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Conference wahoo::fishing

Title:Fishing Notes- Archived
Notice:See note 555.1 for a keyword directory of this conference
Moderator:DONMAC::MACINTYRE
Created:Fri Feb 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Sep 20 1991
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1660
Total number of notes:20970

1359.0. "ABU 520 bait casters" by SEMIU5::MATTSON () Mon Mar 19 1990 16:36

	Does anyone out in Notes land use a ABU 520 XLT SYNCRO II. I bought one 
from BPS this year and noticed something that I thought was strange. When I set 
it up with 12 lbs test,with the STAR drag adjusted as tight as possible,and the 
handle all the way in the forward position,I could get the spool to slip before
the line would break. Is this normal?
	I've mostly used open face spincast units and those drags you could 
tighten all the way down and the line would break before the spool slipped. Is 
this because typically you use 6-8 lbs test, and with 12lbs and higher on better
baitcasters,they're designed to slip? Is this like having anti lock brakes on a
car so you'll never skid? Or is my real screwed up and needs to go back to BPS.
I know you never what your drag so tight that the line breaks first but should
you be able to do this with the STAR drag all the way in. 

					thanks,
						Gary
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1359.1Is drag set CORRECTLY????GENRAL::HUNTERfrom SUNNY Colorado, WayneTue Mar 20 1990 10:3918
        re. -.1
    	Gary,
    	BE SURE that you have cranked the handle FORWARD before you say
    that it won't break the line.  That reel is SUPPOSED to drop drag if
    the handle moves backward.  So, to be sure of what is happening, make
    sure that you have reeled forward AGAINST the drag before you state how
    much drag you really had on the reel.  To set the drag on a SYNCRO type
    reel, turn the handle BACKWARDS as far as it will go to loosen the drag
    fully.  Set drag to a point that you want for your MINIMUM drag WITHOUT
    LETTING THE HANDLE TURN.  TURN REEL FORWARD WITH TENSION against line. 
    IF LINE BREAKS, back drag off unless you are pitchin' and want that
    reel LOCKED DOWN.  If you try to set the drag AFTER the reel handle has
    been turned forward and then try to break the line after the handle has
    gone backwards, IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN!!!  However, if you adjust the
    drag as stated above, you should be able to pop 20# test line.  If not,
    send the reel in for repair.  That reel should be able to lock down on
    20# test if adjusted to maximum as stated above.
1359.2ABACUS::TOMASJoeThu Mar 22 1990 11:4810
My ABU 521 also slips even when tightened all the way down.  I did find that 
by carefully removing the drag washers and cleaning them to remove any 
grease and oil helped to improve it, but not to the point where it would 
slip.

BTW...note that you should NOT set the drag by pulling line directly out 
from the reel.  Drag should be set by pulling line from the rod tip at an 
angle similar to the way a fish would be pulling.  

-HSJ-
1359.3I found the problemSEMIU5::MATTSONThu Mar 22 1990 12:5421
Wayne,Joe

	Thanks for the input. Joe what you said is what I did afterwards and 
thats why I wasn't overly concerned. What I did find last night is strange. 
Apparently you can adjust the star drag all the way in to where you feel it stop,
then I was able to turn the Reel handle two complete reveloutions while holding 
the spool and could feel the restance on the handle getting tighter and tighter
to the point where if I turned anymore it would have busted. 
	This apparently got the star drag even tighter but I'm not sure why? 
The spool was now rock solid and I couldn't get it to slip at all,which is what
I wanted to be able to do in the first place. Then I was able to back off of the
drag and get it set up to the correct range like Joe mentioned. Now the reel 
does act normal,I can tighten or lossen the drag to what ever level I desire,
and when I turned the handle backwards to reduce the drag(that's what this 
model is designed to do) it releases the drag much smoother. 
	Somehow I must of got it beyond it's normal limit by playing around with
it before I had any line on it. Then by doing what I did last night brought it 
back. O well live and learn. Now to catch a bass big enough to worry about this
new gimmick I JUST HAD TO PAY EXTRA FOR.

							Gary
1359.4same problem on demo unitRANGER::MACINTYRETerminal AnglerMon Mar 26 1990 10:4910
    At the worcester expo I was interested in the synchro and found that
    the display model at the abu booth had the same problem - the demoer
    told me that this reel was not working correctly because it had been
    abused at too many shows... made me wary enough not to buy one...
    however with the lifetime warranty you can be sure that if there is a 
    'reel' problem then they will take care of you...
    
    donmac - back from florida and breezin' quickly thru the notes... will
    have trip report soon - the 5 of us made it back ok... the insurance
    companies should take care of everything.... 8^)
1359.5ABU Repair # Needed.HPSTEK::BARTONMon Apr 23 1990 09:2113
    Hi
    
         Everyone seems to love the Abu 521 and 800 series reels. I now
    have a collection of four that need repair. Three have the front
    'leveler' mechanism grossly malfuntioning. One screams like a screech
    owl every tenth or twelth cast for some unknown reason.
    
         I've been told about the 'lifetime warranty'. Does anyone have a
    phone number (of the repair center) so I could get some idea of 
    the costs to get these 4 reels fixed? 
    
    Thanks,
    Bill Barton.
1359.6Bucko's Won't Let You DownASABET::VARLEYMon Apr 23 1990 11:174
     Bucko's in Fall River, Ma. at 508 674-7900. Tell 'em it's warranty
    work. They are the fastest and THE BEST !
    
    -- Bandito