Modifying an abu 6500 chrome rocket.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

My abu rocket, unlike all my other abu's will not let me press the button for free spool if there is any tension on the line at all. It only becomes an issue when eeling, i cant freespool without putting my thumb down. Is it possible to modify the reel to allow the freespool when there is tension on the spool or am i stuck? I have a feeling im stuck, but really love that reel.

[piemma]

You know, I have the same problem with an Abu 6600W. This is a great reel made for a very short time in the early 90s. I have even sent it back to the factory and they can't fix it either. Told me just to take tension off the line to depress the button.

[leptar]

Take it apart and clean it...

Had that happen to me with my 7001BG... hard grease on the spool shaft engaged the lever as it rotated slowly...

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Piemma, did they say if it was a problem, or if it was designed that way? I will clean it again, for something to do. Ive already tore down all my abu's twice since i hung em up for the year, they sit on my coffee table and always beg to be tinkered with. Its a royal pain to have to take tension off when you get a take on a an eel. More than once when i stopped the spool my eel got spit.

[Nebe]

I'll take it off your hands

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Thats a great solution to problems eh

[leptar]

Take your drag assembly apart and look for corrosion on the shaft gear. I just broke down my 6501CS and put it back together a few time to get it to lock on me while in freespool. Nada... I looked at what could cause it and the only thing i can see is...

with the reel apart make sure you can spin 21200(gear) on 22079(shaft) if not then remove and check 22079 for corrosion and make sure that the washer 13169 isn't binding the 2.

other then that.. if that isn't the issue then me thinks you got a dud... I wouldn't settle for an answer like what piemma received.. I would "demand" another reel.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

thanks a lot leptar, time to lock the cats up and tear away.

[piemma]

Thanks Guys. I was disappointed with their answer. i sat the reel on the shelf for the last 10 years although i did use it a couple of times on the boat last year. If I am throwing a plug I have to sit the plug on the water then depress the button to get the spool to release. real pain in the A$$.

I'll take it apart and check for corrosion

[gone fishin]

On the 6500 reel the plunger that disengages the pinion from the spool is designed to work freely without tension. One reason for this is that if you have the spool under tension and release it you can cause a backlash condition. That is the reason you keep your finger on the spool. It will always be hard to throw under tension, but it can be eased by cleaning the reel and re-greasing the slide mechanism with grease. I prefer using the blue penn grease. The spool is put into free spin when the pinion is disengaged from the spool. The drag and gears in the side that is assembled with the handle etc. have nothing to do with the stiffness , but the lifting slide and the pinion is where the sticking is coming from.
Careful cleaning and proper assembly usually overcomes most of the sticking.

The new Abu is using a lever similar to the penns to do this function.

[leptar]

Ok...
The reel


Main gear


Pinion gear


Main gear and pinion.



Drive shaft in lock



The drive shaft has to turn to engage the reel. It will throw the lock.

I have been looking at this all wrong...




The only way that the drive shaft will engage on this reel is if the pinion turns when the reel is locked or if i turn the drive shaft.

The only way the pinion will turn is if the spool is lined up so the pins on the spool lock into the pinion.



Now if the pinion was not coming back far enough it would lock on you during a cast, a dirty spool bearing or spool shaft might turn but it would also have to be sticking with the pinion. A bent spool shaft could cause enough pressure that during a slow release of line it might bind up catching both the spool and the pinion...