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Ambassadeur 6500i TSR review

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Earlier this year I finally received from the UK Abu’s newly introduced Ambassadeur 6500i TSR reel.

 

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I have used the reel at both the practice field and on the water since receiving it and I am now ready to give a review.

 

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I preference this review with this statement: I do not work for Abu nor was I compensated otherwise for providing this review.

 

I decided to post this review here in the Distance Casting Forum because the Ambassadeur 6500i TSR reel was designed for longer casting distances. But I am not a practitioner of competition type long distance casting, rather I am a somewhat accomplished long distance casting surf fisherman.

 

Here is a picture of the side of the box of the 6500i TSR showing basic information.

 

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The 6500i TSR is made in Sweden as declared on the top of the box…

 

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Other than the frame, the exterior the 6500i TSR has some of the classic 6500 Ambassadeur features:

 

•dual spool control knobs—one each on each side-plate.

•variable magnetic cast control slider on the top of the left side-plate

•newer designed aluminum V shaped spool.

•star wheel drag control

•ergonomic handle

•line-out alarm (clicker)

•“quick-release” right side-plate screws.

•pushbutton for free spool with auto re-engagement.

 

The 6500i TSR’s frame is unique for an Ambassadeur model reel. Few Ambassadeur reel models have had a one piece frame.

 

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The one piece frame is machine-cut out of a single block of aluminum and appears strong and well made with perfect dimensions and tolerances. The aluminum frame saves weight and is excellent against saltwater corrosion. Amazingly, the 6500i TSR weighs 15% less than the Ambassadeur 6500 “Blue Yonder”—11.6 ounces versus 13.6 ounces. Also, the reel foot is fully integrated to the frame, i.e., both the frame and reel foot are all one unit.

 

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Other reels like Penn’s International 975CS model has the reel foot riveted to the one piece frame. Is the integrated reel foot of the 6500i TSR stronger or better? Perhaps, because this design eliminates the rivet connections that in theory could come loose. But when was the last time a riveted reel foot came undone?

 

The real benefit of the one piece frame comes from the greater rigidity and strength it has over the traditional Ambassadeur reels that employ separate frame side-plates connected via separate cross-bars and reel foot. Greater frame rigidity and strength, in theory, reduces flexural and torsional forces during reel operation, e.g., during a power cast, the reel is more stable equating to longer casting distance(s).

 

Here is a picture of the reel mostly disassembled—rather simplistic.

 

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With a few exceptions, the internal mechanism(s) of the reel are basically the same as most of the 6500 Ambassadeurs on the market today.

 

The 6500i TSR’s has a standard Ambassadeur brake plate as shown below.

 

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The pushbutton to disengage the spool (free spool) with the auto re-engagement of the spool via a slight turn of the reel’s handle has always been a nice feature of the Ambassadeur reels. The reel comes with “Dual Anti-Reverse”. The brake plate shows one of the anti-reverse mechanisms—a standard anti-reverse dog. The second anti-reverse mechanism will be discussed later. Also note the stainless steel pinion gear which too will be discussed in a moment.

 

Below is a picture of the reel with the ride side-plate and handle assembly removed—standard Ambassadeur mechanisms except for the stainless steel gearing. Compared to the commonly found brass gearing in many of the Ambassadeur models, stainless steel gearing is superior in strength and corrosion resistance.

 

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Below is a picture of the inside (backside) of the brake plate. The stainless steel pinion gear has 4 slots to engage the spool clutch. The reason for the 4 slot pinion gear is for quicker re-engagement of the spool.

 

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Note that many of the other Ambassadeur reel models have pinion gears with 2 slots. Although many Ambassadeur reel parts are interchangeable between models, the 6500i TSR’s 4 slot pinion gear may not be compatible with spools designed for a 2 slot pinion gear.

 

Below is a picture of the right side of the 6500i TSR’s spool, showing the centrifugal braking system with 6 adjustable brake blocks. The brake blocks can be set to on or off by sliding the individual blocks in or out. This allows for a wider range of braking from 6 blocks on (full braking) to no braking (all blocks off).

 

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Also note that the inner 2 clutch pin configuration that works with the 4 slot pinion gear is part of a plastic clutch washer. Abu introduced the 6 adjustable brake block configuration with a plastic clutch washer a few years back. Previous models of the Ambassadeur had a metal clutch washer. The clutch washer engagement with the pinion gear, in effect, is the cranking connection between the handle and the spool. I have had no problems with the plastic clutch washer over the past several years on other Ambassadeur reels. But whether the plastic clutch washer over a longer time will be an equal replacement to the metal clutch washer is to be seen.

 

The 6500i TSR reel has a magnetic cast control system that works via a slider on the top of the left side-plate as seen below. You can set the amount of mag control from 0 (zero) for no braking to more braking as required.

