Abu 6500 GR

[fishingmark]

Has anyone had one of these to bits before. The mag race and slider is a real pain. When I bought the reel the mag race just stays in one position right up against the spool so it has maximum braking effect. I took it apart and found how the mag slider attaches to the race, by means of a small spring but this spring only holds it in the max brakes on position and when the slider is operated it only stretches the spring and keeps it full on against a stop. There doesn't seem to be a way of getting the mag race to sit in a natural position away from the spool, this would only require a turn of about an eighth of a turn.
There is also a small adjuster on the side but I can't get it to do any thing. I'm wondering whether there may be a part or parts missing. I can't find any on the online schematic for the reel and the one in the box is for an Abu Ultra mag.
I can't find the answer anywhere on the web so hoping one of you have had one of these reels. They are quite rare having been a bit of a one off for Abu and only produced in 1985.

[TerryC]

Yes I had 4 , just got he two now. They are rather tricky to put back together especially if the level wind is still present. I had lots of "fun" the first time I serviced mine. I have a schematic which I will try to attach. If you still have problems I am sure we could meet and sort it out.

[fishingmark]

Like I said I've already seen the schematic and putting it back together is not a problem. What i don't get s how the mag race moves back and forward. There is no tension to hold the race away from the spool and the slider just pulls it forward until it stops. Where does the tension come from to hold it back?
Thanks for the reply.

[TerryC]

It much harder to try and explain than to do but here goes ! Three hands would make this much easier !

You have to assemble it in two halves so gravity holds the mag holder in place. BTW the grooves in the mag holder have to be very clean and the mag position to "0" and the mag holder stroke control (behind the square plate) needs to be fully off or it can catch when you assemble it. Hold #13559 face towards the ground and offer #13594 into it with the same orientation as you see in the schematic. Attach #13525 to #13594 then hold #13513 close to #13594 and attach the other end of the spring to #13513. Once you have done this it will (just) hold in position on #13559 when offered up and a little tension applied as it sort of half slots in. If you still have the level wind in use at this stage the worm must be hanging loosely from the retainer yoke built into #13559. Keeping face down you have to offer the fully assembled other half carefully getting the mag scale #13517 into the slot. You may have to rotate the level wind worm to get it to mesh or you can't close the case. Now you should be able to join the two halves with perhaps some small movement of the mag tensioner to get the spring into the right position. This spring is critical as it hold the mag holder forwards and effectively "in" the reel due to the curved slots in #13594. You should be OK once you get this far. But it is a bit of a fiddly job. I swore a lot the first time.
Let me know if you are still stuck.

Best of luck

TC

[fishingmark]

Excellent description mate, I know exactly what you mean. I will give it a go tomorrow when I get back from work. That is the best answer I have seen anywhere on the Web. Top man

[neil9629]

Top class post terry.

[fishingmark]

I have followed your instructions Terry but it is still the same. Maybe I am expecting more from it than it actually does. I was expecting the mag race to "hold back" away from the spool under tension then turn toward the spool with the mag slider. There is some small variation there but not what I would expect, maybe I've still got it wrong but I can't see any other way it could go together.
I have had dozens of different reels to bits and this is the first time that one has had me stumped.
I only bought the thing because I liked the look of it with the green and gold!
I might have to meet up with you for a tutorial if you have some spare time.
Thanks again for all of your help mate.

[TerryC]

Ah ha ! The starting distance from the spool is always the same. This brake works differently from almost all others. When the spool rotates the magnets introduce drag on the spool by magnetic induction same for all mag reels BUT there is an equal force exerted on the magnets trying to move them in the same direction as the spool. For a fixed magnet this force is just absorbed by the magnet holder.

The GR is very different as this force tries moves the magnets in the same direction as the spool the mag holder moves in the spiral channel away from the spool. The reduces the amount of induction and the magnets mover closer to the spool again. In theory this gives the best possible brake control. The adjustment on the GR are spring tension 1 to 10 - this stops the mag holder from moving so easily and gives more braking and mag holder stroke control this restricts how far the mag holder can move under any conditions.
So tension (T) = 1 and stroke (S) = --- gives the least braking effect over the full range.
T=1 and S= +++ gives more braking over the full range. So maximum braking will be T=10 and S = +++

I hope this makes sense

Regards

TC

[fishingmark]

Makes perfect sense mate. So I've had it assembled correctly all the time, although the brake holder was stuck when I bought it. So the spring limits the distance the mag race can "roll" back away from the spool, that is what I did not quite grasp. I will take it out and give it a chuck reasonably confident that it won't blow up.
Another quick question Terry if you don't mind
Do you know if centrifugal brakes can be used on this model as the left hand side of the spool is new on me as well?

[TerryC]

To the best of my knowledge, no. It sounds like you may have a non GR spool in or maybe a part missing. The GR spool has very short pins that #15476 clips on to give a ratchet by rolling the rocker switch #15473 revealing the letter "C". This action pushes a spring loaded pin into the area were the centrifugal brakes are on "normal" reels to give the click. I think it might be possible to do some mods to make a centrifugal brake work but I have never tried.

I find the GR in original magged state to be rather over braked and run mine with 2 magnets in so I hope yours wont over run too much.

I you find you need parts in the future I quite a few spares for the GR which I managed to find in the USA. The GR has very few parts that were used in other ABU's as you know they only made them for 1 year due to the high cost of making them.

I also have an ultra rare mint 6600 FL which is almost identical to the GR but have a thumb bar spool release. Never found reel schematic for that so if you ever come across one please let me know.

Tight lines

TC

[fishingmark]

I didn't think brakes would go there. This is the only Abu I have come across without combined centrifugal and mag brakes. Looks like it will be trial and error with the amount of magnets fitted.
As far as parts are concerned, I saw some for the GR on Ebay this week and thanks for the offer.
Thanks again for all of your help Terry. I searched the web for the answer to my question then find the very chap local to me, excellent.
As far as the other reel is concerned, I will keep my eyes open for you.
Regards,
Mark.