"Screaming" Ambassadeur

[Big-Bass]

One of my Abu Garcia round reels that hasn't seen much use lately was just spooled up and casted and it started to "scream" at me.

 

Here is what it sounded like:

 

Any ideas?  Thanks!

[Tywithay]

Is the brake race dry?

[grub_man]

First thing I would try is a drop of oil in each spool bearing.

 

Second thing, put a dab of oil on a Q-tip and run it around the centrifugal brake ring.

 

Third thing.  I don't think the level wind disengages with those reels, so make sure that the bushings at the ends of the worm gear and the worm great itself are properly lubricated.

 

After that, I'm at a loss.

[Steve1357]

Sounds to me like the worm gear and related components.

 

Take off the right side and remove the spool. Then take off the left side cover. The spool gear turns the idler gear when then turns the worm gear.

 

Like said above, sound like the worm gear is dry on either end, but put a little oil on the idler gear while you're there.

 

If the spool was rubbing the frame, it sounds different. But see if you're seeing paint rubbed off the edge of the spool while you have it apart.

[OkobojiEagle]

I'd check all of the above plus make sure the idler gear is seated properly... some use a C-clip others snap in place.  I'd lubricate the plastic gears with a grease rather than oil.

 

oe

[Big-Bass]

When I get home I might first try the brakes.  The older brown colored ones seem to fall right off the pins when I take the side plate off.  Could that simply be the issue?

[WRB]

Take the centrifical brakes out and try casting. That will eliminate the brakes as the cause if it's still making noise. 

The vintage 5000C is a simple reel to maintain, take off the spool end caps and put 1 drop of light reel oil on each spool shaft end, replace and adjust the caps. Put 1 drop of light oil on the worm gear. The reel should perform good with this simple oiling of parts moving during the cast. The drive gears are engaged during the retreive, disengaged during casting and shouldn't be the issue making noise during the cast. The level wind worm gear and pawl stays engaged all the time and could be the cause.

Tom

[rippin-lips]

I’m not familiar with the older Abu reels, but when a Daiwa makes that noise it ends up being the pinion shaft needs oiled. 

[anderb54]

Pretty sure that's the DC model ?

 

Sounds like your brakes are bad. As WRB has said, and DVT posted in another thread, just remove the brake blocks and keep on trucking.

[Big-Bass]

So just thumb it rather than replace the brake pads?  Thanks!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The non disengaging level wind adds a lot of moving parts on the cast. I'd start by looking for something misaligned or not seated properly in the spool or brake drum area then just retrace through the whole system until I found the culprit 

[Big-Bass]

22 minutes ago, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

The non disengaging level wind adds a lot of moving parts on the cast. I'd start by looking for something misaligned or not seated properly in the spool or brake drum area then just retrace through the whole system until I found the culprit 

Where are you located...how far from let's say Lake Wallenpaupack?  Thanks!

[FishDewd]

Whoa! That is a really crazy screechy sound, I wasn't expecting that! I'm not sure but it sound like a really worn bearing somewhere to me. If it were me I'd remove the level wind just to rule that out if nothing else.

[walleye62]

Hello did you ever figure out what it was that was making your reel screams like a banshy . I'd like to know I have a ambassador 5500 doing the same thing thank you .

[walleye62]

Yes I agree and thank you very much I've been looking for a good place to be a part of and get answers from fellow fisherman . Thanks again .

[bulldog1935]

Bad spool bearing or dirty LW bushing.  

The LW pawl could also be dirty and dragging on the worm gear.  

A couple of spool spur-gear thoughts

It could also be the end of the spur gear against the palm-plate brass bullet, but that would get quieter reducing the spool tension on the face plate knob.  

A loose spur gear would both rub the fixed spindle and have bad engagement with the idler gear.  

 

You came to the right place, there are at least a few Ambassadeur junkies on BR gear forum.  

 

I would spool the line somewhere, and take the LW down to clean and polish bushings and bushing races on the shafts.  Clean and oil everything.  Always a good time to replace or upgrade spool bearings.  

 

If you want to change the nature of your reel, there's a world of upgrades to spool and level-wind, both the Japanese, and Mike's Reel Repair in BC.  

Mike's offers complete LW kit with dual-BB wormshaft, and offers lighter LW-rider and zirconia pawl.  They sell separate BB idler gear options.  

You can race these reels as far as you want to go, including casting threadline and weights down to 3 g.  

It's worth noting Abu also likes these upgrades, offering them in bench Factory-Tuned limited edition reels in JDM ($490).