Ambassadeur Pro Max 3600

[tholmes]

Hey all you reel experts! Can anyone tell me the specs (retrieve ratio etc.) on this old baitcaster? I picked one up at a yard sale over the weekend for $5.00. After a clean 'n' lube, it works like a charm. I also got a gallon-size Zip-Loc full of soft plastics for $2.00 and a bunch of crankbaits for a dollar each. A pretty good day.

Thanks in advance!

Tom

[The Rooster]

Did a search on the reel and found an article with the following information in it about the Pro Max 3600. I just copied and pasted a few facts about the reel, but the link to the full article is at the bottom of this post.......seems to me this reel is 17 years old in design, the article was dated 1992 and it was about the introduction of this reel as a new model.

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Pro Max 3600 holds 180 yards of 12-pound test line

The Pro Max reel is made with an aluminum alloy spool that revolves inside its metal frame.

All its parts are metal, which ABU Garcia contends is superior to the plastic and graphite that make up the internal parts of some reels.

The Pro Max reel is made with eight ball bearings, which make the spool run smoothly and freely, and add support and stability to the reel.

The reel also comes with a new way to bring in the fishing line. Other bait-casting reels draw in the line from side to side across the spool with successive cranks of a handle. The Pro Max reel lays down the line in a broad "X" pattern, which the company refers to as its Triple Cross gear system. A Strong Alloy

The technique keeps the line from "digging into itself" as it is brought in, and then catching or snagging during the next cast.

The reel's line guide, which directs the fishing line into its crosshatch pattern, is made of titanium.

Guy Eaker of Cherryville, N.C., a professional fisherman who is testing the reel on behalf of ABU Garcia, said that the reel was versatile and nearly indestructible. "It means that you can use it for the rest of your life," he said.

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Here's the link I found it at, check it out for the full article.  There was no mention of gear ratio but that's easy enough to figure out by marking the spool with a piece of tape and then count the revolutions while turning the handle one complete time.  Being an ABU, I'd guess it's ratio at 5.3:1 or 6.3:1.  Somewhere in there.

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/19/news/a-big-reel-for-those-big-fish.html

[dave]

I owned a few of its little brothers, the Black Max. I liked them. For $5, you made out great. The Black Max was $99 new back in the 90's. I think the Pro was about $120 or so.

[cart7t]

Great reel.  Very smooth.  You could turn that reel around for a nice little profit on Ebay if you felt like it.   

[retiredbosn]

Go to www.abugarcia.com they have all the schematics and specs there.  Good luck

[BobP]

Assuming your ProMax is a round reel and has the original gears, they are 5.3:1 You got a steal! I've bought ProMax's on Ebay and they go for 10X what you paid. They are superb reels with a lifetime warranty and Abu Garcia still stocks parts for them. The original cost was $169, in the late 60's-early 70's. Put Rocket Fuel in the spool bearings, install 2 black or 1 white brake block, loosen the cast control until the spool has a tiny bit of sideplay (i.e., all the way off) and it will cast lures or pitch jigs all day with nary an overrun. I have a bunch of new reels but the ProMax still casts better and fishes like a dream. You can change the gears to 6:1. I switch the handles on mine out for handles from a C3/4600. The bearings under the paddles on the ProMax tend to rust and bind. The simpler C3 handles are a good color match and work better, for a $5 investment. BTW, the spool bearings are 3x10x4 mm, same size as a Curado 200.

BTW, the real 'little brother' of a 3600 is the ProMax 1600. Same reel, just 1/2" narrower. I'd call the Black Max 'poor brother' : Casts as well as the ProMax but not quite as smooth with fewer bearings. But its black finish holds up better than the flaky stuff they put on the Promax!

[tholmes]

Thanks for all the info, guys! I knew I could count on y'all for some help.

You know, I think I'll keep this one. It's easily the best baitcaaster I own, way better than most of the antiques I'm using now!

Tom

[SWMIBASSER]

Assuming your ProMax is a round reel and has the original gears, they are 5.3:1 You got a steal! I've bought ProMax's on Ebay and they go for 10X what you paid. They are superb reels with a lifetime warranty and Abu Garcia still stocks parts for them. The original cost was $169, in the late 60's-early 70's. Put Rocket Fuel in the spool bearings, install 2 black or 1 white brake block, loosen the cast control until the spool has a tiny bit of sideplay (i.e., all the way off) and it will cast lures or pitch jigs all day with nary an overrun. I have a bunch of new reels but the ProMax still casts better and fishes like a dream. You can change the gears to 6:1. I switch the handles on mine out for handles from a C3/4600. The bearings under the paddles on the ProMax tend to rust and bind. The simpler C3 handles are a good color match and work better, for a $5 investment. BTW, the spool bearings are 3x10x4 mm, same size as a Curado 200.

BTW, the real 'little brother' of a 3600 is the ProMax 1600. Same reel, just 1/2" narrower. I'd call the Black Max 'poor brother' : Casts as well as the ProMax but not quite as smooth with fewer bearings. But its black finish holds up better than the flaky stuff they put on the Promax!

They are great reels for sure. My father has a couple. He used them for Musky fishing so they are plenty durable. They came out in the early 90's.....They were as good as it got back then.

Like most old school Abu's they will last forever. Literally.

[wickyman]

I have an old abu maxx.  Not the best reel I have ever owned, but I paid 25 bucks 2 years ago...  So you got a deal there...    I don't like the fact that I don't have instant anti reverse...  But, for back then, abu was on the ball...

