[LooksLikeSinbad]

I have an abu Garcia 5601 that I used heavily this year. I am thinking about taking it apart for cleaning & lubrication but I have never opened up a reel before and honestly, don't know what I am doing. Is this something that any handy person can do, or am I going to have tiny reel shrapnel flying all over my workbench and end up sending a box full of parts to someone who knows what they are doing? Anyone have an online tutorial or instructions for this? Any tips, advice, etc. is appreciated.

[fish devil]

try this website for some how to's with pics. Its not hard.

http://www.westernangler.com.au/foru...rumid_8/tt.htm

[dwendt1978]

The Abu Garcia 5500's and 5601's are an incredibly simple design. Probably the reason they are so bulletproof. I rebuild mine every year along with my Uncle's (6 of them) my brothers (4) and friend (3). There will be a little C clip under the handle you'll need to remove and the star wheel will twist off. Take pics with a digital camera and you'll do fine.

[clamboni]

What I do when I take my reels apart is have an egg carton nearby, I have one that I think has shop rite brand eggs, it's plastic and once you unfold it, it has 24 cavities for the eggs, and one big one that is the lid. Put each part in a cavity, in the order they came off. That way, you work backwards when you're putting the reel back together and there's no chance of it being in the wrong order.

But.......to answer your question, like was said, your reel is very simple, and it is a job that any handy person can do. Use a naptha based lighter fluid to soak bearings and a pencil inside them to spin them to loosen everything up. Remember, oil bearings, grease gears. Q-tips, paper towels, and toothpicks are useful.

[LooksLikeSinbad]

Great, thanks for the help.

So, I'll need grease and lube, screwdrivers, pliers and tweezers, digital camera, Q-tips, paper towels, and toothpicks. Anything else?

- Disassemble
- Soak the bearings in lighter fluid (how long?)
- Clean them with a pencil and paper towel
- Oil the bearings
- Grease the gears
- Reassemble

Am I missing anything?

Should I consider upgrading the bearings or the drag?

[dwendt1978]

Hope this helps some. This is a 5500 C3 upgraded to a C5. This is done by upgrading the level wind worm gear from bushings to bearings. Huge difference. I also upgraded the bearing from stock to Abec 7's available through Heartland Tackle. Greatest guy on the planet. Buying from him or not, he'll talk you through anything. I'd also recommend Yellow Rocket Fuel Oil also.

I'm a die hard Curado fan and I'm quick to admit my Garcia 5500 will outcast any curado or chronarch hands down. I also know that someone on here might say something about the Abec 7's not being Abec 7's but they are a tremendous upgrade over stock. You won't be disapointed.

[dwendt1978]

Also before I forget. The little drag washers, located under the star wheel, are cupped and MUST be installed facing AGAINEST one another.
Otherwise your drag will not work properly.

[LooksLikeSinbad]

Thanks again for all the info. I am going to order some new bearings, smooth drag, oil and grease. Wish me luck!

[clemmy]

Good luck!


I've also heard that if you have a video camera, you can set it up to record what you are doing. That way if you get in a bind or with extra leftover parts you can rewind and see where you took it off from.

Clemmy

[basssj]

You might want to consider using 1 drop of yellow rocket fuel on each of your bearings after you soak them. This lube made a big difference in the casting distance on my calcuttas.