How hard is it to change drive gears?

[retiredbosn]

Called Abu Garcia today and asked about changing gears in one of the EXT's I have, (starting a good collection btw they are discontinued so if you want one get it now).  Anyway they sell the gears to change the ratio from 6:5 to 5:3, which is more comfortable for crankin.  

Is this changeover something an inept mechanically declined person can do?  Or should I send the reel in and have them do it? Or just buy the regular 5600EXT which already has the 5:3, but three less bearings?  I am assuming the bearing count is two for the handle and and extra for the antireverse, but have not confirmation of that yet.  Thoughts?

[Wayne P.]

Its not hard to change. Here is the parts breakdown for the EXT and EXT Pro. You just need to order the EXT gears and replace the EXT Pro gears. When you take off the handle, and star drag, and side plate, just keep the washers in the correct order to replace them. The pinion gear is easier.

I recommend that you get new drag washers too as you may damage the ones you have trying to remove them.

Both have the same anti-reverse bearing.

http://www.abugarcia.com/product_schematic.php?search=5600ext&id=&search_submit=Search+%3E%3E

[Micro]

Is this changeover something an inept mechanically declined person can do? Or should I send the reel in and have them do it? Or just buy the regular 5600EXT which already has the 5:3, but three less bearings? I am assuming the bearing count is two for the handle and and extra for the antireverse, but have not confirmation of that yet. Thoughts?

The bearing count is wrong on Abu's website. The 5600 EXT only has 2 fewer bearings than the EXT Pro, not 3 fewer. The bearing count on the 6500 EXT is correct. The bearing count on the 5600 EXT and the 6500 EXT is the same. The reason it's 2 fewer than the EXT Pro is because the Pro had bearings in the handles.

The EXT is a more complex reel than low profiles. What you do is remove the entire crankside assembly - handle and all. Once that's off, then you take the handle off, like Wayne said keeping the washers in the correct order. Once the handle is off you take the screws out that keep the outer and inner assembly sideplates together. Be careful, things tend to fall out when these two halves are separated. You MUST do this on a flat surface, with the inner sideplate DOWN. Once the halves are apart, it's a simple task of lifting the gear and drag stack off the shaft. The pinion is loosely held in by a retainer that slides off a couple of posts. Be careful, I can't emphasize enough that little pieces tend to fall out of nowhere when you take this particular reel apart. Then you replace the parts in reverse order with the new gear and pinion. Be careful that the thumbar pin is properly aligned in the hole on the innerside of the crank assembly. If you don't, it won't work.

The EXT is a good reel, but it is modelled in large part on the Morrum and it is a complex reel. I found it MUCH easier to disassemble my Revos. You must take your time with the EXT. You need to do it on a flat surface, preferably over something that can catch small parts.

If you've never really pulled a reel apart down to its smallest parts, I'd recommend sending it to Abu to do.  IMO, the EXT is not the reel to learn on.   I checked with them more than a year ago and they could install 5.3:1 gears and 4.7:1 gears in the EXT. I would not go with the regular EXT if only for the deep spool. I like the shallow ported spool on the Pro much better.

[retiredbosn]

Micro I knew you would know, you are the round reel guru!!!  lol,  After reading this I'm going to order the regular EXT in the 5:3 and put the handle of the EXT Pro on the regular EXT for crank baits, and use the regular handle on the Pro on the power rod.  Makes it a lot easier, thanks fellas.

[Stasher1]

I found this while searching for info on the EXT Pro.

http://www.realsreels.com/servicing/Ambassadeur5600EXT.pdf

[retiredbosn]

I would not go with the regular EXT if only for the deep spool.  I like the shallow ported spool on the Pro much better.

Ok Micro, can you swap spools like you can gears?  In other words can I get the ext regular and put a pro spool in?

[Micro]

I would not go with the regular EXT if only for the deep spool. I like the shallow ported spool on the Pro much better.

Ok Micro, can you swap spools like you can gears? In other words can I get the ext regular and put a pro spool in?

I think so. You might want to check with Abu, but I think its a simple swap.

I wish I had that .PDF Stasher posted when I serviced mine.  I thought it was a PITA.

[retiredbosn]

yeah that pdf is already saved to my drive, I think I'll be sending my stuff to a reelsmith.

[retiredbosn]

Micro,

one more quick question, I can switch the spools.  Here are my thoughts on this.  I have a Pro on a power pole for stipers, and the 5:3  on a crankin stick.  I'm thinking on just switching the spools between the two, that way I never have to worry about being spooled.  Will the higher capacity reel affect casting at all, if so how much, being my power jig pole the casting distance isn't as important but I don't want it affect to a large extent.  Thanks

[Micro]

The deep spool will effect casting, especially with light baits.  Line has weight and a spool heavy with line is hard to get moving.  

I don't like deep spools for bass fishing.  I can't cast all the line off any reel I own.  And the reels I've owned with deep spools (C4s and Revo Winch) never handled lighter baits to my satisfaction.  

I wouldn't even bother swapping spools.  I'd just put the EXT Pro on the cranking rod, and the regular EXT on the striper rod.   The Pro is just fine for crankbaits.  The regular EXT will be a bit more powerful and suited for bigger fish like striper.