more abu garcia ambassadeur nuttiness.

I have a small pile of used and discount abu garcia ambassadeurs, in 4, 5 and 6 spool sizes. These all use the
same size drag washers etc, really only the spool width is different between them regarding fishing capacity.

of course, are some other options in the abu line.
most importantly the gears come in 3.8:1,  5.3:1, or 6.3:1.  and sometimes there is a pushbutton freespool, sometimes a thumbar,
this is a complicating issue, but ignore this for a minute. the non-handle side may or may not have a clicker mechanism too.

today I was wishing I did not have the 6.3:1 gears on my 6501ssc4, cause I want to use that for salmon trolling and
cranking up 2lbs of lead with the high gears is more difficult.

then I realized I can just switch the handle side from my 5501 which has 5.3:1 gears and a power handle to boot.

20 seconds later they were switched and I had 5.3:1 gears and a power handle on my 6501 with clicker.

so basically if you had a 4, 5 and 6 size spool reel in the 3.8:1, 5.3:1, and 6.3:1 gears, you really have 9 reels, not 3!

www.mikesreelrepair.com sells gear sets in 3.8:1, 5.3:1 and 6:3.1 for both left and righty reels. shipping is a little
crazy due to him being in canada but I ordered some bearings from this guy and they came on time, etc, so he's legit.

have fun.

I ordered some abu 3.8:1 "winch" gears from mike of mike's reel repair. www.mikesreelrepair.com

two orders and both came on time, correct, etc. he also has the carbontex drag washers that alan tani recommended.

the 3.8:1 pinion is twice the size of the pinion on a 6:3.1 gear set, so probably twice as durable.
the main gear is almost the same size.

I put them in one of my used reels today, it's a little harder than replacing the drags, but not much.
note to self: drink beer _after_ reel repair, not before.

if you are rockfishing or mooching or salmon trolling, the higher gears that often come
with the thumbar models are probably not what you want, you probably want the
"winch" gears with the thumbar, something that is not available.

best,

j