Upgrading My 4600C4?

[Lipripper]

The dual bearing levelwind parts will arrive late today and I'll probably pick them up tomorrow. The chinese fishing reel handle has not escaped from the Chicago postal system yet.

Next month might order one of the big plastic idler gears with a ball bearing in it. Is there big difference between using one with a single ball bearing as opposed to one with two ball bearings?

If I was replacing the spool bearings in a reel meant for saltwater,would it be better to have shielded bearings or sealed bearings? Would the hybrid ceramic bearings be the best bet for this?

Thanks for looking.

That could take some time 

[TWBryan]

Lipripper,I hope a dead voter has not absconded with it....

[Lipripper]

Lipripper,I hope a dead voter has not absconded with it....

We got lots of them up here and they vote early and often. 

[Pro Reel]

There is a very big difference between the cog gears with one bearing versus the cog gear with two bearings. While the one bearing gear is a slight improvement , part of the nylon gear still rides against the post. With the two bearing gear, none of the nylon touch's the post. It spins very free with no resistance.

[TWBryan]

Lipripper, so I understand. I heard they shoot zombies and high hopes for a little while...

Pro Reel-sounds like I need to get the two bearing then,thanks.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

I was wondering that about the bearings in the cogwheel too, thanks for bringing it up. I'm probably going to eventually get the super ported wheel.

[TWBryan]

Steelhorse,I'll probably go to hookless.com and get the one there for $15. I hope that guy isn't excessive with shipping charges,I do a lot of checking and shopping around to get the best deal. Getting a new dryer was a big hit for the bank account. Had computer shut down on me 3 times last night.I will haul it out to the air compressor and blow out all the dust,I can't afford for anything else to break or fall apart right now. I really miss the a/c in my truck...

[TWBryan]

Installed c5 dual bearing levelwind in the 4600c4/5. Have not had a chance to cast with it so not sure if it's improved things or not. Reel handle has apparently escaped chicago,hoping to see it by the weekend.

[Lipripper]

Installed c5 dual bearing levelwind in the 4600c4/5. Have not had a chance to cast with it so not sure if it's improved things or not. Reel handle has apparently escaped chicago,hoping to see it by the weekend.

Glad your handle made it out of Chicago and hope it makes it to you by the weekend.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Gotta tell us how it runs first chance you get!

[TWBryan]

Steelhorse, Spent a few minutes in the backyard with it this morning. It is slightly smoother and I think I gained 2 feet casting distance. As Mr.Cork said it is hard to see improvements beyond the polish job. Yes,I think each thing improves the reel,but the gains are small. I'm upgrading it as far as I can because right now I cannot afford to buy a Daiwa Tatula. That and I want to see how far along I can push it out of curiosity. Pretty much why anyone does this sort of thing. :D

Next month I'll get a dual bearing idler gear for it. I don't think there is much more I could do,other than try replacing the spool bearings with hybrids or ceramics. Unless there is substantial gains to doing it I will leave the spool bearings alone.

I have my backup 4600 I will upgrade as time and funds permit. The 5500c might end up being catfish rig so that might get some frills and dressings.

Got two more ,not so great, 4600's I might polish for the heck of it. :D

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Man, I priced out some parts yesterday to upgrade all my reels... looks like all I'm gonna do is a power handle and CT conversion on my Frankenreel, a couple of cheap repair parts for a couple of others, a few of the cheaper performance upgrades, then just save some money and eventually get the crème de la crème...
Of course, probably a used previous model.

[TWBryan]

CT conversion? I don't know much about the Morrums,some people really like them,other's not so much. From the picture you've shown I suspect that it's made of aluminum castings machined to fit together. Plastic line guide is made the same way the chinese ambassadeurs are made. Looks like a magnetic casting control on the side.

If I can get past the other jobs today I will work on one of the olders 4600's the side pieces appear to be painted instead of anodized. I'm thinking I'll repaint the side pieces ,polish the guts and sell it on ebay with full disclosure.

I agree that upgrade parts for reels are expensive,well out of proportion to their value. When I hobble back out to check the kydex holster all wire brush the paint off those side-domes and then refinish them before,taping,and spraying with krylon satin black..

[SteelHorseCowboy]

CT is removing the level wind and line guide bar, replacing the worm gear tube with a solid bar, making the cage an open top and you have to lay the line manually. Better for long distance casts and lots of sitting and waiting.

[Lipripper]

CT is removing the level wind and line guide bar, replacing the worm gear tube with a solid bar, making the cage an open top and you have to lay the line manually. Better for long distance casts and lots of sitting and waiting.

I've used lots of them before. Was a nice reel for cat fishing.

[TWBryan]

Looks like a 6000 or 7000 with clicker and power handle.I've seen those used for saltwater. Come to think of it I probably have something similar in storage. Maybe someday I'll get to that stuff.

Working on a 4600,it's a bit different. I'll post pics in the next day or so.  Though to be honest I think Abu garcia has never made a reel the same way twice...

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Only if they came off the assembly line on the same day!

[TWBryan]

Maybe not even then! Looking at some of these reels I have to wonder if the mgt wasn't wrapped too tight. So many different versions and variations that no one could keep track of it. I've had up to eight abu garcias in my hands and none of them were built the same.

Checked and my reel handle is waiting in the mail box. I'll get it tomorrow and and see if it even fits.     

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Lol, literally, no one can keep track! There's an expert out of Japan who's catalogued the most variations, and he still comes across new stuff sometimes.
Private Japanese collector has better records on Swedish reels than the manufacturer...

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Got my Frankenreel out right now!

[bigjim5589]

I have about 25 ABU reels, and have found that for the many variations, there are plenty of parts that are interchangeable for the same size reels. Even some of the parts for the 5000 & 5500/5600 reels are the same.

Most of my reels are 4600, 5600, 6600 sizes, ( like the thumb bar release) but I also have a couple of 9000's, and a 10000 size. 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Oh yeah, there's plenty that are interchangeable. I've got parts from a Quantum in action, although I think it's just the handle.
The joke is that there are so MANY variations. Just look at the list of schematics!

[bigjim5589]

That's likely due to marketing more than anything. If they kept the same ole reels years after year, folks would look at other brands that come out with new designs. That's how too many people are. They want the next latest & greatest to come along, regardless of whether or not what they currently have is still working great!

ABU reels are a solid design, and a testament to just what intelligent design & engineering can do. By keeping the same basic design, tooling for manufacturing had to cost less, and with interchangeable parts, inventory is less costly. I wonder how many parts they've sold over the years, since ABU reels are so easy to get parts for & fairly easy to repair. Sure, they've made many variations, but for the most part, the basic design has not changed and folks still buy them. I'm certainly a big fan! 

ABU didn't design their reels to be obsolete, unlike many products these days. 

Try getting parts for some of the Shimano reels made 10 or 15 years ago. 

[TWBryan]

I've come to think that about every other day the executives at abu garcia burst out onto the factory floor armed with accordians and force employees to polka while playing musical parts with whatever their working on.This theory would explain why no one has any idea about the variations...

I've got a few pictures to share. A few of the "oddball" 4600 that has extra gearing,and one of some reel handles. Starting at bottom is my "blinged" out abu garcia handle,in the middle is the gator grip handle,at top is my new chinese reel handle.

Would love to know those extra gears are for in the reel.

[3crows]

Where is the best place to order these parts, idler gear etc., say for a old, 1973, 5500C?

Sometimes the same boat, cannot always afford the new stuff but do not mind spending on the old stuff, lol.

Thanks.