Abu Garcia Ambassadeur

Hi Folks,

This is one of my hobbies. I thought I might share.

When I have a little spare time -- say, enough to twiddle my thumbs but not enough to go fishing -- I enjoy building Abu Garcia Ambassadeur reels. The round ones, made in Sweden.

This started as a regular 5000:

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...tsideplate.jpg
Left side plate

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...derleftcap.jpg
Under the tension knob

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...idebearing.jpg
The bearing that replaced the bushing; the right side is similar.

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...ghtenedcog.jpg
Lightened idler gear...

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...eelbearing.jpg
... with bearings

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...tsideframe.jpg
Chromed frame replaces standard anodized frame

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...edwormgear.jpg
Highly polished worm gear

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...ndbearings.jpg
The removed levelwind assembly showing the polish and the bearings which replace the plastic bushings

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...asherstack.jpg
Polished drag spring washers; two for finer drag range adjustment

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...ankbearing.jpg
Crank bearing which replaces the stock crank bushing. It cleans up slop and makes things smoother overall.

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...ddragstack.jpg
Fast gears, drag washer and crank bearing stack on the driveshaft

http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...brakeplate.jpg
Fast gears, drag washer, crank bearing, driveshaft, disassembled. Carbontex drag clutches.

The rundown of mods is this:

• everything is polished with first 2000 grit then 3000 grit

• new right and left spool bearings replace stock bronze bushings

• idler gear bearing replaces plastic-to-metal contact

• right and left worm gear bearings replace plastic bushings

• crankshaft bearing replaces plastic bushing

• carbon drag clutches for smooth, stick-free operation.

• high-speed gear conversion (about 23IPT retrieve)

This thing was built around 40 years ago, and with the mods it has, runs right up there with my (also modified) 5500c3. The 5500c3 is admittedly faster, but I keep 23ipt, 26ipt, and 31ipt reels around for different techniques. The trend, at least here in the States, is toward faster reels for black bass, 7.x:1 or even 8.x:1 now, but I find that 31ipt (6.3:1 on the 5600c4 mag; 7.x:1 on low profile reels) is the fastest I can utilize, and even that one is seldom used. Mostly I use the reel pictured above and two different 5500c3 reels, both in 5.3:1 (26ipt).

Regards,

Josh

What employment do they get? What type of fishing? Boat, surf, cast???

Hello,

Freshwater, bank and boat. Indiana is a landlocked state.

Regards,

Josh

Cheers. Looks quite robust :D What fish are you after in Indiana? How big do they get?

Hello,

I go after black bass mainly. It's a thing here.

I forget what the state record is; they can get pretty big, but only average a pound to five pounds or so.

Walleye are also good to fish for; they are excellent eating. Catfish get huge.

Just been bass fishing here lately, though. Fun with artificial lures.

Josh