Buying used reels

[Deleted User]

Seems to be some interest lately on this subject so I thought I would post what I've learned.When you are buying a used reel at some place like a garage sale or whatever the first thing you want to do is check the overall appearance of the reel. Is it well maintained? is there alot of grease and dirt built up on it? Usually you can tell if the reel has been used for fresh or salt water also. Then check the drag. Does the line go out smoothly? or does it kind of go off jerky or sticky. Avoid a reel with drag problems! If you can open up the side and look at the gears I recommend that also. Most older reels have machined brass gears and brass can corrode so it's always a good idea to check that out. Some old ABU reels that I have bought and rebuilt in the past may have the old grease still in them, I recommend removing it and re-greasing the gears. Don't use WD40 on any reels, it is a mild solvent and will break down any plastic or fiber parts. Use a light machine oil like sewing machine oil or get the oil made specically for reels. Ollie Damon recommends the oil used for air rifles. I also advise against using powdered graphite becuse if it gets wet it gums up.Remember this though ABU/Garcia still markets replacement parts for their old Ambassadeur reels from way back as far as the 70's or even earlier. Shimano does not! If you have any of the old Bantam series Shimanos like the 200 or 201 then good luck finding replacement parts for them. For some reason after Shimano discontinues a reel series they also discontinue making parts for them. Good luck!
Stew

[Steelheader69]

Yeah, you REALLY gotta beware of buying used reels online. I bought a 5000D from an ex moderator and it was a piece of #$%#. All the gears were gummed up, had more rash on it then a baby in an 8 hour old diaper, and more dents then I could count. Man, you really got to be careful. images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/tongue.gif

Just kidding. I bought a beautiful reel from Stewwy. But you do have to beware. I was at a garage sale a few weeks back. I could NOT figure out how I had walked into a 7000C for $35 and noone had bought it. Until I picked it up. OH BOY!!!!!!!!!! Had been used in salt quite alot from looks of it. Fully corroded throughout all the screws and was totally locked up. Couldn't get bail release to work nor could you get handle to crank. It was completely a wash.

It is buyer beware out there.

[Deleted User]

Yeah you know those ex-moderators are crooks images/icons/tongue.gif Actually that reel I sold you needed very little work but the 5000D I kept needed a complete rebuild. I replaced almost everything but now I have a near flawless reel.That's a good thing about old ABU's you can get replacement parts for them and the west coast service center is right here in Portland.
Stew

[ 06-10-2001: Message edited by: BIGSTEW ]

[smilesforu]

I have got some excellent buys online and bought some real dogs by not knowing what I was after. Always enjoy getting one of the emails that say "You really got a bargain on this reel they sell for twice that in the store"....duh . Some of the sellers are in collectors clubs and will offer you money back guarantees. I have had good experiences with sellers like this. The one who really got me was a guy who sold me a reel with the side plate cracked in half and missing. No picture of the damage in sales ad. I was able to negotiate a deal on it since I only really needed the other side plate to make a complete reel from a previous parts reel. I did think I was getting a complete reel... Buyer beware of the word boat rash in ads. Try to look closely at the picture when you see that one. Most reels will have some boat rash, but can really vary in degree. On some of the older reels that didn't have newer parts on them wd worked great as a cleaner. Then some fresh silicon grease and they were better than new.

[Deleted User]

Marty you are right about using WD40 as a cleaner but don't use it as a lubricant. Here is a tip! Some of the more desirable ABU Ambassadeurs are 4000D(bronze) this reel was not mass produced. It is direct drive and is really tough to find in decent shape.
4500C narrow spool is another that I have yet to ad to my collection. 5001C is the only ABU with left hand retrieve and also kind of tough to find in good condition. I recently acquired a red 1500C directly from Sweden, thse reels were available in the U.S. but mostly in the silver color it's a sweet little reel. The Shimano Bantam 201 is a sought after older reel in LH retrieve and count on paying at least $175 for a good one.
I find a "reel" challenge to restore an old ABU or Shimano it's fun and satisfying to restore one of these old beauties.
Stew