advice for abu overheads

[mikeyh]

hi there...
a number of questions regarding abu 6500 & 7000's
my 6500c3...an original made in sweden about 15 years old, generally very low use and externally with exception of the 2 last battles...hence my question. I was trolling around the Palm group and hooked something very large which almost spooled me in about 60 seconds...had to chase in the cruise craft with my darling wife taking directions......after about 5 mins whatever it was (probably cobe or GT) spat out the nilsmaster.

A few months later at Kennedy Shoals..casting a 150mm minnow when a washing machine sized GT (saw it happen) grabbed the lure and again basically spooled me on first run...just when I thought I was gaining line it took off AND ALL OVER. The reel has not been the same since...almost no drag to speak of even when screwed in hard. Do you think the reel is rooted or is it worth fixing?

with the 7000.....I have heard that Erskines can rebuild them...bearings instead of bushes etc...any ideas of $$

cheers, Mike

[STUIE63]

give them a ring they will answer all your questions and no the 6500 is not stuffed but I think you are a bit undergunned
http://jackerskine.com/
Stuie

[sleepygreg]

totally agree with Stuie on that one. I used to sell heaps of 6500c3's and 7000's to guys going to PNG chasing black bass. These guys used to do up the drags using long handled pliers so they could get enough presure on em. (this was before single piece framed reels were readily available). After the trip they would stop off in Cairns and get Erskine drag kits for em.....that was all the repairs needed on em.....and a lot of the guys preferred bushed reels, as they tended to fail less than bearing reels....given lack of 'on the run' maintenance. Especially in the 7000's. The swedish built reels were absolute gems to use. I still mourn the passing of my 1500c and 2500c classics. Best bass and bream reels I have ever used.

Like Stuie said...give Erskines a ring.

Greg

[mikeyh]

Thanks Stuie and Greg,
you are 100% right that I am undergunned. I hadnt been up here very long and (also a long time between drinks as I dont get out in a boat so often...and now boatless :-(
I really had no idea about these fish ( I was originally from Sydney and then a NSW rock , beach & estuary man) and naturally just got blown away. I still dont know very much about fishing up here at all (even though I have a shed full of gear) and look forward to learning.....particularly as my young boys grow up. I have now built some more suitable rods and got heavier reels with braid and hopefully next year will get another boat so I can get back into it. Next time I get the nod for a trip I will give the bigger gear a crack. Quick question though (Stuie) - what type of gear would you use for throwing small lures around the edges of the islands? Do you always use broomsticks & heavy braid in case you hook a GT?

I will give Erskines a call because I get up to Cairns sometimes with work so easy to drop in. My 7000 (except for the drag and a few external scratches) is in superb condition - I guess we will see about the 6500.
Thanks again guys.

cheers, Mike

[STUIE63]

Mike I don't fish that way but if I was I would be using a 15-24kg live fibre or t-curve matched with a large threadline reel running 80 pound braid . bottom bashing I use a 8-15 kg rod with a reel capable of 8kg of drag with 50 or 60 pound braid for around the islands and reef at daytime and step that up to the big stuff at night for deep shoals . my thoughts are broomsticks are only good for trolling you need some feel in the tip of the rod especially with braid the rod has to have some action as braid has no stretch
hope this helps
Stuie

[billfisher]

The drag was a weak point on these ABU's, but the good news is that the Carbonex washers work wonders. You could send them to Jack or just order the washers and fit them yourself. Make sure to get some Cal's drag grease with them as they work best lightly greased with this special drag grease.

[Jeremy]

The ABU baitcasters are very easy to take apart and service yourself if you have any mechanical nous. You may not even need a drag upgrade - might just need an overall clean and regrease with special attention to the drag. Getting the reel serviced and the drag upgraded is worthwhile, but it still ain't the be all and end all. It will stll need some servicing and maintenaince about once a year.

Don't think that MIGHT IS RIGHT always. It ain't. You can catch big fish on light gear with skill and patience, and it is alot more fun than just winching fish in. You will also generally get more bites/hits from fish using lighter gear as the bait/lure is presented more naturally.

