I have a few Abus...been fishin 'em goin on 45 years...love 'em to death and now, with your help, I'm going to bring 'em back to life! Thank you so much!
Great tutorial! I own a lot of Ambassadeurs most sit in my display but some I still fish and fish them hard! Glad that you pointed out that you use Cals Drag Grease for anything that needs grease. Been using Cals Grease since the late 90's and still use it to this day. I haven't done a reel service in awhile your video helped refresh my memory. Abu for life...thanks for posting!
Mark H, this is one of the best reel maintenance videos I’ve seen! Well done. Helped me figure out what’s going on with my 5501 C3. Thanks for the help.
Just notice you said "helped me" not "help me". Thats great. Most problems show up from a lack of maintenance. How long have you had a channel? Are you trying to grow it? I know it's a struggle for me. I believe most of my problem is a lack of content. Happy New Year!
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 , I've had my 5501's and 6501's for several years, but have never really opened them up, but have kept them very clean. We were out fishing this week, and it was very cold, and my 5501 was squealing when I would cast. I figured the grease was cold and wasn't functioning. Your video helped me clean out the reel but more importantly how to lube and put it back together the right way. However, during the assembly, I noticed one if the plastic brake blocks was broken and had to order some replacements. I believe I had a few parts installed incorrectly, as I had to do everything you did in the 5500 in reverse, but I think I have it right now, but will wait for the parts before completing the install. For my channel, it started a few years ago and got to about 200 subs at the beginning of the year. However, this year, I've had several fishing, camping and mushroom hunting adventures and have increased my subscribers to almost 700. Hoping to keep growing, but editing video takes time, and I'd rather be out having fun than editing video. Thanks again for your help.
Really cool way of explaining in detail I've torn these reels apart for many years with no direction in the beginning I only wish I had someone like you back then to show me the way to do it correctly. Thanks for taking the time to put a video like this out there because it will help many people to avoid the mistakes I made when I was alot younger. Lost alot of parts fumbling my way through it but eventually figured it out lol. Keep up the good work n thanks again.
New to this even though I use them religiously in fresh and salt water. I have a 4600C3 that has a rattle in it. Now I know what to look for when I take it apart. Wish me luck. Thanks for your video it has enlightened me alot.
Yeah, those little clips not only fly across the room...there is also a ripple in the space time continuum that opens up creating a small black hole that transports it to another dimension, another time.... another place....somewhere else.
Love servicing my faithful C-3's and C-4. Always enjoy and learn from videos, including yours. However? Do all these Ambassadors have the little black plastic alignment washer on the shaft under the tensioner knob and if not when do they not? Is there a groove on the shaft for that washer to snap into. Are some reels designed differently? Also I didn't see the cog dawg (copper/metal) that is on a post and clips into the big tooth gear below the main gear. Did some models not have that?
Sorry but I cannot answer all the questions, but I know where you can find the answers. I have a Facebook Page you can join. "Abu Garcia Maintenance and Repair". The group has nearly 3K members that have all the answers. When you ask to join YOU MUST 1) ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND 2) AGREE TO THE RULES. You will be automaticity approved. If you don't you will not get access. Here is the link facebook.com/groups/280402990101017/ If you can't get in shot me another message on UA-cam.
NOT ON FACEBOOK. WHAT'S THE STORY ON THE IRREGULAR BLACK PLASTIC WASHER (THAT BREAKS EASILY) IN THE BOTTOM OF SPOOL TENSIONER CAP CENTERING THE SPOOL SHAFT. PLEASE REPLY.
@@barclaysauers255 Not sure what you mean by "what's the story". If you mean they are a pain to deal with and break on a regular basis, I feel your pain and don't have a solution. Wish I could give you a better answer.
Hello new subscriber here. I have a old 5500 C3 2 speed reel that I tried to clean. i must have done something wrong. This video will be very helpful when I take it apart again. I do have a question about the 2 speed knob.... How does it work? when the reel was working I didn't see anything different. can you help?
I do not have any experience with the two speed reels. What I do have is a Facebook group that is called ABU Garcia Maintenance and Repair. I am the administrator. It has over 2000 members and those people are loaded with information on these reels. When you ask to join you MUST answer all the questions and agree to the rules to be approved. Once approved ask your question on that group and I guarantee you somebody can help you. If you have any issues being approved reach back out and I’ll make sure you get in.
About that anti-reverse bearing, they're not all that difficult to press out, using a vice or clamp with a pair of suitable size sockets. The usual reason for them failing - using grease on them. Much better to use a thin, hi pressure oil like transmission fluid or power steering fluid - regularly and sparingly.
