My 5500CT has been modified with Zzeta side plates - no bait-feed clicker or spur gear with this set-up.
My 6500CT has the Blue Yonder side plates with bait-feed clicker, Mike's dual ball-bearing spur gear and Avail ball-bearing L/S bullet.
But the real reason I added to this thread was another reel just off my bench, that's closer-allied to these surf reels than my other finesse Ambassadeurs.
Shopping in Japan, I stumbled across a rare new-stock Akios Sportcast LW frame.
These barstock frames were a limited run, only offered and sold out in Apr '21 (nobody is letting them go).
They were only made in 6500 width, so I decided to build a custom 6500CS Rocket from parts.
While I was getting my parts together, I solved a design problem on the Akios frame.
The problem was free play in the top line guide bar, allowing both ends of the line guide bar to both rock and rotate to their freedom limit -
- the retaining yokes on both sides have larger diameter and smaller key than fits in the line guide groove.
(though these photos show already fixed with my mod)
I solved it with parts from McMaster - square section 4x1x1-mm o-rings, and higher-torque hex-socket flat screws that let you compress the o-rings.
The expanding o-ring fills all the gaps, and pins the bar centered and perfectly aligned - it's rock-solid now.
My custom 6500CS has Avail mag brake and my favorite 2-6-pt centrifugal.
RocketReelCo stainless drive with ball-bearing main shaft.
Fourteen ball bearings total, including 5 on the spool, and 4 on the LW.
The handle is Whiplash Factory, and matches the silver-blue side plates exactly.
Avail trim; Valleyhill dual-BB worm gear and B-trap drag washers; Kagawa dual-BB idler gear.
The ball-bearing L/S bullet is made by ReelCustomReels, who has a website and sells on ebay.
The frame lowers the spool 8 mm closer to the rod, but the real beauty is the thumb access, allowed by the barstock stiffness.
Avail 5-mm-deep spool, I plan to load it with 200 yds PE#2 X-braid, 36 lb YGK.
Also, like the CT frames, it has a 78-mm foot, so the only rod for it is my RH Customs two-hand 8' surf-lure rod with split reel seat.
Haven't loaded the braid yet, but I did set the mag brake casting 1/8 oz with 6-lb YoZuri hybrid.
I was getting 100' casts on the under-loaded rod, rated 1/4 to 1 oz.
It will never cast distance with the CTs, but will be a lot of fun to fish, both surf and inshore.
People with stock Ambassadeurs probably aren't going to try casting 1/8 oz...
Here's my family of custom Ambassadeurs
4500CT, 5500CT, 6500CT, 6500CS Rocket
4600 Express, 4500C, 1500CI.