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Posts: 3926
| Another post on this board reads, "I've heard that the Abu Garcia anti-backlash reel has problems.
Cabelas has a bargain cave where you can buy stuff that has been returned for discount and it's full of those anti-backlash reels."
Well, I would send one back, too, except.....
Tell you what, I have two of them, and after working them over, they are awesome reels. I stripped out most of the antibacklash stuff and rebuilt the reels using parts from HatterassOutfitters.com. High qualty bearings, Smooothie drag wahers, even put new thumbrests on that match, in color, the reel. Sweet, sweet reels and now lots of hours flinging baits without a hitch. My bucktail rod, which I use 50% of the time, has one of these reels, used it 3X per week all last season. So, maybe 20 hours per week on the reel?
Get 'em cheap and make yourself a dang nice reel for the same price as buying a standard 5500c4. Just download the 5500AB diagram from Abu and go to town, you'll figure it out. Am I right, Treats? No bait clicker, by the way. | |
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Posts: 229
Location: Willoughby, Ohio | Why rebuild them? I spoke with Tres Irby of Hatteras Outfitters about getting the parts to convert my 5600AB to a C3. He called Abu-Garcia and they offered to replace my AB with a factory remanufactured C3 at no charge! The rebuilt reel I received is as good as new. A big time thanks to Hatteras Outfitters and to Pure Fishing/Abu-Garcia!  | |
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Posts: 3926
| Well, dang, I didn't know about that! And you're right, they are 5600AB's not 5500ABs. But still, the worked-over 5600AB performs beter than the C3s I use. At least seems to me. Plus, well, there's that part about doing the work myself, proud, like Dr. Frankenstein. | |
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| H.O. is one classy shop, and I don't just say that because they're not too far from here; they know their stuff, and they will help in any way possible, and go the extra mile for their customers, of which they have MANY. Saltwater stuff is their specialty; if you need anything related, check out their site...
***Drowner--Tres is not only a great guy to deal w/, he is also a great fisher dude to boot! | |
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Posts: 2378
| I bought two 6600AB's when Garcia was having the two for one deal. I like the reels, but hate the AB mechanism. So I removed it like Ranger does. Its a whole new reel now. I can only imagine that with the rest of the upgrades Ranger makes to his that they are excellent reels. | |
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Posts: 3926
| As I recall, I added Smooothie drag washers; higher quality main gears; and replced the entire worm gear system, resulting in a bearing on each end of the higher quality worm gear. (Standard 5000/6000s come with only one bearing on one side of the worm gear.) Then, lubed the reels according to Hatterass instructions, as opposed to Abu's. All these parts came in some sort of "Delux Upgrade Kit" which includes a little bottle of really high grade oil ("Rocket Fuel"?)
Hatterass recommends much less lubrication, especially no oil under the hex cap that holds the handle in place. Putting any significant amount of oil in this location makes its way to the drag washers. Following Abu's lubrication instructions, I think, is why so many guys complain about slipping drags on 5000 and 6000 series reels. Then they totally crank down on the drag, flattening those two little curved washers that are a critical part of the multi-washer drag system. Once those two curved washers are squashed, the system is messed up. This is the theory I've developed, anyway, might be wrong.
Last, I take great pains to avoid dust/sand on the reels. Never dunk the reels in the lake, transport in rod cases, etc. (When Shady Moon (Just Fish It) used his motor to throw 50 gallons of sandy water on us, TWICE, in Theeds' boat on Cass Lake, my only concern was my reels, I jumped to cover them with my body.) I wince when I see guys heading down the road with the reels laying open in the uncovered boat. No way to avoid road grit getting all over and into the reels.
enough...
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Posts: 13
| Does anybody Know anything about the Abu Garcia Mag-X reels? I knew they made a C5 and can't find them anymore but I actually seen a C4 at Walmart. Is the magnetic drag worth having, or is it a waste? | |
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Posts: 425
Location: Elkhart, IN | Hey jimus, I have a 6600C5 MAG-X and like it alot. Maybe somebody else can tell you if they quit making them or not, but I do know that cabela's still has them and you can order them online from them. I had heard from somebody that the D5 was supposed to replace the C5, but hope this isn't true because in my opinion the C5 is a much better reel. | |
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Posts: 3926
| look at HatterassOutfitters.com | |
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| Dude! 1 too many s's...www.hatterasoutfitters.com...  | |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | According to Garcia the D5 and C5 are the same. Only difference is supposed to be the actual size of the reels. The D5 has a smaller profile, partly because it is mounted lower on the frame.. I am not sure if they are still making the C5's or not, but there are still lots out there 4-sale. | |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Ranger,
Are you using the ABEC bearings or the ceramics on your rebuilds? I have about a half dozen ABUs (various sizes/C-series models) that are currently stock and about at the end of their lifespan w/ regard to drag washers and bearings that I would like to tweak a bit. I, like you, enjoy the Dr. Frankenstein aspect of the reel game and Ambassadeurs are mechanically simple enough for me to play with. Also with regard to the drag washers, are you using the smoothies or xtreme smoothies. Is there a big difference between them?
I'm not trying to build a competition casting reel, just a good, servicable fishing reel that will last for at least as long as they originally did w/ stock parts. Thanks.
Kent | |
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Abu 5500AB's