6500 problem
 

I have fished Ambassadeur 6500s for many years and have never had a problem in cleaning them and fine tuning them. However, after I cleaned my 6500CL Big Game and put it back together I find it does not operate properly (I have done this same job many times without a hitch). When you give the handle a hard crank and suddenly stop, the spool keeps revolving with a light chatter. I have never had this occur before and thought I may have lost one of the little copper squares that go in the spool adjustment caps but I think everything is intact. Can't figure this out. Any help will be appreciated...

Though it has been a few years since I've had one of those apart similar thing happened to me probably 6-7 years ago.

IIRC - and that is a stretch, something is out of alignment slightly (I know, Capt Obvious) that is preventing the slotted cup thingy that engages the spool to fully engage. I don't recall if it is the washers stack on the pinion shaft or specifically if it is (more likely) that the right side plate is not tightened down properly to the spool assembly or that the guts withing the right side plate are not tightened down properly.

Wish I remembered more on it but I think I've had that before but its been a while.

Did you change the drag washers and go with a different brand? Different drag washers with different thickness will change the height of the pinion shaft stack and sometimes needs to be accommodated for.

That is normal for Abus. They all do it. Don't worry, It'll be fine.

Yeah, as Stewie said it's normal. Make sure your handle side adjusting cap isn't turned out too much. :)

I have to disagree with that being normal operation given the fact my 3 other 6500s have positive lockup on stopping the crank. the cup is engaging the spool shaft and, this was not exhibiting this behavior prior to my cleaning and oiling the bearings which I have successfully accomplished over the last 20 years...

It's normal on older Abus that have the friction collar anti-reverse. I'm not so sure that it's "normal" on models with the roller bearing instant anti-reverse. I'll defer to Stewie's greater expertise. :)

On every Abu I have ever played with, you can turn the spool to wind line in while holding the handle still. You will hear and feel a small click twice per revolution. I'm pretty good with these things, but if JimmyZ(mister Abu) says it's so, it's so.

I'll give it a try but still bothered about the fact that the reel did not exhibit this behavior pre-cleaning. TRhanks for all th input...

Play with the right side adjusting knob. Get it to where that clicking is minimal.:)

Take one of your Abus that doesn't have this problem. let out a few feet of line, then engage the reel. While holding the handle so it can't rotate, thumb the spool to wind in the line. I have 3 Abus, they all allow this. I don't know why they do it, but they all do.

Or take one of those other Abu's and spin the spool reel fast with the handle. Once you have the spool revolving, stop the handle dead! You're spool will run on with that clicking. They all do it!:)