This procedure with anything heavier can damage bearings – especially on ultra-cast models. Only do this with light lures and weights under 30g.

On classics the knobs are used to initially center the spool and then to tune the spool movement so that there is small but discernable lateral movement when the reel is out of gear.Īll Abu instruction manuals since 1952 have instructions to tighten up the left-hand knob in classics and the right hand knob in palmers, so that the chosen lure or weight drops slowly from the rod tip. You can even purchase a CT cage so that the reel can be converted to a non-level wind for distance casting.Ĭlassic Ambassadeurs have a knob on either side plate, and palming Ambassadeurs (introduced in 1980) only have one knob – on the right-hand side plate. Not so! They may seem super-smooth when turning the handle in the tackle shop, but in actual fishing conditions there is little to be gained, and the more bearings the more maintenance required.ĬS (with level winds) reels can have their level winds updated by the purchase of additional bearings and the worm and shroud, so any 6500 or 6600 can become a C4 or C5.

They need constant maintenance if used in the salt, but many of today’s anglers believe that the more bearings, the better the reel. Whether these additional bearings aid smooth casting is debatable. In the C4 and C5 reels there are additional bearings in the level wind. A C3 is a three-bearing reel – one either side of the spool and a roller bearing for anti-reverse. The number after the ‘C’ denotes the number of bearings. In 1983 the ultra-cast models were introduced, and in the late 1990s a roller bearing replaced the anti-reverse dog. Later the gear ratio changed upwards to 5.3:1 and today the C4, C5 and other high-speed Ambassadeurs boast a ratio of 6.3:1. Their gear ratio was 4.66:1 as opposed to the 6000’s 3.5:1. The ‘5’ in 6500 came when, in 1973, the high-speed 500s were introduced. Today, a 6000 has one bush and one bearing – easily upgraded by replacing the bush with a bearing. A ‘C’ in the title meant that the bushes had been replaced by two ball bearings. In the past, a straight 6000 was a reel where the spool shaft ran on bronze bushes. I’ll now quickly explain the model classifications. The side plates and internal mechanisms are the same but the 6500 lends itself to modifications, upgrading and conversions much better than any other Ambassadeur in the range. The only difference between the 4500, 55 Ambassadeurs is their spool width. The third reel is the current 6500C3CT Mag Elite, which is an ultra-cast model fitted with both magnet and centrifugal braking systems.

The second is the black 6000c, circa 1973, which is a ball bearing model. The first is the original red 6000, circa 1953, which is a basic baitcaster with bushes. To illustrate the point I have chosen three 6000 size Abu classic Ambassadeurs from different eras.

Abu sweden garcia ambassadeur 5000 c