Replacement bearings for a old Abu Garcia Ambassador 5

[Torres]

9 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Ambassadeurs are touchy about tilt. 

With sufficient side play and too much tilt, both sides of the spool can run into other internal parts - pinion gear on the R/S, and idler gear on the L. 

Even my fancy surf reels with no idler (or spur) gear will "grind" the spool bearing against the bronze "bullet" if tilted too far to the left. 

That would make sense. Other than the obvious sound, any recommendations on how to avoid avoid that if at all possible?

[bulldog1935]

@Torres

Never had it occur during a cast, only when fumbling with a reel, e.g., unloaded spool, or at least the reel off the rod, and free-spinning the spool. 

If you think about it, it's really difficult to twist your wrist far enough either way during a cast to make it happen. 

 

 

[Mak sf]

On 3/28/2021 at 3:58 PM, bulldog1935 said:

The Ambassadeur Five became the Five Star.  

Here are the schematics available online.  

The 87 versions of the Five has spool spindle fixed in the spool, and bearings in the end plate caps.  

The 89 versions and all the Five Star versions have Ultracast spool, with separate spindle, and bearings in the spool.  

Something else about the round Abu's, the spool drives the LW mechanism during the cast, and truly slicking them requires ball bearing swaps to the idler gear and worm shaft (the custom BB parts are also lightened).  IMO, the ultracast reels can be worth spending money on custom parts to make them slick.  

 

But it would have to be something you really want to do, because a new low profile baitcaster has complete free-spool with LW disengaged during cast, and will work a lot better than you are currently getting on the Abu - a new low profile baitcaster would be less money than customizing an Abu,

 

The one place round Abu has serious cast advantage are the Non-LW surf reels, such as my custom C3-CTs

I rebuilt these with everything slick, everything light, mag (+centrifugal) brakes, and shallow spools for braid, and this was a big dollar project - kept me busy much of last year.  

 

 

 

hi Bulldog 1935,

I'm curious about the 6500CT with the shallow spool. What do you spool it up with and what type of fishing are you using it for.??

....beautiful reel.

tganks

Mark

[bulldog1935]

Hi Mark,

It has 300 yds 35-lb X-braid (PE#1.5) plus 30-lb Gold leader. 

I use the 6500CT on long rod for spider weights. 

 

I use my 5500CT with 200-yds on 8' RH Composites for lures, 1/4 to 1 oz. 

Sometimes just to get to use it, will fish it inshore. 

 

[Mak sf]

Thank you Bullgog1935,

wow! I didn’t know the shallow spools held that much line.