I need to know the difference between the 5500C and the 5500C round side plate in respect to dealing with the bearings. The bearings are in the side plate on the 5500C and in the spool on the 5500C with the rounded side plate? My reel is circa 1974. What are the differences, please?
It sounds like you answered your own question so far as the differences. I assume you have a reel with the bearings in the side plate and you are looking at the "C3" video. I have a video specifically for the 5500c that you speak of. Check it out on my channel. Here is the link. ua-cam.com/video/g8W4OfHt02A/v-deo.html "ABU Garcia 5500C Service Maintenance Complete Tear Down" Thanks for watching.
Hey thanks for the comment. Never owned a 1500 or 2500. I use to do a ton of work on reels but never recorded anything. I do have a trashed 3500 missing parts and thought about rebuilding it. Maybe sometine in the future. I'm trying to build a channel so if you know anyone that might be interested in the content olease share. Thanks again.
Putting an oil at the brake ring@liner will make the brake go erratic sooner or later. Oil ( will change to gunk after doing its job) will contaminate the brake ring and make the brake not doing it's job efficiently. You can feel it when the sound of the brake not 'purrring' anymore and the line flow out in jerking manner. I always bring a cotton bud to clean the brake liner when the line flow out in jerking manner. Over the time it will contaminated even if you do not put an oil onto it. And i never put an oil onto brake liner. But it's ok to put an oil if you clean that part on regular basis
I would agree that if you don't clean your real on a regular basis it will gunk up. For me fishing in salt water it also acts as a protectant against the elements. Thanks for the comment.
Mark, I saltwater fish inshore with several 6500 C4 Trophy Series reels. On the C4 the two spool bearings and the bearing in the end of the shaft that moves the pawl back and forth. I want to try 2 ceramic bearings on the spool. Should I order ceramic bearings with red rubber shields or ceramic bearings with stainless shields? Will the change to ceramic make a major improvement on spool during casting ? What about the worm drive bearing? Ceramic or not? Thanks for the great video. Ben in Macon, Ga.
Thanks for the comment on the video. So that's a great question. Unfortunately, I have never used ceramic bearings. So far as the shields I would go stainless for strength and stability. My first question is are you having performance problems? If the answer is yes, then my thought would be are the bearings in the reel clean and properly lubricated? Not sure if you’ve seen any of my other videos but I NEVER put grease on a bearing, or the worm drive, or the pawl, or the cog. Or anything that moves when I cast. Only oil. Some people beg to differ. But if you are concerned about casting distance then oil is your friend. The down side of that is you have to oil the reels on a regular basis. I did a video on bearings. You can access the condition once they are clean.
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 hey thanks for the quick reply. The original spool bearings are good to go only lubed with a drop of bearing oil. Reel casts well , I just want to try ceramics on one ABU 6500 to see what I get . I have several T3600C Tournament series ABU reels also. The ceramic may help these small spool reels even more .
At 14:42 you put the “cap back on”. Inside the cap has that plastic bracket with 3 points. Do those points point towards the reel or towards the handle? Mine popped out when i removed the spool tension cap on my pr 6500 black edition and I don’t know which way it goes.
I’m not sure if you’re still using this channel but I need some help with my brand new ambassador 6500 cs: I put on 30lbs braided line, then I went to adjust the tension but the free fall didn’t happen: what could I be doing wrong?
Yeah, I’m still here I just haven’t done much posting. I’m a little baffled by your statement. The only thing that I could imagine stopping it would be either too much spool tension. Maybe you have a bad bearing or maybe the worm drive is faulty. Maybe there is some leftover debris from the factory. When you say brand new, do you mean 100% fresh out of the box?
Excellent video! At 12 minutes you say snap and release 3 times. Mine does, but when I put the gears back on and the two screws to put back together, the mechanism doesn't kick the push button back out...I've tried everything. Any ideas? Many thanks
@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 yes it's unlocked when reassembled. Are the two little metal ears on spool supposed to fit into slots on bottom of pinion gear? When I put it back together and tighten screws down the spool has hard time catching and lever wont release? I wonder if I need a new pinion gear or position holder that has the spring? Nothing looks broken though...the pinion has a little play in it....what part would you try? Many thanks!!
Really difficult to diagnose without having my hands on it. I would suggest taking everything apart and reassemble. Sometimes things can get a little off without showing signs until you try to operate it. Wish I could do more. If you want and you have facetime, we could do a live chat. You can reach me at 757-297-6084.
