Saying goodbye to an old friend - dead reel

[MN Fisher]

My old faithful Ambassadeur 500R is dead. This past year I'd noticed it getting harder to crank and just thought that a good cleaning/re-grease would fix it.

 

It didn't. So, using a copy of the blow-apart diagram I found online, I took it apart.

 

Pitted bearing...le sigh. I wasn't going to go to all the trouble to find replacements for a reel that old - despite there being several good sites that I probably COULD find new bearings on. So I gathered what was left of my Christmas money (from my parents) - after placing a couple orders earlier in the day - and was able to scrape enough together for a Pfleuger President 6.3:1 (the 500R was a 5.3:1) and another Aird-X rod in M/F.

 

This was based on online reviews from multiple sources as the best under $60 reel out there.

 

Now they're on their way - should have them in 7-10 days.

 

I don't know whether to hang the 500R up as a tribute or what. It was a good reel and gave me almost 20 years of service.

[volzfan59]

You could put it back together (as best you can) and put it on a shelf as a display. I have my father's old Mitchell 300, my father-in-law's old Penn and an old Zebco 202 on a display shelf with some antique lures. Our tv room is full of antique fishing stuff, signs, etc and old albums in frames. It's nice to look at that stuff and remember trips with my dad and father in law. You'll be able to look at your reel and remember 20 years worth of trips with friends and family, fish caught, old lures, etc.

 

You'll love the Pfleuger! Great reel

[MN Fisher]

Just now, volzfan59 said:

You could put it back together (as best you can) and put it on a shelf as a display.

I already have pieced it back together. It works, but turning the handle takes quite a bit of force, not like the Fuego CT I just got.

 

I think I will put it up...just wished I'd saved a couple of my other reels. My first 'real' reel was a Mitchell 320.

[dodgeguy]

My condolences !!!

[deadadrift89]

Retire it to a shelf of honor

[MN Fisher]

32 minutes ago, stratoliner92 said:

Retire it to a shelf of honor

My question is - what do I do with the matched Garcia 500 series rod that it was on. 5'6" M/M.

[deadadrift89]

12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

My question is - what do I do with the matched Garcia 500 series rod that it was on. 5'6" M/M.

I know what you mean. I've got a corner in one room with several old rods just sitting, maybe do the complete wall hanger deal 

Sign of your choice next to it?

[Bankbeater]

I like to retire reels before they break for good. Currently I have two spinning reels, four baitcasters, and two spin cast reels. 

[MN Fisher]

2 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

I like to retire reels before they break for good. Currently I have two spinning reels, four baitcasters, and two spin cast reels. 

Like I said, I had to scrape up the money for a replacement. Replacing reels that still work isn't an option for me. I'm on a fixed income and don't have lots of spare cash sitting around. At just under $100 for both the President reel and Avid-X rod, that was my limit, and I was lucky to be able to replace the Ambassadeur. Otherwise I wouldn't have a good spinner/jerk/crank rod and would have to 'make do' with one of my others.

[the reel ess]

I feel ya. I had to retire this classic a couple years ago. I got it for Christmas in 1983-ish. I was 13 and it was my first baitcaster, which I bought because I saw my idol, Bill Dance, using it on TV. I played hookie from school that winter to learn how to cast it before spring came around. It worked pretty well for 30 plus years. I did wear out a couple levelwind pawls that Daiwa shipped free of charge, even though the reel was 30 yrs old. The gears eventually fell apart so bad that it couldn't be put back together.

 

[kenmitch]

On 1/11/2019 at 6:37 PM, MN Fisher said:

I don't know whether to hang the 500R up as a tribute or what. It was a good reel and gave me almost 20 years of service.

Just put it aside, stare at it from time to time, and enjoy the memories it gives you. Once you can't bear the thought of not using it order the bearing(s) and revive it. 

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, kenmitch said:

Just put it aside, stare at it from time to time, and enjoy the memories it gives you. Once you can't bear the thought of not using it order the bearing(s) and revive it. 

Given that it's a single-bearing system and only a 5.3:1 gear ratio, I think I'll just retire it permanently and go with the Pfleuger President I ordered as the replacement. At 6.4:1 that'll work better as my crank/jerk/spinner/chatter reel than the Ambassadeur did.

[the reel ess]

The President is a good choice. 

[Sam]

On ‎1‎/‎11‎/‎2019 at 10:26 PM, volzfan59 said:

You could put it back together (as best you can) and put it on a shelf as a display. I have my father's old Mitchell 300, my father-in-law's old Penn and an old Zebco 202 on a display shelf with some antique lures. Our tv room is full of antique fishing stuff, signs, etc and old albums in frames. It's nice to look at that stuff and remember trips with my dad and father in law. You'll be able to look at your reel and remember 20 years worth of trips with friends and family, fish caught, old lures, etc.

 

You'll love the Pfleuger! Great reel

X2 on the Pfleuger based on what I have heard.

 

And I agree, keep the old reel on a shelf for display.

 

Let us know how you like your new reels.