BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

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Shadowcaster1969
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BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:05 am

Thinking of getting into the BFS game, casting lures down to 2-3g. For reel option, any recommendations between getting a new modern reel like the Conquest BFS or the Steez Air, or to tune up my existing Abu? I have a few Abu 1500c and a 2500c that I had own since the 1980s, seems like there are JDM tune up parts that are available for BFS tune ups. Can anyone advise if the tune up Abus perform as well as the modern reels? The Abus do sell for eye-popping prices in Japan... Thanks in advance!

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:18 am

You can sell used ABU 1500-2500s and buy several bfs reels.

That said, I love my 1601C IAR with Avail spools. It does great with 2.5-3.0 + gram lures. I have not used lures weighing less. I will say that bfs-wise my ABU performs as good as many modern reels. To tune the ABUs you will have to cough up 200 usd or so (spool, bearings, double bearing cog wheel, double bearing worm gear etc), so you can get a great new bfs reel for just a little less.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:31 am

I have no idea of how well tuned up Ambassadeur 2500 works.

I have had Ambassadeur 2500 C, but sold it at good price in the 90's. But now those mint 2500 C's cost ridiculously much.

I have thought much of buying good 2500 C and tune it up. But full tuning parts for it is really high priced. (Lower frame, faster gears, lightest spool, mag tune, lighter line guide and knife for it, roller bearing conversion, best bearings, and better drag.)

But actually I miss that synchorized line guide and ticking drag, and I miss those a lot.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:54 am

Thanks for sharing your BFS experience. :)

Those 1500c and 2500c has a special place in my fishing history. I received a 1500c as a nine year old in 1978 and that was how I started with baitcasting reels. I got a cardinal 6x a few years earlier in the mid 1970s but that's another story... I still have serveral of those 1500c and 2500c, including a brand new in box 2500c that that I had bought as a spare and forgotton to use. ](*,)

I was worried that the tuned up Abu may not perform adequately as compatred to the modern reels, but if they can mnage 2-3g minnows I may seriously consider. jveith74 is right about the price of the tune up parts too... at where I am the tune up parts for my 1500c runs up to about $320. :shock: But it might be a worthwhile experience and special to be able to use my 1500c or 2500c and get BFS performance out of it. :D

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 5:07 am

If I'm going to tune up old little Abu, I will choose Ambassadeur 2500 (over 1500 or 3500).

3500 is said it don't cast as good as 2500 - I'm not sure of why it's so.

Spool weight 2500 c vs. 1500 c is slim. But 1500 is narrower, and line guide changes direction faster...

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by LowRange » Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:02 am

jvelth74 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 4:31 am
I have no idea of how well tuned up Ambassadeur 2500 works.

I have had Ambassadeur 2500 C, but sold it at good price in the 90's. But now those mint 2500 C's cost ridiculously much.

I have thought much of buying good 2500 C and tune it up. But full tuning parts for it is really high priced. (Lower frame, faster gears, lightest spool, mag tune, lighter line guide and knife for it, roller bearing conversion, best bearings, and better drag.)

But actually I miss that synchorized line guide and ticking drag, and I miss those a lot.
AMO sells these parts for old abus including frames and spools for a reasonable amount. Reasonable compared to Avail that is.
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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:15 am

^ Yes.

I have thought to buy that AMO frame despite of that I don't have reel. It's such big saving from Avail => Amo in that frame.

But because of I don't have reel, I don't have ordered frame, because I can't check fits frame or not...

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by LowRange » Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:24 am

jvelth74 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:15 am
^ Yes.

I have thought to buy that AMO frame despite of that I don't have reel. It's such big saving from Avail => Amo in that frame.

But because of I don't have reel, I don't have ordered frame, because I can't check fits frame or not...
I think they have frames for 1500, 2500 and 4500. Maybe a lower end abu has compatible parts? Buy a narrow frame and spool then a larger frame complete used reel at a low price and build a reel? The thought process is why buy an expensive narrow frame abu and swap frames when you already have an AMO narrow frame? Just get a bigger cheaper reel with compatible parts and source whatever else you need. I thought about this but didn't do a ton of homework and went with the 4600 spool and a cheap Sweden made 4600 instead. Later after I tune up the 4600 I will consider a franken build "nice" abu.
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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am

LowRange wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:24 am
jvelth74 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:15 am
^ Yes.

I have thought to buy that AMO frame despite of that I don't have reel. It's such big saving from Avail => Amo in that frame.

But because of I don't have reel, I don't have ordered frame, because I can't check fits frame or not...
I think they have frames for 1500, 2500 and 4500. Maybe a lower end abu has compatible parts? Buy a narrow frame and spool then a larger frame complete used reel at a low price and build a reel? The thought process is why buy an expensive narrow frame abu and swap frames when you already have an AMO narrow frame? Just get a bigger cheaper reel with compatible parts and source whatever else you need. I thought about this but didn't do a ton of homework and went with the 4600 spool and a cheap Sweden made 4600 instead. Later after I tune up the 4600 I will consider a franken build "nice" abu.
I now have four ABU 4601 with AMO or Avail spools, dual bearing cog wheel, dual bearing worm gear, full ceramic bearings, ceramic pawl, dual bearing spool gear / idler, drive shaft w bearing etc. Also use the AMO mag brake.
I guess the biggest improvement (to me) came with spool upgrade. Not sure the spool gear / idler bearings and drive shaft bearings have given me much...
I have a ton of reels and I think the upgraded ABU 4601s cast further than any other reel I own with lures weighing 4-7 grams. Absolute rocket launchers. They are great workhorses albeit still not as refined or silky smooth as top models from Daiwa / Shimano.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by jvelth74 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:40 am

^ I have sold mine 2500 C and 4500 C, so I can't check. But I think 2500 C is wider than 4500 C.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Shadowcaster1969 » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:09 pm

Dalleinf wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am
LowRange wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:24 am
jvelth74 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:15 am
^ Yes.