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 i fixed the anti reverse, but now the tighter i tighten the drag the reel gets harder to crank, what would you suggest is the problem? thank you
@@joereid8557 So exactly which reel do you have? I never experienced that problem. You may have installed something incorrectly. I would suggest taking it back apart and inspect everything and reassemble.
@@joereid8557 You can get schematics for most reels at the link below that way you know you have everything correct. www.abugarcia.com/pages/abugarcia-reel-schematics
On my reel the button thing that you push before casting is loose and moves up and down. I thought it was missing a spring but I didn't see one one this video. Would you have an idea what's wrong? It works fine, it just flaps up and down.
I have a few Abus...been fishin 'em goin on 45 years...love 'em to death and now, with your help, I'm going to bring 'em back to life! Thank you so much!
Great tutorial! I own a lot of Ambassadeurs most sit in my display but some I still fish and fish them hard! Glad that you pointed out that you use Cals Drag Grease for anything that needs grease. Been using Cals Grease since the late 90's and still use it to this day. I haven't done a reel service in awhile your video helped refresh my memory. Abu for life...thanks for posting!
Hey, thanks for the comment. I’ve been fishing with these reels for 25 years. Love them.
Mark H, this is one of the best reel maintenance videos I’ve seen! Well done. Helped me figure out what’s going on with my 5501 C3. Thanks for the help.
What's going on with the real? I'd love to help if I can.
Just notice you said "helped me" not "help me". Thats great. Most problems show up from a lack of maintenance. How long have you had a channel? Are you trying to grow it? I know it's a struggle for me. I believe most of my problem is a lack of content. Happy New Year!
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 , I've had my 5501's and 6501's for several years, but have never really opened them up, but have kept them very clean. We were out fishing this week, and it was very cold, and my 5501 was squealing when I would cast. I figured the grease was cold and wasn't functioning.
Your video helped me clean out the reel but more importantly how to lube and put it back together the right way. However, during the assembly, I noticed one if the plastic brake blocks was broken and had to order some replacements.
I believe I had a few parts installed incorrectly, as I had to do everything you did in the 5500 in reverse, but I think I have it right now, but will wait for the parts before completing the install.
For my channel, it started a few years ago and got to about 200 subs at the beginning of the year. However, this year, I've had several fishing, camping and mushroom hunting adventures and have increased my subscribers to almost 700. Hoping to keep growing, but editing video takes time, and I'd rather be out having fun than editing video.
Thanks again for your help.
Really cool way of explaining in detail I've torn these reels apart for many years with no direction in the beginning I only wish I had someone like you back then to show me the way to do it correctly. Thanks for taking the time to put a video like this out there because it will help many people to avoid the mistakes I made when I was alot younger. Lost alot of parts fumbling my way through it but eventually figured it out lol. Keep up the good work n thanks again.
Thanks for the comment. Fish On! Not to be confused with Fist On!
Thank you sir. I have two 6000's and two 5500 C3's that are needing this badly, now I have the confidence to do this myself.
Thank you! One of the best instructional videos I've seen (for any subject). Concise and to the point. Good job man!
Thanks for the comment!
New to this even though I use them religiously in fresh and salt water. I have a 4600C3 that has a rattle in it. Now I know what to look for when I take it apart. Wish me luck. Thanks for your video it has enlightened me alot.
Let me know how it goes. Thanks for the comment.
Best demonstration on Ambassador that I have seen. Thanks.
Hey thanks for the comment.
Great video very informative , excellent how to discription ,thank you sir
Thanks for the comment.
Good vid! My c3 is due a service so might try myself now. Thanks 👍🏻.
Really well demonstrated!
Hey, thanks for the comment
Yeah, those little clips not only fly across the room...there is also a ripple in the space time continuum that opens up creating a small black hole that transports it to another dimension, another time.... another place....somewhere else.
Lots of parts. Thanks😊
Thank you excellent video
Good video, helped alot with figuring out why my reel was grinding. This video is compatible with a 6500 carp commander or a 6500 rocket.
Glad it helped let me know if you have any questions
Love servicing my faithful C-3's and C-4. Always enjoy and learn from videos, including yours. However? Do all these Ambassadors have the little black plastic alignment washer on the shaft under the tensioner knob and if not when do they not? Is there a groove on the shaft for that washer to snap into. Are some reels designed differently? Also I didn't see the cog dawg (copper/metal) that is on a post and clips into the big tooth gear below the main gear. Did some models not have that?
Sorry but I cannot answer all the questions, but I know where you can find the answers. I have a Facebook Page you can join. "Abu Garcia Maintenance and Repair". The group has nearly 3K members that have all the answers. When you ask to join YOU MUST 1) ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS AND 2) AGREE TO THE RULES. You will be automaticity approved. If you don't you will not get access. Here is the link facebook.com/groups/280402990101017/
If you can't get in shot me another message on UA-cam.
