I just picked up an Ambassadeur T*E*N reel that i can't find info on. I assume it's not very old...has numbers 88 0 88 89 on the bottom of the reel seat.
Seems like a good reel to put to work...but there is an annoying almost 1/4 inch play in the crank..i.e., can move that much counterclockwise without turning spool...is this a normal problem with this reel or diagnostic for an easy fix? I haven't unzipped it as yet.
cool-thumb USA John, if my memory is corect, that backwards feeling you get is bilt in,( I may be wrong) does it feel as if there are several of these steps thruout the turning of the reel or is the reel have a one way clutch in which case its got a problem, If its got several spots on the cycle, then its like a OKUMA or Daiawa 27. or 47 , and when it falls into place its a positive stop! Its caused by a wider spacing on the anti rev cog wheel! Let me atempt to find a factory repair sheet on it! You have to remeber, I work ON DARK AGES REELS ha ha . Your ohio conection On Lake ERIE COL. M. LORENS aka SWIM JIG
Not sure I'm following you, Milt...but if I crank the reel with line tension on the spool, it runs smoothly...no lunges as it hits dead air or anything...it's like play in a poorly adjusted steering column...with spool at rest, the crank shaft has an 1/8-1/4 in play in it...not terminal, just irritating. I'm used to reels that if you move the crank, you get immediate response in the spool.
If I understand you correctly, what you are describig is normal for that reel. The Ten was an inexpensive version of the Ambasadeur 10000 with no ball bearings and a very simple anti-reverse (similar to the older red 5000's) that works but isn't nearly as solid as a more expensive reel with a one way clutch bearing. It could be that the anti-reverse dog is worn a bit. This is a simple fix but would require a new dog.
Ak-Fish is correct, it was the inexpensive version of the Ambassadeur 10,000. There were in series, the FIVE, SIX (not many of these around) SEVEN, NINE and the TEN. I think that the TEN was replaced by another inexpensive reel, the Commodore.
What you are experienceing IS the anti-reverse. There is a spring captive dog that uses the leaf spring tension to drop the antireverse dog into place on a gear, preventing the handle from tuning backward.
For decades this was the standard for all of the better reels, the advent of the instant anti-reverse, one way bearing has changed that. But... and there is alway a but, there is a problem with the one-way roller bearing, in that they are VERY sensitive to the lube used, and can go wrong real fast and then they are relatively expensive to fix.
The old style is quite positive and any probelms can usully be fixed by properly positioning and bending the leaf springs.
My memory isn't the best, but as best I can remember, the Penn's used the same method as did Daiwa, Shimano and most other reels.
The TEN would and does make a pretty good heavy casting reel, using bushings amd a decent trolling reel.
To most of the collectors that I know, the TEN and its family are not real collectable, but are considered users.
cool-thumb USA John, if my memory is corect, that backwards feeling you get is bilt in,( I may be wrong) does it feel as if there are several of these steps thruout the turning of the reel or is the reel have a one way clutch in which case its got a problem, If its got several spots on the cycle, then its like a OKUMA or Daiawa 27. or 47 , and when it falls into place its a positive stop! Its caused by a wider spacing on the anti rev cog wheel! Let me atempt to find a factory repair sheet on it! You have to remeber, I work ON DARK AGES REELS ha ha . Your ohio conection On Lake ERIE COL. M. LORENS aka SWIM JIG