Jeremy

[Jungle Jim]

I just did a strip down and relube of my bosses much neglected 6000. I have some pics of the reel literally covered in corrosion.

The spool bearing was rusted and seized. The spool was spinning therefore only on the shaft and bushings. Reel foot and chrome areas scratched and covered in oxidisation. Anything copper based was green, and sand.......... i have never seen so much sand inside a reel...:)

A good 5 hours complete strip clean and relube with cals and it was good as new and i had one happy boss.

One thing i will say with those abus much like the 1500 and 2500 size ones- there is a lot to be said for a simple design.

Less things to go wrong and less things to fix if it does.

JIM

[banshee]

...almost no drag to speak of even when screwed in hard. Do you think the reel is rooted or is it worth fixing?





You haven't recently respooled with braid by any chance?.....and yes I would tend to agree with Jeremy,service the reel and the drag before you do anything else.

[Tewantin]

You have 2 excellent and durable reels.
I think you'll find that the carbontex replacement washers and a light covering of Cal's grease (both available from Erskines) together with a general service will see them both working like new again. The only other problems these reels used to suffer from heavy use was twisted frames and buckled spools. The 7000 in particular is a pretty bulletproof reel and the brass (oil porous) bushes are ideally suited to hard use. I have many great memories and captures both land based and deep sea battling big kings and various tunas with my trusty 7000. Down south in Vic and SA the 6500C was the prefered snapper reel of most fishos for many years before the Shimano Calcutta came on the scene.

[mikeyh]

thanks again to all for your helpful replies..
banshee - truth be known it has been in the cupboard since these events wrapped in an oily wrag...and it was only ever spooled with 6kg mono.

Reading these helpful replies has spurred me on to get these Carbontex washers, Cal grease and strip them down and service them. No problems with the mechanical side of things - (qualified mech in my previous life) - I have pulled them down before but drag was the same after I put it back together.....probably dont know what to look for drag wise. If they are still the same after this I will take up to Erskines and let them look at them.
From your reply Stuie....yes, seriously undergunned.

thanks all:) Mike

[sleepygreg]

the original fibre drag washers in them compressed under heavy use...which is why you cant get any drag pressure....that was the nature of the beast....and if you kept pushing the issue with pliers...the outer housing on the drag knob bottomed out on the side plate...preventing any further drag pressure (and also possibly deforming the side plate)...hence the required upgrade of drag washers/replacement of original spec washers. The materials now are so much better then they were then....but the reels are still relatively bulletproof if you look after them. (I am another ex NSW Rock, beach estuary fisho now living in gods country).

Greg

[mikeyh]

thanks Greg,
this sounds exactly the situation with the 6500...just no drag tension. I would not dare to take to a reel with pliers to do up the drag so hopefully sideplate ok. I will get the carbontex and lap the metal washers and see what happens....the 7000 will need the same thing although I can still get drag pressure but it is very jerky.
As for god's country, I have to be honest Greg..I REALLY miss the beach and rocks from down there (Hat Head & SW Rocks)...at least I knew what I was doing and usually got fish. Just love tailor and jews......and at least no crocs and stingers on th (proper) beaches !!!!!!!Up here I am pretty lost fishing wise and currently dont have too much spare time because of 2 boys under 3..but gearing myself up for the near future when we can all get into it with a vengeance.

Mike

[aussiebasser]

I wouldn't suggest a bearing upgrade for the 7000. The bronze bushes were smoother and more duable than bearings.

Sleepygreg, the 1500 and 2500 are available again, they are not cheap though. Fishhead have them in stock

[I GOT CRABS]

I upgraded my 5400 and 6500 with new carbontex washers and ceremic bearings. Lapped my metal washer with wet and dry till I got a mirror finish. Now I have good cheap reels that have a smooth strong drag than can also cast longer.

[sleepygreg]

Aussiebasser, where is fishead? I would love to get a 1500c.

Greg

[STUIE63]

Greg
I think aussiebasser means this
http://www.fishhead.com.au/
Stuie

[pontificator]

Jack Erskine fitted an upgraded anti reverse dogs to my old ish 6500 as well as upgraded drag washers, if memory serves