I have thought to buy that AMO frame despite of that I don't have reel. It's such big saving from Avail => Amo in that frame.

But because of I don't have reel, I don't have ordered frame, because I can't check fits frame or not...
I think they have frames for 1500, 2500 and 4500. Maybe a lower end abu has compatible parts? Buy a narrow frame and spool then a larger frame complete used reel at a low price and build a reel? The thought process is why buy an expensive narrow frame abu and swap frames when you already have an AMO narrow frame? Just get a bigger cheaper reel with compatible parts and source whatever else you need. I thought about this but didn't do a ton of homework and went with the 4600 spool and a cheap Sweden made 4600 instead. Later after I tune up the 4600 I will consider a franken build "nice" abu.
I now have four ABU 4601 with AMO or Avail spools, dual bearing cog wheel, dual bearing worm gear, full ceramic bearings, ceramic pawl, dual bearing spool gear / idler, drive shaft w bearing etc. Also use the AMO mag brake.
I guess the biggest improvement (to me) came with spool upgrade. Not sure the spool gear / idler bearings and drive shaft bearings have given me much...
I have a ton of reels and I think the upgraded ABU 4601s cast further than any other reel I own with lures weighing 4-7 grams. Absolute rocket launchers. They are great workhorses albeit still not as refined or silky smooth as top models from Daiwa / Shimano.
LowRange & Dalleinf,

Thanks for pointing out the AMO option. :) I've not heard of them till now. Their pricing for AMO's Abu parts is quite a bit more affordable than Avail and Valley Hill. Can you also share your opinion on build quality and durability of AMO's product please? Are AMO spools as well built functionally and cosmetically as compared to Avail? Thanks!

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:37 pm

The early AMO/MOMO spools left a bit to be desired IMO - they were not as finely built as the KTF/Avail/ZPI offerings. I think the AMO spools have gotten better and the 4000-size ABU spools work great. As mentioned, I have 4 of the 4000-size spools and 1 of them had difficulty with fitting the plastic idler/gear that operates with the cog wheel in the non-handle sideplate. I just filed one of my extra idlers and all work fine now. I have seen one other tackle enthusiast mention the same problem on FB - I wrote what I did to fix the issue, but do not know if it worked for him.

Note, you have to get your own bearings separately.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Dalleinf » Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:38 pm

Dalleinf wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:37 pm
The early AMO/MOMO spools left a bit to be desired IMO - they were not as finely built as the KTF/Avail/ZPI offerings. I think the AMO spools have gotten better and the 4000-size ABU spools work great. As mentioned, I have 4 of the 4000-size spools and 1 of them had difficulty with fitting the plastic idler/gear that operates with the cog wheel in the non-handle sideplate. I just filed one of my extra idlers and all work fine now. I have seen one other tackle enthusiast mention the same problem on FB - I wrote what I did to fix the issue, but do not know if it worked for him.

Note, you have to get your own bearings separately.
Haha, I forgot that my brother had the same issue and the file worked for him too - easy surgery.

Maybe an example that AMO still is not KTF or ZPI.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by LowRange » Thu Jun 10, 2021 4:58 am

Shadowcaster1969 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:09 pm
Dalleinf wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 9:18 am
LowRange wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:24 am
jvelth74 wrote:
Wed Jun 09, 2021 8:15 am
^ Yes.

I have thought to buy that AMO frame despite of that I don't have reel. It's such big saving from Avail => Amo in that frame.

But because of I don't have reel, I don't have ordered frame, because I can't check fits frame or not...
I think they have frames for 1500, 2500 and 4500. Maybe a lower end abu has compatible parts? Buy a narrow frame and spool then a larger frame complete used reel at a low price and build a reel? The thought process is why buy an expensive narrow frame abu and swap frames when you already have an AMO narrow frame? Just get a bigger cheaper reel with compatible parts and source whatever else you need. I thought about this but didn't do a ton of homework and went with the 4600 spool and a cheap Sweden made 4600 instead. Later after I tune up the 4600 I will consider a franken build "nice" abu.
I now have four ABU 4601 with AMO or Avail spools, dual bearing cog wheel, dual bearing worm gear, full ceramic bearings, ceramic pawl, dual bearing spool gear / idler, drive shaft w bearing etc. Also use the AMO mag brake.
I guess the biggest improvement (to me) came with spool upgrade. Not sure the spool gear / idler bearings and drive shaft bearings have given me much...
I have a ton of reels and I think the upgraded ABU 4601s cast further than any other reel I own with lures weighing 4-7 grams. Absolute rocket launchers. They are great workhorses albeit still not as refined or silky smooth as top models from Daiwa / Shimano.
LowRange & Dalleinf,

Thanks for pointing out the AMO option. :) I've not heard of them till now. Their pricing for AMO's Abu parts is quite a bit more affordable than Avail and Valley Hill. Can you also share your opinion on build quality and durability of AMO's product please? Are AMO spools as well built functionally and cosmetically as compared to Avail? Thanks!
I find them to be the highest quality Aliexpress reel part company I have worked used other than Gomexus. They might not be up to Avail but they cant be far behind.

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Re: BFS Reel option : New Conquest BFS? Or tune up my Abu 2500C?

Post by Dalleinf » Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:01 am

^ agree

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