 

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Inside the left side-plate sits the cast control magnet carriage as seen below. The correct setup is opposing polarity between magnets.

 

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There are 7 factory installed (removable) rare earth magnets. As the slider on top of the left side-plate is moved the magnet carriage also moves—closer to the spool, more control (braking)…further from the spool, less control (braking).

 

The 6500i TSR has dual control knobs—one each on each side-plate. Below is a picture of the left side-plate control knob which can be turned to center the spool and control the speed of the spool during a cast. There is also the standard knob setting marker ring. The ring rotates and has numbers stamped on it. The ring has no actual functionality to the performance of the reel and serves just as a marker setting w/ the control knob marker (V). This way you can mark a particular knob setting and adjust off this mark…but truth is the ring is

seldom used by most fishers.

 

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Controlling the spool speed is accomplished when the knob is turned to adjust tension to the spool via the brass bushing that sits inside the left side-plate under the control knob as shown below.

 

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The brass bullet busing (inside of the knob) works with the spool’s cog gear. The cog gear is snapped (locked) onto the spool and the brass bushing comes in contact with it causing friction to slow down the spool speed. The cog gear also engages with the line out alarm (clicker).

 

http://www.stripersonline.com/image/id/2219361/width/600/height/466]

 

The above picture of the brass bullet bushing and cog gear is a standard Ambassadeur design and is found on such legendary long casting models as the Blue Yonder. However, IMO, the ultimate design for achieving greater distance casting in the 6500 Ambassadeur comes with the speed bushing design found in such reels as the 6500 C3CT Mag Pro or the 6500 C3CT Mag Elite. Ambassadeur reels with a speed bushing (pictured below) cannot, by design, have a line out alarm (clicker). Abu made a decision for the Ambassadeur 6500i TSR to have a line out alarm (clicker), thus, the cog gear and brass bullet bushing.

 

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The speed bushing as shown below is designed only for contact with the inner race of the left side in-board spool bearing. In theory, this allows the spool to spin more freely on the outer race of the bearing.

 

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The same design is found on the right side spool bearing. Here the right bearing’s inner race is in contact with only the spool axle’s bearing collar as shown below.

 

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Below is a picture showing the right side-plate control knob which can be turned to center the spool, but does not control the speed of the spool during a cast as much as the left side plate control knob.

 

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So, in total, the 6500i TSR has 3 different systems to control the spool speed during a cast…adjustable internal centrifugal brakes; an external adjustable magnetic cast control (slider); and an adjustable external cast control knob.

 

The 6500i TSR has a second anti-reverse press-fitted into the right side-plate at the handle crank. This setup is made up of a one way roller bearing that works with a roller bearing sleeve and provides for “instant” anti-reverse.

 

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The drag assembly in the 6500i TRS has carbon matrix drag washers and a stainless steel main gear. The pinion gear (not shown in the picture below) is also stainless steel.

 

http://www.stripersonline.com/image/id/2219380/width/600/height/432]

 

Another, unique feature of the 6500i TSR; it’s the first Ambassadeur model to come standard with ceramic ball bearings for the reel’s spool. The bearings are actually hybrid ceramic bearings meaning that all components are metal (stainless steel) except for the interior balls which are ceramic. The theory behind the ceramic bearings is the ball bearings themselves are made of ceramic and are both lighter in weight and have a lower coefficient of friction, equating to greater revolutions (spool speed) and a longer cast.

 

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Also the 6500i TSR is a little more compact sitting on the rod. Because of the one piece frame’s configuration and dimensions, the top of the spool (filled with line) is about a ¼” lower to the reel seat. This lower dimension makes for a better (stronger) thumb grip on the spool during a cast.

 

The performance of this reel is as expected…excellent! Under fishing conditions, the reel’s drag is smooth and strong with infinite adjustment. The drag can be turned to nearly a locked down position and in tests I conducted the 6500i TSR could handle at least 15# of drag pull. And the gear ratio at 5:1 is just right IMO for most surf fishing…

 

With 3 separate systems to control spool speed during a cast, the 6500i TSR can be setup to flawlessly perform and match any condition encountered. Backlashing is virtually not an issue w/ this reel…if backlashing during a cast occurs; it’s not the reel, but rather operator error. There are too many casting controls available on the 6500i TSR to ruin a cast.

 

The casting distance that I achieved with the 6500i TSR at the practice field and under real conditions of fishing the surf were excellent. All my rods and reels are setup for surf fishing, not long distance competition casting. I tuned the 6500i TSR for optimal distance—all internal brakes off; 2 magnets in the magnet carriage; and thin bearing oil. At the practice field using a Rainshadow 1569 rod, 6 ounce sinker, .375 mm mono running line, 60# mono shock leader and a pendulum cast, the longest measured cast(s) with the 6500i TSR were 160 - 165 yards…165 yards is a very long cast…at least for me.

