i finally got an ambassaduer its an older one that i got from my grandfather anyways i was wondering what the knobs on the side were for. does anybody know?

anyone?

you put your thumb and pointer finger on them and turn the handle to reel in the fish. J/K

actually the one on the right side if its a right hand reel is the cast control,when you have a weight on the end of the rod tied to the line push in the button and adjust the knob where the weight just barely free falls. it will help you get less backlashes.

someone please correct me if im wrong. i havent had an abu in a long time.

depends on what kind of abu you're talking about ... there are lots of different abu models out there and ya need to tell us what model it is and size before we can tell you anything about the knobs because the old abu ultramag reels have a couple of knobs on them ... the standard 4000 5000 6000 and 7000 series reels just has one knob on both side plates and depending on the model it might or might not have a clicker button. it should say on it but may not say what kind of reel it is but you should have a reel foot number on it so tell us that and we might be able to figure out what you're talking about. the reel foot number is on the plate metal that goes into the reel seat on the rod that you tighten the reel seat lug up against. if that's the only number on the reel just let us know what that is.

my grandfather bought it in the 80s the model is a 6500c3.

i think i might try to trade it in for a newer abu or sell it some how cause i was looking through the newer ones and noticed that they didn't have as many knobs as the old abus.

The knob on the right is just a bearing cap. the one on the left should have some numbers around it and that is your spool tension adjustment. I adjust it so that the weight will fall freely when it is in free spool but stops when it hits the ground without over spinning. Keep the one you have. The only real difference between it and the new one is that the new one has a smooth cover on the left side. If you decide that you want to shed it though and go for a new one let me know. I prefer the old style.