Hot Rod My Ambassadeur

[Zackopi]

Update: I ordered a stainless steel Abec 7 upgrade kit from DadsOleTackle as well as a four slot pinion gear and 6 pin centrifugal brake upgrade.  I wanted to go with the hybrid ceramic bearings, but thought I’d give the stainless a shot for a bit cheaper.  The bearing kit includes spool bearings, cogwheel bearing, and double bearing supported worm gear.

 

I ordered the brakes because I know I wont be able to cast this thing without backlash trouble otherwise.  I already had a birdsnest of doom yesterday when casting a jerkbait, so I’m sure with the upgrade I’ll want good brakes.  Plus with the six pin brake system you can turn individual brakes on and off, unlike the primitive two pin which is on the the reel now.  I didn’t grow up in the era of the educated thumb, so brakes it must be!

[Zackopi]

Here are distance results from my first upgrade:

 

So far I've installed abec seven spool bearings, abec seven single bearing supported levelwind cog, dual bearing supported levelwind, and I upgraded from two pin to six pin centrifugal brakes.  Here's the before and after results:

 

5500 C3 (stock)

1/4 oz. - 30 yards

1/2 oz. - 43 yards

1 oz.    - 54 yards

 

5500 C6 (upgraded)

1/4 oz. - 31 yards

1/2 oz. - 56 yards

1 oz.    - 64 yards

 

So with the bigger weights I added about 10 yards to casting distance.  

 

Casting 1/4 ounce showed no discernible difference.  I was getting about 25-28 yards on average both stock and upgraded.  Also, 1/4 oz. is difficult to cast full bore without backlashing, and even more so with the fancy bearings installed!  When casting 1/4 oz. after the upgrade I have to engage all six brake pins to keep from backlashing, and even then I need to use more thumb than I do with a modern low pro reel.  

 

The heavier weights cast quite comfortably with 2 brakes engaged, however, and after the upgrades I don't think I could get much further with my new casters.  

 

Now I'm wishing I had tested 3/8 oz. before and after the upgrades....  

 

My only regret is that I installed the single bearing supported cog rather than the dual bearing.  The single bearing cog spins no differently than the original cog.  I'm gonna order the dual bearing from Mike's reel repair, so in about 11 years once I receive the part I'll be able to tell you if it made a difference.     

 

[Zackopi]

Oh yeah.  I was using a 7 foot Kistler Magnesium cranking rod with 17lb mono.  

[Zackopi]

I wonder if a spool upgrade and a dual bearing supported cog would let me cast 1/4 oz better.  Probably lighter line than 17 lb would make some difference as well.  Has anybody here upgraded spools on Ambassadeur?  I haven’t seen one for sale online anywhere.

[Basswhippa]

I have a 5500CS Mag Elite that is stock.   I have taken a 1 ouce barrel sinker and 10 pound line and thrown it over 100 yards with a 7 ‘  Ricky Clunn Diawa cranking rod.  It is an enthusiast reel that people raved about 15 to 20 years ago on The Bass Fishing Home Page.   Gowge pushed it.

[Zackopi]

2 hours ago, Basswhippa said:

I have a 5500CS Mag Elite that is stock.   I have taken a 1 ouce barrel sinker and 10 pound line and thrown it over 100 yards with a 7 ‘  Ricky Clunn Diawa cranking rod.  It is an enthusiast reel that people raved about 15 to 20 years ago on The Bass Fishing Home Page.   Gowge pushed it.

Well then either I must stink at casting, or lighter line must make a huge difference, or that must be one slick reel you’re using, or some combination of those!  ??  I do know that with 17 lb mono the spool is getting way down there with 65 yard cast.  But I’m also nobody’s ace with baitcasters.  Were you using the fancy competition style of cast?  

[Basswhippa]

No, but some do. Light line.  Heavy aerodynamic sinker.  Highly adjustable reel.   It would not ever go past 60 yards in a typical bass fishing situation.   Google the reel.  It is a beautiful green color.  Mine has a line guard. Some don’t.

