Ambassadeur 2500C: Tuning this Baitcasting Reel for BFS Blew me Away

If you like the authentic retro looks of the Ambassadeur 2500C - and you’re a Bait Finesse System Fan - then you might be shocked that its beauty goes more than skin deep.

Ambassadeur 2500C – Classic and Enduring Swedish Engineering

While Lennart was talking about regular bait casting – and reels with the original stock spools; what he maybe couldn’t have predicted was the “second life” of the Small Ambassadeur 2500C (and 1500C models) when Bait Finesse System (BFS) fishing came along.

The elegant and absolutely functional engineering and design of these reels gathered a rabid fan base in Japan over the years. So much so that, today, super-tuning components for Small Ambassadeurs support a thriving market with obsessive demand in Japan and around the world.

Round-reel Lovers Adore These Looks: But is it any good for BFS?

Click the "settings gear cog" icon on the video below to set it to the highest available resolution for the best viewing experience of anything involving water!

I admit, I was sold on the looks of this reel before I ever owned one. In fact, even if it turned out to be only barely capable of casting something that you could consider a Bait Finesse System style lure – I’d still want to keep it. A bad case of being blinded by good looks! As we’ll see, things ended up more than just skin deep though…

To find out if it could even manage anything like BFS (with my casting ability, lure choices and rods), I had to take the plunge. Finding an old one on e-bay (in need of a good clean) for around $200 shipped to the UK was the first step.

Then began the quest to order the right tuning parts. With the help of the essential “Small Ambassadeurs” book mentioned already – I started to learn about how old my reel was, what version (and therefore which schematics it needed). The book links on this page earn a small commission from Amazon Associates - which helps to support the site without altering the cost to you (thank you!).

If I’m honest, ordering and reading the book before trying to find a suitable example to buy would have been the ideal approach. It just has so much vital information about all of the different updates of the 2500C, 1500C (and all related Small Ambassadeurs). Just being able to understand what the different reel-foot numbers mean (because the conventions changed so often as the company developed and changed hands) is incredibly useful.

Even if you aren’t looking to replace original parts “like for like”, you’ll need to know exactly what version of the 2500C you own if you’re to have the best chance of fitting the correct, modern tuning parts.

Stripping Down, Cleaning and Tuning

Here’s a short teaser video of the complete stripping down, cleaning and re-assembly with super-tuned components:

I'd like to create a full-length edit of this process in future - perhaps to include as a BFS email subscriber bonus. 

However to get instant access to a range of other cool lure fishing (and BFS-specific) bonuses; check this out: 

Below is a list of Ambassadeur 2500C tuning components (with links in orange) I ended up fitting:

Note: The links to the Roro bearings page is my affiliate link; where Roro will pay a small commission to me for purchases made via that route. This doesn’t affect the price you pay with Roro and it sure helps to support the site – thank you!

Following the first strip-down and re-assembly (in the video), four further super-important actions were taken:

I replaced the old, single brake block with a pair of brand new (fibre) brake blocks – as I wanted to give myself the best chance of success with a range of BFS lure weights. I also decided to fit the ceramic pawl to the line guide (and keep the original one inside the original line guide as a set).

Next, I used the Deuthlon starter pack collection of lubricants to give everything a silky-smooth finish. I’ve tried a few different lubrication products and can say that these ones are absolutely excellent.

I put a pin-drop of the oil on the ends of the spool spindle and in the bearing on the worm guide. The main drive gears got the white gear grease and the PTFE semi fluid lube went on in a thin film on almost all other moving parts – including the clutch engage/disengage and the anti-reverse dog. 

Naturally, the drag washers received a coating of the drag grease – which has created a brilliant BFS performance drag; with silky-smooth start up. As well as improved fish-playing capabilities, I think this will add significant protection against crushing/deforming of that crazily light honeycomb spool.

The fourth additional option was for me to replace the main drive shaft with an Avail ESD main drive (Non Instant Anti Reverse version) with integral 4-pin clutch re-engage ratchet plate. This makes a massive difference when casting upstream in fast currents. On the original – single pin – clutch re-engage mechanism, you sometimes need to make a complete handle turn before the reel clicks back into gear. With four pins on the ratchet plate, you only need a really small movement of the handle before one of them trips the spring-loaded clutch to re-engage the drive gears.

The Moment of Truth: Actually Fishing with the Tuned Ambassadeur 2500C

Nervous anticipation, wind the lure up to the tip top, click down the clutch release…and CAST!

How did that pan out?? Well, I was (and still am) amazed at how effective those simple centrifugal brakes are at controlling the potentially wild start-up of a BFS spool. It’s incredible to me that they work without adjustment across baits of different weights. When I’m casting one of my current favourite suspension jerk/crank baits (MajorCraft Zoner 50 SP) – it absolutely flies out. For flat trajectory flip casting style I’d say it feels every bit as accurate and fluid as the Daiwa Alphas Air TW 20 – which genuinely shocked me (given how good that reel is).

One thing I love is the way that the line guide swings left and right during the cast – reducing the friction between the edges of the guide. OK, the weight of that mechanism adds to the overall start-up inertia.

However, having those ultralight/super-tuned components (and great, light-touch lubrication) minimises that. Plus, as mentioned, there is then the benefit of the reduced line-friction during the cast. A case of what you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts.

Also, I have to say, it looks really cool to have that shuttling back and forth while your lure is flying out.

Limitations and Quirks of the Ambassadeur 2500C

Because those high speed gear kits have a recommended maximum drag force setting of 1kg – some care needs to be used. However, already with the ultralight AMO spool – I am very happy to use a light drag setting (and to protect that with the Deuthlon drag grease).

Final Roundup

One Very Happy Customer and avid Ambassadeur fan right here.

Paul