Because they are so simple to break down for cleaning and a gently lubrication. I dug 2 old Ambassadeur 3600 Pro Tournament Reels out of my storage area. Cleaned them and little oil later they perform better than new. I'm soooo tickled I had to announce this to someone as my wife could care less!

Nothing wrong with that got a black amb. 5 and a abu red,, one casts easier than the other,would like to come up with another red amb 5000 with the steel spool that [stoopid me]left in the car wash after rinsing salt off that was casting greatness can`t do $150 plus reels......... ...Bill

I love those old ambassaduer's!
Just a occasional cleaning and oiling.
Here the old on the lake method for cleaning a abu ambassaduer's.
Grab you pole dunk it in the lake several times.
Start casting to dry reel out!
This is what an old timer told me to do 30 years ago.

I've actually seen people do this to their reels. I'm gonna pass on this method!

Yep, pass on the dunk method. Old Ambassadeurs are bullet-proof compared to most of the low pro stuff out there. They are heavy, so the "lighter is better" crowd won't use them. I fish with some approaching the 40 year mark and they don't miss a beat.

I've been looking to add another to my collection, it's a 4600 Ultra Cast, I think they are a lighter.

Just today, I was out fishing and didn't have any issues casting into the wind. Can't say the same with the Quantum E600 I also had with me.

What was the name or number on the dark green one back in the seventy's ? It did not have a drag on it, it was direct drive. If you was cranking it, it was coming in. Some $&@ stole two 5500c and a 5000 from me back in the eighty's. Still have one of the old reds from the seventy's.

the green one was a 5000D i I had one once, lost a really big fish, due to the no drag, i just couldnt let go of the handle,lol. wound up giving it away, wished i had it back now

I get a lot of them at garage sales for 10--20 dollars, including a ROD! Me, my son and grandsons bankfish for cats with them. I never pass one up.

I couldn't pass on this either! I only run across [censored] at the garage sales in my area!

Crappy, I will tell you how to increase your success rate at garage sales for fishing reels, guns, camp equipment....anything you are interested in but DON'T SEE at the garage sale!

ASK! I can't tell you the times I have said something like........."Do you have any old fishing reels or rods you want to sell? Or an old rifle or shotgun or pistol? Or any camping equipment?"

With that statement I have had people "remember" a pistol, shotgun, rifle, reel, rod, tackle box......that they would not have thought about.

Be consistent and it will pay off for you!

I picked up an old Shimano Bantum 10sg at a yard sale this weekend for $2. Took it home, and threw it on a spare rod, and without doing a thing to it ... including leaving on the old crappy line that was on it, the thing casts a mile. (well not quite a mile) Also grabbed a Diawa trigger spin, and an old Made in the USA Zeb33 at the same place and also for $2 a piece. Except for old line, all in great shape.

Great idea!

GARAGE SALES PAY OFF!

I like the round reels. Hard to find a reel for a hundred bucks that will last a lifetime and always has parts available if you need them. Seems the paw & drag washers are all that ever needs replacing in them. Some of this new stuff is hard to find parts for and some have no parts available at all. My 46ooC3's cast 1/4 oz. lures fine and will pull a pig thru the slop no problem. I use them for all kinds of fishing. I put 6500C3 sideplates with the clicker on my 4600's so I can use them when fishing the dock or bank fishing when I don't watch them closely all the time. Great reels.