ABU Garcia 5500C

Well, Bernie is taking a little gamble here. I put a bid in on ebay for this reel. And I got it for a total of 23 bucks including shipping. The seller has 99.9% positive feedback on 915 items so I tend to trust his words. He said "This is a used 5500 C casting reel in good condition, the drag is a lttle stiff, might deed a good cleaning. #830500 serial, very smooth."

I do have an extra rod to put it on. I thought that I would take it apart, clean, inspect parts , lube and put back together. Kind of a nice little project don't you think? If need be parts are probably available somewhere.

I have been searching for information about the above reel and found out that it was manufactured in May of 1983. Kind of interesting. I hope it works.

Bernie, I have a link to place that sells parts for all kind of different reel manufactor's. They even have a section with all the different schematic's of the reels. I hope this is ok, if not im sure they will block it. Here you go http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/index.php Hope this helps!

Thanks Katfish; nice site and I have it bookmarked.

Katfishing Cajun wrote:

Bernie, I have a link to place that sells parts for all kind of different reel manufactor's. They even have a section with all the different schematic's of the reels. I hope this is ok, if not im sure they will block it. Here you go http://www.mikesreelrepair.com/index.php Hope this helps!

Link Is Just Fine Buddy, Checking It Out Myself.

In the mid 70's I fished Lake Michigan for salmon. I had a reel of this same manufacture only it was a little larger and was about the size of a Penn 209. Three Penn 209's and one ABU Garcia. That one was black and crome and was very pretty and it worked just fine with those King reel busters.

Bernie I Have I Beleive 12 PENN 209's, 1- PENN 309, And 2- PENN 155's And I Had More But I Gave Them To My Kids For Christmas Giftes, We Love Them For Fishing Cats And Trolling For Pike.

As long as we are on Penn reels; I just pulled out the box of one that I bought 4 years ago. It is called Penn Special Senator 4/0--113H. I see on the box it cost me 120 bucks. I must have been a little wacky when I got that as I have only used it twice. That was on the old Skyway bridge down by Tampa.

I had also got a suitable pole to hold that "monster". Don't want to throw it out however as I may have use for it some day. Just hoping. Maybe I could us it on one of John's stripers. Again just hoping.

I received that old ABU today and it looks quite good. The screws on the left side look untouched but the ones on the right side are upset and have been misused slightly. The reel in my hand seems to be all right and I am well satisfied for 23 bucks. I do not see the serial number on it but it was published on eBay when I got it.

Looks good anyway so will take it apart and do the best I can. Who knows, it might just become a nice friend in the future. I do not see anything wrong with it.

Bernie, I have about 35 ABUs and all you have to do is keep them clean and use light oil on the bearings and moving parts, some of them are very old and still work very smooth and as good as the newer ones, Oh ,by the way I,have a lot of Penns also, Good reel,you done good Buddy........

Nice reel Bernie...

And by the way I now have another SBU 5500-C3. It is old but a new one and never used. I hope to try them out real (reel) soon.

Cajun thanks for the link.