So I just decked out an ambassadeur - I like it!

[arrowslinger1]

So I had been wanting to "hot rod" an abu for a while. I found a cheap c3 5500 locally and picked it up. I then ordered a few new parts.

Dual ball bearing levelwind
Ceramic Pawl
Bearing supported cog
Plished the spool shaft where it goes through the pinion
Abec 7 bearings are on the way (should be here soon) I'll give an update.

So I cleaned out all the bearings and lubed them with ardent reel butter, totally dissasymbled and cleaned, regrease and put it all together.

I think I am gonna name her "butter" really - it's that smooth. It casts waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better, put all 6 brakes out and backed the spool tension off ( just so there is no side to side play on the spool) casts very nice, smoot start up, that non disengaging levelwind is now silk blowing back and forth in the wind.
This is coming from a hard core shimano man. There is just something about these reels that makes ya want to tinker.
I am looking at 7'11' rods, maybe a crucial swimbait rod??

Look out stripers

[dragon1]

Some of the older Abus were indeed great reels...especially when hotrodded.

I still want a customized 2500 C-IAR.

[LamiglasC]

i thought the old ambassaduers only have two plastic pins for those brakes???

[arrowslinger1]

This is one of the newer c3's they have a different brake ring.

[taylor5877]

you need to add the spool from a Record as well.

Gives it some extra ooomf on casts and a little smoother retrieve.

I've got the same reel you just made minus the ceramic pawl, and it is a BEAST casting heavier/easier casting lures.

[arrowslinger1]

Will the record spool fit right in? I had thought of that but for some reason I was thinking the spool had a bearing fitted to it on the record. I'll look into it. Do you know how much one would cost me?

Thanks!

[arrowslinger1]

OK, just looked at schematics, is it the record 60 spool that fits the 5500??

[ecu daniel 14]

get it painted

[taylor5877]

The 50 size record spool fits the 5500. You do need the spool axle from the record to make it work though(found that out the hard way).