Abu 7000 Lever Drag Reel

[Seamouse]

No honey harvested as yet duncan, hopefully mid November. We message you when I have some.

????

 

You are late harvesting Rich? We did OK this year but there was a glut of stinky Ivy honey at the end of the flow so we'll be cooking with the stuff for months to come.

 

Steve

[TomBettle]

Just thought I'd post this.

Ironicaly the same thread about the GAC

[alun j.]

Not my experience!!

 

There seems to be a few probs with some of the C4 reels; these are the ones with the blue end plates. I think the Big Game series [ the gold ones] sorted out whatever was up........mine have been 'brill'......as long as you wash them!

 

Shimano.......tougher, heavier and more to set drag into 'bite\take' mode

 

Abu..... easier to scratch\bash [but still works fine], lighter and nicer to fish with.

 

I've never had probs with side plate screws; perhaps linked to lack of washing\corrosion.

 

Alun.

[Paul D]

The far eastern ones also have "Made in Taiwan" on a label on the reel seat. ( at least the ones I had have )

 

I have one "made in sweden" one and one "made in Taiwan" one. Both have issues with the side screws but apart from that are fine and still working OK.

 

I would be interested to hear of the fate of the reel which was won for the last competition ( remember the one where the pieces were put together in a jigsaw thing ). Who won that and what state is it in now ?

 

 

 

[Fugazi]

Last year I was fortunate enough to win an Ambassaduer 7000CS proRocket multiplier in the Cod competition and have been using it ever since. So far it has proved to be a smooth reliable reel and is in fact nicer to use than my Penn 310GTi. I have not experienced any problems with corrosion at all, but I do wash it off with fresh water and spray it with WD40 after each trip. Although it has made in Taiwan stamped on the bottom I had a quick look on the net it appears to be about twice of the C4

[Paul J]

Get yourselves some saltx

 

A quick spray gives peace of mind and no corrosion

 

PJ

[Paul D]

Just stripped down my 7000LD and corrosion is limited to the outer case ( slight pitting ). One of the screws holding the lever drag plate has sheared off. Rest of reel is smooth as silk.

 

I would say the screw / screw threads are the weak link but at

[plaicemat]

It seems you pays your money and takes your choice. I think there are more pros from opinions I value than cons. I too keep some Salt-X made up in an atomising bottle and spray all my kit with it when I return from a trip. So far, no corrosion on any of my Abu reels, and no loose screws either. Perhaps I will remove them and replace with a little Locktite for security. I still think I'd rather have a new Abu than a second hand reel that I don't know the pedigree of.

 

Terry.

[Paul D]

Hmm - My newest ABU has now managed to shear off the screw holding the lever drag plate. It certainly appears that the cheaper far eastern reels may have weaker metal screws. Still, managed to haul up 2 rays today with it

 

 

[alun j.]

Paul,

 

Is it due to corrosion or rough treatment [bumped about in transit]?

 

If the latter, it mat be worth getting some of those soft covers to put over reel [ask Adam , he's got some on his reels].

 

My reels get a good wash after each trip and a quick spray with WD40 - type stuff , if I remember............and they're fine!

 

Alun.

[plaicemat]

Alun, the big advantage of spraying with a Salt-X mixture is that it is inert as far as braid is concerned. WD-40 type stuff will rot braid line. Having sprayed the reels with Salt-X, I just wipe the cases over with a rag sprayed with WD-40.

 

Terry.

[Paul J]

It's well worth greasing the screws on a new reel to prevent this problem

 

Me stating the bleeding obvious again

 

PJ

[Paul D]

I have now seen that Dean treats his reels similarily to mine ! and he swears by the Penns. So I am tempted to give one of these a go next to see how long it will last. ( Also noted that Tom and Paul J rate them highly ).

 

[Swainiac]

Guys, those neoprene jackets are excellent for keeping spray off the reel o9n the way to the mark, and to help prevent knocks and scratches when stowing reels. If you keep them on the reel when you have been out, they keep the salt water inside the reel, which has a negative effect.

I have found it best to rinse both the reels and jackets, dry overnight in an airing cupboard as stated previously then replace the covers.

 

When I enquired to Pure fishing as to the problem with the 7000's, they told me it is a regualr back at their servicing bay, screw seats coming loose, and screws shearing. Surely not all these ABU's are friday afternoon reels?? LOL.

 

Rich

[Neal]

 

I have several of the ABU 7000 Big game reels - Basically loaded with a variety of different breaking strain Braids and Monos - I have been using them for the majority of my fishing for the last couple of years and rate them very highly. They are easy to use - have a nice easy retrieve, the drag is very smooth and can be used in most types of everyday fishing. I draw the line at deep water wrecking, where more specialised reels are required.

 

I have had screws shear on 2 of the reels but this has not impaired their function so far. From the other comments, it is obviously a design fault, but at the current price - I will live with it.

 

I used to use Penn reels but was forever replacing the worm drives on the level-

winds. So far the Abu reels have not had this problem.

 

If looked after carefully I expect them to last several years - which realistically is all you expect from anything in this 'throw away' age and at a price of

[great white]

Thanks Guys

 

Dan has decided and bought a shiny new 7000 BG NLD

 

I think I will probably whip the screws out and grease them up before use

 

He has matched it with the uptider also purchased and hopes to get amongst the winter fish and spring pollack to test it out.

