How to CLEAN and COMPARE Abu Garcia C3 & C4 Baitcaster Reels | Full Walkthrough

[@theobirkholz]

This was super helpful. I followed along with my C4-6601 and it is much smoother than it was before.

[@BCFishingJournal]

Awesome to hear and thanks for the leaving that feedback.

[@427max]

New to the channel and love it hello from Vancouver Island

[@BCFishingJournal]

Thanks for the note Fred! I’m in Nanaimo area, so most of my videos are central island.

[@427max]

@@BCFishingJournal nice, we just moved from Duncan area to port hardy and LOVING it

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@427max Love Port Hardy. I’ve been up there a few times, all fishing related. Always a fun time and great fishing too.

[@littleviking488]

Excellent video! Regarding the differences (other than the spool release) the C4 has a bearing on the pinion end of the worm versus the nylon bush on the C3 (visible at 12:33) and the C4 gear ratio is different (6.3:1 versus 5.3:1 (C3)).

[@BCFishingJournal]

Thanks for this comment! Appreciate you mentioning the gear ratio differences, I can’t believe I didn’t mention that in this video. 👍

[@barclaysauers255]

Most, but not all, of the C4s have a redesigned star and handle. Bent in to facilitate better balanced retrieve and colored gold to look cool.

[@ianb4801]

​@@barclaysauers255some of the C3s have that bent handle too.

[@naturewins]

Great video, I love Abu Garcia reels, actually have 5 of them from different years

[@Kelberi]

This is an awesome video! May I know the diameter of the centrifugal ring where the brake blocks are pressed against? Is this part available for sale?

[@allaboutfishing6087]

I got the C4 for last salmon season. It was freaking amazing.

[@BCFishingJournal]

I'm a fan of them too! You might be surprised to see how close the C3 & C4 really are in this video. The only major difference is the spool release location.

[@yep.fishing]

Hwy hypothetically, if you chucked these reels on a light rod do you think you vould cast a 1/8oz jighead and plastic?

[@BCFishingJournal]

The rod pairing is important, if you have a heavy reel on a little noodle it’ll be challenging regardless of what your tossing. BUT you could try, and if you do make sure to loosen up the spool tension so the lighter lures can still pull out the line.

[@ianb4801]

You seemed to miss that these reels have two braking mechanisms, and how to set and adjust each of them. I don't recall you doing much with the centrifugal brake at sll, for thst matter. Did I miss something?

[@sdufg]

do you have one where you take the spool bearings out? i can't figure out how to remove the multi tab thingy on the side of spool...

[@BCFishingJournal]

Hey! Sorry I don’t have a video or section for that part. I’m assuming you did this already but if not have a look at the spec sheet/diagram, that should give you more info on all bearings.

[@aksyonov100]

Nice video! Shimano recommends to lightly grease drag washers and put some oil on brake collars. Abu Garcia might be different in maintenance

[@BCFishingJournal]

Interesting. I’m assuming your talking about the Calcutta, a fantastic baitcaster. Thanks for the note!

[@azman4749]

Putting some oil on brake collar will make centri brake unconsistance. After a while, a small amount of oil gunk will appear on brake collar. And that make spool braking unconsistance. But if you clean on regular basis, it will be fine to put oil

[@oinc7320]

Where did you get the schematic for the C4 that occasional popped up?

[@BCFishingJournal]

Apologies on this late response! Found on the schematic on Abu Garcia site. Go to this url below and enter in the model your looking for. www.abugarcia.com/pages/abugarcia-reel-schematics

[@gimicfishingkylesmith1419]

What rod would you suggest for the c4?

[@BCFishingJournal]

Depends on what fishing your doing with it. I use my c4 primarily in the rivers for float fishing and I pair it with a 10’6 Shimano Technium. Again it really depends on what type of fishing your doing.

[@danreeves7591]

What you call the c-clamp or c-lock, is a cir clip. Something that helps loads with these small parts is a dental pick. Pulls those cir clips off and allows you to keep a finger or thumb over it to prevent the "launch".

[@BCFishingJournal]

Thanks for the info Dan!

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

All you need for the C-clip is one of those tiny precision 1.0mm flat head screw driver bits, Walmart has the Hyper Tough 44 piece precision kit, it fits right in there and you can pry it out into your thumb....without it flying into a black hole and into another dimension.

[@davidlam8611]

Did you buy your Abu Garcia Silicote reel oil from Army & Navy when they were still in business? I had the exact reel oil, but I couldn't find it anymore in my house. The oil that comes with the Abu Garcia Ambasadeur C3 reels is grease which is thicker. I noticed that Abu Garcia sells Precision Oil as a replacement for the Silicote reel oil.

[@BCFishingJournal]

I bought it online, but can’t recall where. That said, it’s not a high end lube or oil, you can get much better ones for your reels, it doesn’t have to be Abu Garcia brand. Now I use a Multi-Purpose Synthetic Lube and Grease, brand is Super Lube.

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

@@BCFishingJournal I was actually thinking of going to Super Lube too, but I was going to use a #1 instead of the #2 because the #2 seems a little too thick, Did you use the #2 and how is the SL holding up, I think just by the performance on other gadgets I have that it would be an excellent reel lube.

[@BCFishingJournal]

@@denofearthundertheeverlast5138 I used grade 2, but not very much. Last time I cleaned it out I used up AG and a little of the grade 2. No issues for me!

[@jakeschlz9921]

Nice vid

[@craigcloud4173]

I got a 1972 6,000 Ambassador fishing reel

[@BCFishingJournal]

Wow! It would be interesting to see how much they’ve changed over the years.

[@barclaysauers255]

Who doesn't like to say "AhaaaaBuuuuuuu?"

[@denofearthundertheeverlast5138]

Jfyi , the spring washers can be put in any way you want, like this ( ) or )( it doesn't matter as long as they are opposed.

[@kevinh5024]

Actually, I believe the 5500/6500 signifies push button, while 5600/6600 signifies Thumb button.

[@barclaysauers255]

No! The C-3 has 3 bearings and the metal side plate button. C-4 (updated about 2014) has 4 bearings and the bigger plastic thumb lever spool release.

[@ianb4801]

​@@barclaysauers255the 6601 Record version has 8 bearings and the 5601 Record version has too. If you have a C3 and a C4, of the same model, made in the same country (Sweden Vs China), manufactured at the same time, they will have the same number of bearings as each other.

[@ianb4801]

You said nothing about the anti-reverse bearing, through which the brass brake/drive shaft runs. There are needle rollers in there that must be clean and minimally lubricated too. Without that the reel runs backwards as well as forwards. Huge problem if that bearing is damaged as it's not listed in the parts diagram and it's a delicate press fit inside the end cap. Ask me how I learned that.

[@ivanurena5844]

part 42 im sorry !!

[@ianb4801]

You completely missed something very important inside the "knob" or cap at the end of the spool shaft, next to crank. Unless you have the "record" variant, which has ball bearings for the shaft as well as for the spool, there is a retaining clip inside thst cap designed to seat inside the groove in the shaft. You must undo that cap and release shaft or ypu will deform that retaining clip and even break it. It is essential that you DON'T just open out the reel body then simply yank the shaft free, as s lot of people do. End result is that clip stops doing its job and worse. You didn't explain the inportance of that retaining clip, of the shim thete too for thst matter - or did you simply yank that shaft out too?

[@BCFishingJournal]

Lots to cover on these reels, if I’ve missed something I appreciate the heads up. Hopefully with the comments section, this video can be helpful resource for anglers with these reels. Cheers!