 

And so I find the 6500i TSR an excellent long distance casting reel…but the reel does not cast any further than the 6500 C3CT Mag Elite and/or the 6500 C3CT Mag Pro (I own and fish both reels). I was expecting greater casting distance(s) w/ the 6500i TSR, mainly because of the rigidity and strength of the one piece frame along with hybrid ceramic spool bearings.

 

I believe that ABU’s decision to incorporate a line out alarm (clicker) which necessitates the use of the brass bullet bushing and plastic cog gear in the 6500i TSR has negated the potential extra casting distance features of a one piece frame and ceramic bearings. The brass bullet bushing and plastic cog gear are not as optimal for free spool spin as the speed bushing found in the 6500 C3CT Mag Elite and/or the 6500 C3CT Mag Pro. I also have speculated for some time whether the plastic cog gear affixed to the spool, both spinning during a power cast at some 15,000+ rpm, creates resistance as the cog gear’s large teeth, acting like fins, are pushing against air. If so, perhaps the spool spin is slowed by wind resistance from the cog gear—read; shorter casting distance.

 

The 6500i TSR's spool axle does not spin during a cast and this design is found on many of the 6500 Ambassadeur reel models. Instead the spool spins on in-board bearings that sit on the axle. Below is a picture that shows the tight tolerance (clearance) between the spool axle (shaft) and the cog gear. With very high spool RMPs generated during a cast, some vibration is created to cause contact (and friction) between the axle and the cog gear, resulting in slowing down the spool spin—read; shorter casting distance. I know some casters have enlarged (bored-out) the inner sleeve of the cog gear to reduce the contact/friction between the cog gear and axle.

 

http://www.stripersonline.com/image/id/2219386/width/600/height/414]

 

On a positive note the 6500i TSR is casting as far as the 6500 C3CT Mag Elite and/or the 6500 C3CT Mag Pro…and it has a clicker, something the other 2 reels don’t have…

 

In conclusion, Abu’s relatively new Ambassadeur 6500i TSR reel is a solid performer. It’s a long distance casting surf fisherman’s reel, clicker and all.

 

 

© 2011 Rumble Fish aka Poppy

 

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Awesome review Poppy!!!!! You are correct it will not out cast the elite or tricked out mag reels but i believe it is what you alluded to regarding the clicker and short bullet vs. the long speed bullet.On the Akios shuttle where i want to keep the use of the clicker i ran into an issue similar to the rubbing of the cog. gear.I placed a b.b. in the bullet to keep the shaft(axle) from bottoming out and so far it is perfect!!! Cheers Alan

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Very nice review. I am glad to see Abu adding upgrades to a stock reel that people used to do in the past such as drag washers, ceramic bearing, and the one piece frame. Unfortunately I think Abu needs to come up with some original ideas to stay competitive in the surf fishing industry. Daiwa and Akios are two manufactures that I think are and will be going head to head with Abu.

 

John

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Rumble Fish,

 

Thanks for your very informative post.

 

One question, if you have the spool and shaft out of the reel, and press the shaft so that the brass collar is hard up against the right side bearing, then place the factory brass bush firmly on the left hand side, how much gap (approx) is there between the nylon cog wheel and the brass bush? is it the amount shown in the photo, or more or less?

 

Thanks!

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Do you have an opinion yet about the fish-fighting characteristics of the reel and drag? It may be that the fighting benefits of no frame flex won't matter but you're a person who deals with larger catches.

 

Some of the Ambassaadeur 6500 reels that started out in the 90’s were part Abu’s new “International Line”…some of the reels in the International Line were the 6500 C3CT Elite (Blue Yonder) and the 7500 CT Big Game. The hallmark design of these reels was the wide cross-bar(s) in the frame along with the dual cast control knobs. In particular the International Line 6500 models were especially strong in the frame…for a relatively small saltwater reel they carried a lot of fish fighting power. The drag on those reels was easy 15#...

 

The 6500i TSR is no different and w/ a one piece frame it’s that much stronger…I have landed a few larger rays w/ the reel in the 65# range…no problems.

 

Poppy

 

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One question' date=' if you have the spool and shaft out of the reel, and press the shaft so that the brass collar is hard up against the right side bearing, then place the factory brass bush firmly on the left hand side, how much gap (approx) is there between the nylon cog wheel and the brass bush? is it the amount shown in the photo, or more or less?[/quote']

 

If the shaft and spool are out of the reel, and the shaft is pressed so that the shaft collar is against the right bearing, the factory brass bullet bushing is in full contact w/ the plastic cog on the left side. The same full contact is also achieved w/ the reel assembled and in use if the left side and/or right side control knobs are tightened (turned clockwise).

 

The amount of gap between the cog gear and brass bullet bushing in the picture is possible if you loosen (turned counter-clockwise) the left side and/or right side control knobs.

 

Poppy

 

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