wonder if its broken?.. anyway, heres what i need to get.. i need to get a new drag washer, new brake plate spring kit (one of mine is a bit stretched), new bearings.. and someone said a carbontex drag upgrade?

 

 also, im having a hard time finding specs to this rifle.. max drag, spool capacity, gear ratio..and what does this thing use for a brake?

[jason41987]

would it be possible for me to install an extra post for a second dog?.. and would this reduce the distance the reel could travel in reverse?.. because there really isnt much travel now, a second dog would be pretty d**n close to IAR.. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Don't over think the AR. As long as the pawl and ratchet are clean, lubed and adjusted correctly they work fine. Most folks take the brake shoes right off those old Ambassaduers. Confirm the bearing and drag washer sizes and I'll check my stock if you'd like. I've never seen those springs become weakened but if you find them cheap enough no harm in changing.

[jason41987]

im not too worried about instant anti-reverse, last year was the first time i had a reel that actually had it.. it seems to me like the IAR would be hard to fix if it ever broken where the dog itself is easily replaced.. so it may lend itself to a longer lived reel

 

a bit off-topic but not really, i have a 5600WS.. which judging from the schemstics is identicle to the 5600C4, however the WS has the wiffle spool like the record.. so while im on the idea of upgrading reels i may take my 5600WS, buy a couple more parts and upgrade it to a record which apparently id need to add three more bearings.. was even thinking of adding a bait clicker...

 

i guess the more i take these reels apart and play with them, the more i like them.. im becoming a huge ambassadeur fan and fast.. i wish i could find a similar workhorse of a reel in a low profile configuration as a companion to these ambassadeurs

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Yourcorrect about iar easier/cheaper to replace the dog then a new side cover .in reality iar is over hyped .i only see a need for it when using jigs and t rigged worms ..imo

[jason41987]

would i need to completely re-annodize the side plates to fix the scuffed parts or can this be touched up?

[oldschoolbasser]

Here's a picture of the brake plate. You can see where that wire piece goes. That piece where the wire fits in must be pushed in before you can get the side plate back on. Also,that wire has to be completely under the side plate. It it can be a little tricky because the tension on the wire wwhen you out the side plate on causes the part to come out. I use a thin screwdriver to push the part back in before the side plate goes on. Carbontex drag kit #079 is what you need to replace the drag,and base washer. The bearings are 3x10x4. You can add a dual bearing cog wheel,and worm gear if you want to upgrade those parts. Make sure the cog wheel upgrade if for the 5152 cog wheel.Newer cog wheels have a lip on top that causes it to bind when you put the cog wheel screw back on. There shouls also be a bent wire that goes on the right side of the frame that returns the thumb bar to it's up position after you depress the thumb bar. New side plates might be available,I'd have to check on that for you if you want me to. You stole that reel at what you paid for it!

[oldschoolbasser]

Here's the spring wire position on the left side of the frame. BTW the pawl doesn't have a spring!

[jason41987]

so the purpose of the spring is a return spring for the thumb bar.. k, makes sense.. and interesting to know i can add more bearings.. two for the cog wheel, an extra one for the worm gear.. a 5-bearing reel when finished?

 

anyway.. not sure if the spring is in right or not but i see no other way to get it in that does its job of returning the thumb bar without interfering with other interior components..so whatever, doesnt seem like its very important if thats all it does because evidently the reel functions perfectly fine without it

[jason41987]

question, is it possible for me to strip these side plates down to bare metal, strip off the annodizing and do a completely custom refinishing job?.. maybe even a powder coated design?

[oldschoolbasser]

Jason, I know a guy who powder coated his side plates. But what would that cost compared to just buying new side plates? I asked my friend about side plates for your reel, but he doesn't have any with the holes for the clicker. BTW, you can put 13 bearings on your reel, I have 3 reels with that many. A new set of side plates will run you about $55

[jason41987]

how would you put 13 bearings in a 6600C from 1977?.. and for that matter for comparison, how many could i get in a modern 5600c4?

[oldschoolbasser]

my mistake,I meant 12 bearings. 2 worm gear,2 cog wheel,2 spool, 2 drive shaft, 4 handle, that's 12. My buddy in Australia makes a bearing supported drive shaft, and the other drive shaft bearing replaces the black plastic bushing. A C4 has 4 bearings, not too hard to add 8 more. BTW counting the bearings in the knobs is something every company does.

[jason41987]

kind of off topic here but this has got me thinking.. does anyone make a sub $100 low profile baitcaster that is as much of a workhorse, has the kind of aftermarket support or community backing that the ambassadeur seems to have?