SlazmoSouth East Queensland, QLD
- 238 reviews
- 1 like
- C4 Series
- Selected Review
A bait caster reel thats built for a lifetime!
I've owned a 5500C4 for the last 10+ years and its had a fair amount of use, with trolling lures and casting from the banks for flathead and other larger estuarine fish.
The reel is built around a brazed chromed brass metal frame and aluminum side plates, with most internal parts being brass or bronze, with some parts being aluminum or a nylon plastic for those less critical areas.
Stripping the reel down is easy with three screw's on the RH side allowing you to access the spool and the casting control brakes or to add the heavier brake b...Read more
locks. Within regards to servicing, with these reels harbouring a varying range of materials there is a issue with 'anodic' reactions with salt water. I have drilled two small holes on both side plates to ensure that any water that gets inside from fishing or washing is expelled during drying on a cloth - 90% of the time the reel is pulled apart to air with no noticeable side effects noticed so far with this process - but ensuring that you use Inox and good quality greases keeps corrosion at bay. The C4 series have a higher than average retrieval rate opposed to the C3 series, this allows a better lure retrieve and helps lures actions when cast and retrieving. Further to add, more bearings usually means a greater ability to get consistently further casts - however means more servicing with bearings (which is not an easy job for the inexperienced!)... All in all the C4 series are generally the same as the C3 when pre 2009 years - 2009 on are generally the same however not seen inside these newer reels as they are cheaper as Abu sold out to Berkley 'Pure Fishing'. Abu Ambassadeure's are still made in Sweden, and their design is still similar to those made 50 odd years ago, the design difference of the Abu Ambassadeur C4 compared to others in the line is really just some pure aesthetic changes and it doesn't harbour a great deal more / benefit other than retrieval rate and an extra bearing in the level wind RH side. Rock solid & Genuine [censored word removed] proof design (2009 prior), ease & low cost of spare parts, easily fixed without special tools or parts. 2009 design went a little cheap when Abu sold out to Berkley / Pure Fishing, otherwise the Abu remains the same as usual.2 comments
I know the thumb bar is pressed into the frame and is a non replaceable part - however it is very sturdy! The only part that I have had a issue with is the pin that pokes through the RH side plate - h... Read more
ave managed to push it into the thumb bar and had to push it back out carefully. I do have the old style thumb bars and do like these as they are old world tech and do work exceptionally well even after being beaten hard against a boats interior.Similar opinion? Write a review on ieatwords.com.au!
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fisher480
The only disadvantage is with the thumb bar models. If you break the thumb bar free spool release then the reel is throw away. The spare part is over $70.