 

[Zackopi]

Update:  I’ve had several opportunities to fish the upgraded Abu C6 reel, and I’m happy with the results.  Ive used it for both medium and deep diving cranks, and it casts very well and comparable to my new reels, and with the upgraded 6 pin brakes I don’t have trouble with backlashing -at least with lures above 1/4 oz.  I can cast 1/4 oz., but I can’t bomb it without trouble.  

 

The only thing I don’t really like is the small sized spool release button which is off to the side and somewhat awkward.  And for the money I put into this reel I could have bought a new Citica (or Curado -one time I got a new Curado I for 99 bucks online).

 

So the value in this reel is as much novelty as anything else.  I’d probably only do an Ambassadeur upgrade again if it were specifically for a Muskie setup, where heavy duty is the name of the game.  That said I’m going to keep upgrading this reel just for giggles until it’s purely ridiculous.  Maybe I’ll paint or anodize it next.  Long South Dakota winters will drive a man to such excesses.  

[GeekOutdoors]

5 hours ago, Zackopi said:

Update:  I’ve had several opportunities to fish the upgraded Abu C6 reel, and I’m happy with the results.  Ive used it for both medium and deep diving cranks, and it casts very well and comparable to my new reels, and with the upgraded 6 pin brakes I don’t have trouble with backlashing -at least with lures above 1/4 oz.  I can cast 1/4 oz., but I can’t bomb it without trouble.  

 

The only thing I don’t really like is the small sized spool release button which is off to the side and somewhat awkward.  And for the money I put into this reel I could have bought a new Citica (or Curado -one time I got a new Curado I for 99 bucks online).

 

So the value in this reel is as much novelty anything anything else.  I’d probably only do an Ambassadeur upgrade again if it were specifically for a Muskie setup, where heavy duty is the name of the game.  That said I’m going to keep upgrading this reel just for giggles until it’s purely ridiculous.  Maybe I’ll paint or anodize it next.  Long South Dakota winters will drive a man to such excesses.  

If you don't mind i'll borrow the "long winter will Drive a Man to such excesses" line, love it !

[redmeansdistortion]

On 9/15/2018 at 7:17 PM, Maxximus Redneckus said:

True ...after a few months 130 150 yrds ..cause if you aint slinging  1 oz  on 12 lb line 130 plus yards your not getting the most out of your abu 

I have an old Black Max 4500 that I redid, not the whole 9 yards either, just two new OEM spool bearings, single bearing level wind, some lighter brake blocks (Abu part no. 20909), polished brake drum, Carbontex drag, and some choice lubricants.  I tied on a 5/8oz practice plug, loosened the spool tension until there was a wee bit of side play and let her rip.  My furthest cast was 53yd and it was able to cast consistently between 40 and 45 yards.  This was measured in the football field at the middle school behind my house.  The rod was a 7' M Cabela's Tourney Trail.

 

[Maxximus Redneckus]

9 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

I have an old Black Max 4500 that I redid, not the whole 9 yards either, just two new OEM spool bearings, single bearing level wind, some lighter brake blocks (Abu part no. 20909), polished brake drum, Carbontex drag, and some choice lubricants.  I tied on a 5/8oz practice plug, loosened the spool tension until there was a wee bit of side play and let her rip.  My furthest cast was 53yd and it was able to cast consistently between 40 and 45 yards.  This was measured in the football field at the middle school behind my house.  The rod was a 7' M Cabela's Tourney Trail.

 

Thats about right  for a 4000 size not bad ...great for precision  casting specific targets

[redmeansdistortion]

Just now, Maxximus Redneckus said:

Thats about right  for a 4000 size not bad ...great for precision  casting specific targets

The 4000 size is my favorite, such a good all-rounder for most species in my area.  I'm gonna use it to fish kings and Atlantics off the piers here in a couple more months.  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

2 minutes ago, redmeansdistortion said:

The 4000 size is my favorite, such a good all-rounder for most species in my area.  I'm gonna use it to fish kings and Atlantics off the piers here in a couple more months.  

Yessir i sold all of my 6000 sizes except 2 i have about 40 to 50 4000 sizes now i can do all i need with them around here anyhow