NOT ON FACEBOOK. WHAT'S THE STORY ON THE IRREGULAR BLACK PLASTIC WASHER (THAT BREAKS EASILY) IN THE BOTTOM OF SPOOL TENSIONER CAP CENTERING THE SPOOL SHAFT. PLEASE REPLY.
@@barclaysauers255 Not sure what you mean by "what's the story". If you mean they are a pain to deal with and break on a regular basis, I feel your pain and don't have a solution. Wish I could give you a better answer.
The videos are gold! Thank you for sharing you knowledge. 🙏
Thanks for you comment. I hope to do more soon.
Alot of great vid comments! Thats because this really is a great vid thanks
Thanks for the comment.
Very informative
Hello new subscriber here. I have a old 5500 C3 2 speed reel that I tried to clean. i must have done something wrong. This video will be very helpful when I take it apart again. I do have a question about the 2 speed knob.... How does it work? when the reel was working I didn't see anything different. can you help?
I do not have any experience with the two speed reels. What I do have is a Facebook group that is called ABU Garcia Maintenance and Repair. I am the administrator. It has over 2000 members and those people are loaded with information on these reels. When you ask to join you MUST answer all the questions and agree to the rules to be approved. Once approved ask your question on that group and I guarantee you somebody can help you. If you have any issues being approved reach back out and I’ll make sure you get in.
Awesome info and vid, thanks so much brother and tight lines !
Hey thanks for the comment and support!!!!!
About that anti-reverse bearing, they're not all that difficult to press out, using a vice or clamp with a pair of suitable size sockets. The usual reason for them failing - using grease on them. Much better to use a thin, hi pressure oil like transmission fluid or power steering fluid - regularly and sparingly.
I use very little grease, but you make a good point. May try that next time. Thanks.
I need to know the difference between the 5500C and the 5500C round side plate in respect to dealing with the bearings. The bearings are in the side plate on the 5500C and in the spool on the 5500C with the rounded side plate? My reel is circa 1974. What are the differences, please?
It sounds like you answered your own question so far as the differences. I assume you have a reel with the bearings in the side plate and you are looking at the "C3" video. I have a video specifically for the 5500c that you speak of. Check it out on my channel. Here is the link. ua-cam.com/video/g8W4OfHt02A/v-deo.html
"ABU Garcia 5500C Service Maintenance Complete Tear Down" Thanks for watching.
I love your videos. very informative I subscribed do u have any input on the smaller 1500c and 2500c ?
Hey thanks for the comment. Never owned a 1500 or 2500. I use to do a ton of work on reels but never recorded anything. I do have a trashed 3500 missing parts and thought about rebuilding it. Maybe sometine in the future. I'm trying to build a channel so if you know anyone that might be interested in the content olease share. Thanks again.
Thank you so much tutorial
Putting an oil at the brake ring@liner will make the brake go erratic sooner or later. Oil ( will change to gunk after doing its job) will contaminate the brake ring and make the brake not doing it's job efficiently. You can feel it when the sound of the brake not 'purrring' anymore and the line flow out in jerking manner. I always bring a cotton bud to clean the brake liner when the line flow out in jerking manner. Over the time it will contaminated even if you do not put an oil onto it. And i never put an oil onto brake liner. But it's ok to put an oil if you clean that part on regular basis
I would agree that if you don't clean your real on a regular basis it will gunk up. For me fishing in salt water it also acts as a protectant against the elements. Thanks for the comment.
Mark, I saltwater fish inshore with several 6500 C4 Trophy Series reels. On the C4 the two spool bearings and the bearing in the end of the shaft that moves the pawl back and forth. I want to try 2 ceramic bearings on the spool. Should I order ceramic bearings with red rubber shields or ceramic bearings with stainless shields? Will the change to ceramic make a major improvement on spool during casting ? What about the worm drive bearing? Ceramic or not? Thanks for the great video. Ben in Macon, Ga.
Thanks for the comment on the video. So that's a great question. Unfortunately, I have never used ceramic bearings. So far as the shields I would go stainless for strength and stability. My first question is are you having performance problems? If the answer is yes, then my thought would be are the bearings in the reel clean and properly lubricated? Not sure if you’ve seen any of my other videos but I NEVER put grease on a bearing, or the worm drive, or the pawl, or the cog. Or anything that moves when I cast. Only oil. Some people beg to differ. But if you are concerned about casting distance then oil is your friend. The down side of that is you have to oil the reels on a regular basis. I did a video on bearings. You can access the condition once they are clean.
