Abu 5500

Fred · #1 05-14-2006, 08:46 AM

Does anyone know the difference between an Abu Garcia 5500C3 and a CL3.
I've looked on every site I can think of but cannot find a CL3 mentioned. I thought the L might have denoted level wind, but the C3 is a level wind model. The only other thing I can think of is that it is a left hander.

Any help would be appreciated.

Fred

nestle · #2 05-14-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

Does anyone know the difference between an Abu Garcia 5500C3 and a CL3.
I've looked on every site I can think of but cannot find a CL3 mentioned. I thought the L might have denoted level wind, but the C3 is a level wind model. The only other thing I can think of is that it is a left hander.

Any help would be appreciated.

Fred

could it be the L stands left handed reel ?

FlyingFox · #3 05-14-2006, 10:33 AM

Not sure about this one mate......like you i have had a look at a few sites to try and find out but not come up with anything yet!! not sure about the left hander thing though as Ive seen both left and right sided pics of it! hope you find out mate as it would be nice to know.

good luck

Ollie.

Drew · #4 05-14-2006, 10:36 AM

Hi all,

All Abu left handed reels have a 1 at the end of the number as in 7001 - 5501- 7501 etc.

Cheers

Drew

Fred · #5 05-14-2006, 10:57 AM

We all seem puzzled. Unless someone comes up with an answer in the meantime, I shall start pestering the dealers tomorrow. I will keep you all posted.

Fred

malabu · #6 05-23-2006, 09:02 AM

Hi Everyone,

I am new here, just sign up. Recently getting back into fishing after many years out of it. There are so many abbreviation to the ABU reels these days that I am lost.

I definitely don't know what the CL3 stands for and would like to if anyone find out. The question I have is, does anyone know what the "CT" stand for?

esaa · #7 05-26-2006, 07:41 PM

I believe you will find that the 'C' denotes that the reel has a ball bearing race rather than a solid bush bearing. The 'T' denotes 'tournament' as the first Abu reels without levelwinds and top bars were built specifically for the UK casting scene in the 1970's. That's the way I understand it, but, I may be wrong too! Regards Si at ESAA

esaa · #8 05-26-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

Does anyone know the difference between an Abu Garcia 5500C3 and a CL3.
I've looked on every site I can think of but cannot find a CL3 mentioned. I thought the L might have denoted level wind, but the C3 is a level wind model. The only other thing I can think of is that it is a left hander.

Any help would be appreciated.

Fred

I know my 1970's abu's backwards but later models are all over the place really. The 'L' probably doesn't mean a thing, just another marketing ploy. You may find that it is a refference to the palming style left side plate which came in in the early 80's, as in the cl and ca range but don't loose any sleep over it. Anyway, sadly, nowadays they are vertually all made in Taiwan and if it's not been produced in Sweden it's not worth a light in my opinion: that's only my opinion tho! (traditionalist through and through) Happy casting with the Ambassadeur anyway, Si. PS dont supose anyone has a spare set of side plates for a 1972 ambassadeur 5001C? No harm asking!!!

malabu · #9 05-27-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esaa

I know my 1970's abu's backwards but later models are all over the place really. The 'L' probably doesn't mean a thing, just another marketing ploy. You may find that it is a refference to the palming style left side plate which came in in the early 80's, as in the cl and ca range but don't loose any sleep over it. Anyway, sadly, nowadays they are vertually all made in Taiwan and if it's not been produced in Sweden it's not worth a light in my opinion: that's only my opinion tho! (traditionalist through and through) Happy casting with the Ambassadeur anyway, Si. PS dont supose anyone has a spare set of side plates for a 1972 ambassadeur 5001C? No harm asking!!!

Thanks for that info about the abbreviation of models. It does get confusing, especially now trying to get back into it after 16 years. You are right about one thing and I feel exactly the same, that they are now being manufactured in Taiwan. I owned a 5000C since I was 10 (wished I had a 5001C instead) and some of the newer reel haven't got that class and precision engineering like the old school design. All the new ones give that appearance of being fragile, it doesn't seem to have any oomphh! if you know what I mean.

Don't get me wrong, I recently bought a 6501C3 and it a great reel but it still does not have that certain feel to it. There is only one fault I found with the C3 and I wonder why ABU design it that way, it's a poor design in my opinion. In the old 5000 series like yours and mine, there is a leather and some kind of fibre washer used in the drag system and it is design to absorbed oil but does not effect the braking/drag. In the new C3, they used a rough surface plastic washers that will wear over time, and the drag would not be too effective especially when you have oil (as you do when you give it a service) in between the washers.

A friend of mine owned a C3 that is slightly older than mine but have used it quite a bit. I notice his star drag was wind down/in quite far leaving a noticeable gap between the handle and the star drag which made me wonder if his spool was lock dead. It did not look right and I offer to have a look at it. When I striped it, that rough surface plastic washer I mention early is no longer rough but quite smooth hence the star drag has to be tighten quite a bit to get any drag at all. I replaced it with a home made washer and it is much-much better.

Oh, there is another small thing. When the line is being pull out under drag, there is no ratchet unlike my old 5000C. Feel like nothing is happening. Other than that, it's still a great reel.

esaa · #10 05-27-2006, 03:36 PM

Oh how true! I know exactly what you mean. However, I do fish with a pair of 6500CT Rocket Mk. II reels which are obviously the newer type internals. Nice to fish with I must admit but the enginering in them is not a patch on the older types. I use to tornament cast with the old style 6500CTs and lost count of the buckled spools. No problems like that with the new types eh? Newer type 'sliding plastic' ratchets are useless tho. But the earlier CS rockets still have the old type. No ratchet at all is like hell! I am even in the process of fitting ratchets to a pair of 2500CTs I have built: a pair of little silver beauties to fish braid with but I simply can't fish without a ratchet mate! Regards, Si, ESAA P.S. regarding my 1972 5001C, I just found a mint condition left side plate for it. Super rare find but I don't hold out much hope for a new right plate to go with it! Anyone know better?

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