Clutch of an ABU 501 closed face

[Tinca Tinca]

Hi,
today I got an ABU 501 closed face reel in near mint condition.
I took out the old grease and was a little confused about the clutch system of this reel.
Now my question: Does this reel not have a anti reverse?The part which is in my 506m
is missing in that reel.
Do I have to let the handle go whilst fighting a fish?When I hold it there comes no line off
the spool,when I let it go I have tension ....

Is this all normal or is my reel damaged??

Thanks Gents..

[Sussex Micky]

The anti reverse is a piece behind the gears, this was normaly taken out by match fishermen who would just play the fish on the handle, I believe im right in saying that although this has been removed you should still be able to tighten the drag on the handle

[RightCharlie]

Check out Les Shaws site, the expoded diagram of the 501 is here-
http://www.classicvintagefishingtackle. ... sparts.htm
Part 5579 is the anti reverse pawl

[Chavender]

from memory the 501 ,didn't have the anti-reverse fitted as standard

[BeechmereLake]

There should be an anti reverse dog in a 501 its a major part of the system allowing the handle to back wind, without it the reel would just work like any 500 series reel with the a/r dog removed. The part no for the 501 is 5579.
The drag is the best that ABU came up with and why so many anglers went over to it rather than use the 506, if you have one and remove the A/R dog then you just as well throw the handle away

[SeanM]

I think you may have that slightly wrong Beechmere. The 501 didn't have an anti reverse and was set up to allow backwinding. The drag allows you to let go of the handle and let the reel backwind under a little tension, thus protecting light hook lengths. The reason that so many match men switched to 501s was that they didn't have to remove the anti reverse dog as they did on the 506.

You reel operates correctly Tinca Tinca - to give line you have to backwind or let go of the handle. Tightening the drag knob increases the drag tension when you let go of the handle.

[BeechmereLake]

I have had a dozen new 501 and all had the anti reverse inside it and here is a genuine 501 schematic showing thus part

[SeanM]

That's strange - I've heard of other people who have had 501s with an anti reverse pawl. I've got 2 and neither have a pawl - in fact I'm sure that neither of them have the stub on which the pawl fixes. Were two versions of this reel made?

[SeanM]

And if a 501 is fitted with an anti reverse what is the difference between it and a 506?

[BeechmereLake]

The complete internals are different to the 506 especially the main gear and drag system in the handle, compare the two schemys and see the difference.