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 hey thanks for the quick reply. The original spool bearings are good to go only lubed with a drop of bearing oil. Reel casts well , I just want to try ceramics on one ABU 6500 to see what I get . I have several T3600C Tournament series ABU reels also. The ceramic may help these small spool reels even more .
@@smoknbenfryer6483 I assume they would make less noise, feel a little smother and last longer. Let me know how it turns out.
Thanks 😊 great tutorial 👍
Thanks, and Nice Fish!
At 14:42 you put the “cap back on”. Inside the cap has that plastic bracket with 3 points. Do those points point towards the reel or towards the handle? Mine popped out when i removed the spool tension cap on my pr 6500 black edition and I don’t know which way it goes.
They point towards the reel. the spool axle actually snaps on to those little three brackets. you can see a groove on the end of the axle
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 thanks, bud! That was driving me crazy…something so simple
I’m not sure if you’re still using this channel but I need some help with my brand new ambassador 6500 cs: I put on 30lbs braided line, then I went to adjust the tension but the free fall didn’t happen: what could I be doing wrong?
Yeah, I’m still here I just haven’t done much posting. I’m a little baffled by your statement. The only thing that I could imagine stopping it would be either too much spool tension. Maybe you have a bad bearing or maybe the worm drive is faulty. Maybe there is some leftover debris from the factory. When you say brand new, do you mean 100% fresh out of the box?
Yes, fresh out the box. I realize.i had to much line on it: thanks for responding
Why do you put a drop of oil on the retainer screw for the handle net?
Good question. Simply fighting corrosion. I fish salt water.
Great vid,did you brush a light coat of grease on the gears?
Yes sir. Thanks for the comment.
Do any of the parts need to be replaced from wear?
They can wear over time with heavy use. If it gets sloppy, you need to start inspecting things. Thanks for watching.
Sir: What kind of grease is that? I"m guessing waterproof / heatproof. Can we get the name?
Sorry for the late reply it is Cal’s Universal Reel, and Star Drag Grease
Excellent video! At 12 minutes you say snap and release 3 times. Mine does, but when I put the gears back on and the two screws to put back together, the mechanism doesn't kick the push button back out...I've tried everything. Any ideas? Many thanks
@@benw6554 Sorry for the late reply. @11:47 there is a text message on screen to "reassemble in the unlock position". Are you doing that correctly?
@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 yes it's unlocked when reassembled. Are the two little metal ears on spool supposed to fit into slots on bottom of pinion gear? When I put it back together and tighten screws down the spool has hard time catching and lever wont release? I wonder if I need a new pinion gear or position holder that has the spring? Nothing looks broken though...the pinion has a little play in it....what part would you try? Many thanks!!
Really difficult to diagnose without having my hands on it. I would suggest taking everything apart and reassemble. Sometimes things can get a little off without showing signs until you try to operate it. Wish I could do more. If you want and you have facetime, we could do a live chat. You can reach me at 757-297-6084.
Like the videos.
Hey thanks for watching and thanks for the comment.
THANKS BRO! JUST FIXED MINE
I love it!
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 i fixed the anti reverse, but now the tighter i tighten the drag the reel gets harder to crank, what would you suggest is the problem? thank you
@@joereid8557 So exactly which reel do you have? I never experienced that problem. You may have installed something incorrectly. I would suggest taking it back apart and inspect everything and reassemble.
@@joereid8557 You can get schematics for most reels at the link below that way you know you have everything correct. www.abugarcia.com/pages/abugarcia-reel-schematics
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 i found out i have the worse abu reel ever made....6500 S from china......maybe just toss it? real garbage
Subscribed
Thanks for your support.
You put the spring washer under the handle on upside down.
Good eye! Thanks for pointing that out.
No worries. I really liked the video. Helped me rebuild my reel. So thank you.
On my reel the button thing that you push before casting is loose and moves up and down. I thought it was missing a spring but I didn't see one one this video. Would you have an idea what's wrong? It works fine, it just flaps up and down.
Exactly which model do you have I can try to help you troubleshoot it but you would have to disassemble the reel
Very good
Thanks for the comment and thanks for watching.
Удобно снимать стопорное полукольцо крупным одинарным крючком....
If you were talking about the tension spring that may work, but typically I used to screwdrivers you have to spread it apart
Wow. Could I send you my abu’s and pay you to fix them???
I would consider that what do you have that need work?
@@abugarciareelrepairandmain8684 abu 6600 c4 & 2 5500
I can help you out give me contact information and we can talk more.
A++++++👍👍👍
Hey thanks for the comment.