A couple weeks ago I picked up 2 vintage abu's at a garage sale, a 5500c and a 6500c. I took them home and cleaned them up a little, tried them out and they both make a really bad squealing noise when you cast them. They also don't cast too far. I've taken apart the 6500 according to a guide I found online and lubed up all the gears including the level wind and it still does it. I tried oiling the sides of the spool where it contacts the frame and that didn't help either.

Have any of you guys run into this? Is there a way to fix it?

Could be the cogwheel needs greasing !!!

Bearings in a C, bushings if not. they need oiling, Remove the cog gear on palm side, clean the post and OIL it not grease it. then clean your worm gear back out and OIL it not grease it. Grease impairs the movement of the idle gear. Grease only goes inside the case on the main gear and the clutch mechanisms.

thnks for the tiips. I'll give it a shot.

Send them to Fred, will do a good job cleaning and can upgrade, and he is way reasonable.

I just cleaned a bunch of my Dad's old Abu's nad had the same problem. There is a small metal gear in on e of the side plates that needs a little oil/grease. Once I found that out the squealing stopped! If I had a reel schematic I could point it out to you, Don't have a clue for whatever the proper name is for the part.

Cog Gear Bull and most of the time it is a Nylon Gear which has two sets of "teeth". On the older models the small set that runs the worm gear is brass.

Yeah cog gear sounds right! If you dont lube em the reels will sound like a stuck pig every time you cast them lol