[The Rooster]

There may be some upgrades you could do to add instant anti reverse, or even get smoother bearings.

[Rangerjoe]

The Pro-Max, Black Max, Silver Max and Tournament Pro 1600, 3600 and 5600 series had instant anti-Reverse. Most of the Pro-Max and Black Max were 5:3-1, but there was some produced with a "C" that were 6:3-1. The 6:3-1 gears may still be available from Pure Fishing, I changed a Pro-Max and 4 Black Max's to 6:3-1 a couple of years ago. I never owned a Silver Max, but the Tournament Pro's were 6:3-1. IMO these were some of the best reels Abu ever made, much better then the plastic reel that carry the names today.

[SWMIBASSER]

These are great reels. I wish they still made them. I'm working on a 3600 now.

I'm curious WHAT it is. The body/frame everything is the same as the Pro Max. It has one bearing and one bushing in the spool however. The name has been scratched off the top of it. On the side it has 6BB 5bb +1rb

Anyone know what this reel is.

Of course I'm going to have to tinker with it. I want to add a bearing to the spool, maybe upgrade both, add carbon washers, supertune it, and a Mike's carbon handle. I might try to find a 4 or 6 pin centrifugal brake too...Maybe the newer 6 pin from the 4600's will fit.

[Boogey Man]

These are great reels. I wish they still made them. I'm working on a 3600 now.

I'm curious WHAT it is. The body/frame everything is the same as the Pro Max. It has one bearing and one bushing in the spool however. The name has been scratched off the top of it. On the side it has 6BB 5bb +1rb

Anyone know what this reel is.

Of course I'm going to have to tinker with it. I want to add a bearing to the spool, maybe upgrade both, add carbon washers, supertune it, and a Mike's carbon handle. I might try to find a 4 or 6 pin centrifugal brake too...Maybe the newer 6 pin from the 4600's will fit.

What color is it? In the mid to late  90's they made several variations, Pro Max, Tournament (this was the one that had the fishing seen engraved on the palming side), Tournament Pro (this one was green), Silver Max, Black Max.

[SWMIBASSER]

These are great reels. I wish they still made them. I'm working on a 3600 now.

I'm curious WHAT it is. The body/frame everything is the same as the Pro Max. It has one bearing and one bushing in the spool however. The name has been scratched off the top of it. On the side it has 6BB 5bb +1rb

Anyone know what this reel is.

Of course I'm going to have to tinker with it. I want to add a bearing to the spool, maybe upgrade both, add carbon washers, supertune it, and a Mike's carbon handle. I might try to find a 4 or 6 pin centrifugal brake too...Maybe the newer 6 pin from the 4600's will fit.

What color is it? In the mid to late 90's they made several variations, Pro Max, Tournament (this was the one that had the fishing seen engraved on the palming side), Tournament Pro (this one was green), Silver Max, Black Max.

It's silver, all aluminum. Like the Pro max. But it only has one spool bearing. It has one bushing in place of the other spool bearing.

Still has two bearings on the level wind system, one pinion gear bearing, one bearing on the spool, and one roller bearing

[Boogey Man]

I'd have to dig out my old Bass Pro shops catalogs, but it sounds like a reel Abu made when they made the Pro Max, I want to say Silver Max. They had the Pro Max, then down to Silver Max, then Black Max.

[SWMIBASSER]

How many bearings did the pro max have? This one does have two in the spool. I was mistaken.

So 5 ball bearings and one roller bearing.

[Boogey Man]

How many bearings did the pro max have? This one does have two in the spool. I was mistaken.

So 5 ball bearings and one roller bearing.

From a Bass Pro catalog from 1994 the Pro Max has 8 bearings and has a 5.3:1 gear ratio. I found a 1996

Cabelas catalog, it has a Silver Max which has 6 bearings and a 6.3:1 gear ratio. In the same catalog  they also sold an "S "series, it had 3 bearings, 6.3:1 gear ratio. This one had a black cast control knob and black handle grips. If yours is the six bearing, I'd guess it to be the Silver Max. It was priced at $116 in the Cabelas catalog.

[unutt]

I looked and looked for a reel to replace my old 1600s but never found one, so I just bought every one I could find for a few years.  They are nearly indestructible, and easy to fix if you do manage to tear it up.  6.3:1 gears are available (part numbers 22222 and 22221).  Black and pro max’s are basically the same except blacks have bushings in the brake plate, worm drive, and handle grips where pro’s have bearings.  If I plan to use a black max, I replace the worm drive bushings with bearings (3x7x3) and the bushing in the brake plate with a bearing (number I cannot remember off hand).  I replace the black brake blocks with blue ones.  Change the gears to 6.3:1, get rid of the axle retainer in the cast control knob, and replace the plastic bearing retainer in the spool with a metal bushing (3x5x1.5 mm).  I also measure the gap between the outer end of the drive shaft and the e-clip and make a shim to eliminate any slop.  I also replace the awful handle ( I use Gator grip gg-1 but never see them for sale any more).  I also back cut the teeth on the wheel that releases the clutch (0201 versions came with that mod).  I also replace the anti reverse bearing with the shorter version that came in the later 0201 models.  I have tried numerous other mods (reduced the spool weight, installed a bearing at the bottom of the drive shaft, and numerous others) but the mods I listed are those that made a difference.  I prefer to have zero pressure on the spool.  To adjust the cast control knob, I back it off until the spool can be moved back and forth on the axle, then tighten it until it still moves but only just.  I can sling a 1/4 oz. crankbait with minimal effort.