Rocket

   / Rocket #11  
RobS,

If it can be repaired, there are folks that can do it. Abu's are probably the most common reel repaired by independent craftsmen. I've never checked on the internet because we have someone right here in town who repairs Abu's, but I bet you can find someone either online or local.

If not, drop me a private message and I'll see if I can help you out.
 
   / Rocket
  • Thread Starter
#12  
"I remember having hard plastic water rockets when we were kids. They were only about a foot long. You'd fill 'em up and pump them with an air pump. They could knock you out if they launched while you were leaning over them. I think they took them off the market because of the danger. But the one like you have looks much safer as it seemed soft. How full do you have to fill it? How high do you think it went?

As for the fishing gear... I haven't bought any recently, but good gear keeps going down in price as even better gear comes onto the market. I remember drooling over the high dollar stuff as a kid... you know... the stuff that was $50.00 seemed like a lot of money back then. Have you priced the top end stuff recently?"

That rocket went about 100 or so feet high spraying a trail of water. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif. I don't know how we ever made it through childhood with no helmets, knee pads and real chemistry set with real chemicals in them. I think my set had a pretty complete assortment of chemicals--imagine selling something like that today--no wonder kids today only want to play ninetendo--thanks to the lawyers.
Yeah, on the fishing gear, I guess I was just surprised at the low cost. Much of it is made in China but some is still from Swedon and the USA. Back in 1974 you could buy a nice new car for 5,000 dollars, now 25,000 is the average price. Therefore I figure a reel that cost 60 dollars in 1974 should cost 150-300 dollars. I think maybe that precision ball bearings and spaceage materials and new manufacturing processes have had a huge impact.
As I said , I think, I have told my wife that our tech level is dangerously low. I think it is an indication of becoming old people /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. My beautiful neice recently got married to a naval officer, a very nice young person. BUT, here is what she said. I was asking her about her upcoming move to Hawaii and she told me that she and her fiance "were going to be an active couple". /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif. The direct inference was that I and other (older) persons there were not active couples /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. I was furious but of course smiled politely. I complained to my mother---what is she talking about--let's see--me and my wife have flown airplanes, sailed boats, got left in the ocean once kinda like this movie Open Water (only about an hour), scuba dived all over the place, cave dived, climbed mountains and hiked all over, got chased by a bear, raced motorcycles and triatholons, got mugged in Miami (where my wife bargained the mugger down to 20 dollars)---no--we have not been an active couple /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif. J
 
   / Rocket
  • Thread Starter
#13  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( J, I bought the same 5500C around the same time. Mine is mounted on a Shakespeare Ugly Stick. I also have a couple of Shakespeare baitcast reels from the same timeframe but they don't hold a candle to that ABU-Garcia.

Sadly, last year while out on a family camping trip I dropped the 5500C. We were fishing a small pond in the campground and it was edged with large limestone chunks. Reel hit a stone at an angle and was instantly bound up. I've tried several times since then to square the frame back up but it's not perfect. Any idea if it can be repaired professionally? At $50 it's not out of the question to simply replace it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>

I think it can be repaired. It realy depends on if it is of sentimental value vs buying something new. There is a place here in Kansaw--Heartlandtackleservice.com----he has a good reputation for repairs and upgrades. It is a home operated buisness and has new bearings and parts. There are several other places that do similar work on the old Abu reels. The place I mentioned did some repairs on my 5500C and a 5000 I had, replaced bearings with new low friction types and installed an upgraded ball bearing level wind, cleaned and lubricated etc. Very fast service. Cost me 60 dollars to bring both reels up to snuff. The 5500C performs BETTER than new and 5000 performs good as new. Maybe he can help you or direct you to someone who can. You of course can go to Wal Mart and buy a new Abu for under 100 dollars---even much less--the round Abus are still made in Sweden. Apparently, however, the King of the Hill, bass reel today is the Shimano Calcutta 200TEGT. Well over 300 dollars and there apparently there is an electronic version with a self powered onboard computer (I will pass on that version). Visit ---tackletour.com. That is what my new fishing buddy (sorta) has. Hmmmmm-------well---ok. Do you think the bass knows he is being caught on a 60 dollar 1974 Abu 5500C or a 350 dollar Shimanno Calcutta? If push came to shove and the bass was big and the current was pushing in his favor--my bet would be on the 5500C to stop him cold in his tracks before he manages to wrap a log. I caught an alligator gar once with it that was bigger than my 14 foot jon boat--fact. He pulled me on a sleigh ride that left a wake behind the boat. That is a powerful reel that can take that--probably why it needed a few repairs from the tackle service /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif. J
 
   / Rocket #14  
Why, it sounds like you've just been sitting around all these years! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Rocket #15  
Yea, these things are a blast!
 

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   / Rocket
  • Thread Starter
#16  
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Yea, these things are a blast! )</font>


Hmmm, looks like you are providing the "continuous adult supervision". Did you let those kids play with the --er--toy. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

We could inflate the balloon portion with helium, or better yet hydrogen and then fuse it to explode /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif J
 

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