 

Thanks Alun

 

Charlie

[plaicemat]

A good choice, Dan. My 7000BG NLDgoes with me every trip and has never let me down. I have now removed the screws and added a little locktite, for security of mind more than anything else.

 

Terry.

[Swainiac]

Charlie, it is the lugs that the screws go down into that fail, if the screws do slide out, its a trip back to Pure fishing to right the problem.

 

In the end, I was fed up with sending it back, and threatened them with "Fit for purpose", and got a refund. I guess mine was a friday afternoon reel, but after sending a 6500 lever drag back umpteen times, I think not.

I hope he gets good service from it.

[alun j.]

Perhaps Rich jumps up and down on his reels ??? ........or does those screws up too tight ???

 

My two work like a dream !

 

The 6600 C3 Lever drags are a bit more sensitive to wear and tear as their drags can, more easily, get contaminated with water and\or oil. I've got three of these ; two are fine , one is a bit 'sticky' and might need a new spool [ drag and spool are all part of the same part!].

 

Dan , I hope you enjoy using your reel.........just give it a good rinse after every trip and a quick spray of WD40 - type stuff!

 

Alun.

[TomBettle]

Charlie, it is the lugs that the screws go down into that fail, if the screws do slide out, its a trip back to Pure fishing to right the problem.

 

In the end, I was fed up with sending it back, and threatened them with "Fit for purpose", and got a refund. I guess mine was a friday afternoon reel, but after sending a 6500 lever drag back umpteen times, I think not.

I hope he gets good service from it.

No Rich

 

The Friday afternoon ones are the good ones.

 

The old Swedish "rest of the week shift" used to make the good ones and the "Far East chaps only worked Friday PM's, now they have swapped over.

A Friday Afternoon reel from Abu is a good one in 2007.

 

Tom

 

Just an opinion and by no means the only one for all you millenium Abu reel lovers

[Fugazi]

I have been very impressed with my trusty Penn 310GTi reel which has given years of excellent service. So last Friday I went into my local tackle dealer to purchase one of the new Penn bait runner reels but the dealer told me that Penn have been bought out by Shakespeare and all the new Penn reels are now made in the Far East. His opinion was that the quality is now inferior to the original US built ones, so it looks like Penn have joined the other well known brand names in out sourcing manufacture. His recommendation was to buy a cheaper reel as they were all made by the same manufacturer anyway, has anyone got any inside information to confirm this?

 

If true, it sounds like all future reels will be short life throw away items no matter what you purchase.

 

[TomBettle]

I have been very impressed with my trusty Penn 310GTi reel which has given years of excellent service. So last Friday I went into my local tackle dealer to purchase one of the new Penn bait runner reels but the dealer told me that Penn have been bought out by Shakespeare and all the new Penn reels are now made in the Far East.  His opinion was that the quality is now inferior to the original US built ones, so it looks like Penn have joined the other well known brand names in out sourcing manufacture. His recommendation was to buy a cheaper reel as they were all made by the same manufacturer anyway, has anyone got any inside information to confirm this?

 

If true, it sounds like all future reels will be short life throw away items no matter what you purchase.

Yes Penn have been bought by Shakespear which in turn is owned by another company which in turn owns most tackle brands, but I can assure you that my brand new (delivered a couple of days ago and not even spooled) International TRQ 100 very firmly has "Made in USA" on it.

 

Your dealer was talking out of his rear end.

 

No doubt there will be changes with the Shakespear regime and I am sure not all for the best, but to get the real, live and 100% true info why don't you ask the current Mr Penn UK himself.

Gary Caulfield is an extremely approachable man and you can contact him directly at gary@pennfishing.com or via the WSF website if you prefer.

 

He is due to hang up his white coat and take his name off the office door at Christmas.

 

In my own little world, my opinion very much stands that with fishing reels you most definitely get what you pay for.

 

Tom

Edited October 31, 2007 by TomBettle

[plaicemat]

As with most things in life, Tom. But lots of folk have to justify this with what they can afford, which was why I mentioned the opener to this thread in the first place. There is always something bigger, stronger and better produced, but priorities dictate whether or not one can justify the expense on a hobby.

 

Terry.

[TomBettle]

As with most things in life, Tom. But lots of folk have to justify this with what they can afford, which was why I mentioned the opener to this thread in the first place. There is always something bigger, stronger and better produced, but priorities dictate whether or not one can justify the expense on a hobby.

 

Terry.

Terry, my last comment was purely to answer Gordon's one about everything going to "chuck away" standards.

 

I can't afford the reels I use, I certainly can't justify them as I have hardly been out this year, but there is a huge difference in comfort, speed, usability, power, smoothness which makes it all worthwhile and if everything was to got to that level of quality then I'd probably take up knitting instead.

Edited November 1, 2007 by TomBettle

[plaicemat]

I didn't mean to infer that mine was a personal comment directed at you, Tom, it was just a general comment to justify my inclusion of the thread. I don't do personal comments, I value friendship too much for that. Respect for the opinions of others; sometimes I learn something that way.

 

Isn't it funny how things grow from the simplest seed sown? I suppose it's the old thing that you can call a man stupid but don't criticise his sexual prowess, driving or religion. I include fishing in the last category.

 

Terry.