I love my reel but its giving me some attitude lately. Sometimes after i cast the reel wont go into gear, the button stays down. i greased it and it helped for a bit. also it seems to get better after a little while, but its a pain to pull it out with a fingernail for the first half hour. any ideas on how to fix it?

I dunno but I have the same problem with both of my 6500's. These reels are fussy. I havent been able to fix it yet it is part of my routine now.

use some grease, not oil, grease. itll stay on longer.

if you are using grease and it still isnt workin, i dont know how to help ya.

mine work fine, except for the occasional sticky button, or worn paul.

i have greased it a few times and it seems to help for a bit. it was the penn reel grease, pretty thick stuff. i had to replace the pawl as well, my erroe not the reels, looks like a stop at M&D is in order.

On the pinion gear there is a little plastic coller, sometimes this part wears out, causeing the pinion gear to hang up.

I keep some WD-40 on hand. Easy to carry and use, especially at night when you do not want the fishing to end. (Why is it your equipment always works like a champ when you are pulling in mung by the pound???) Not the best thing to use for a final fix, but easy to use when you start binding up... I mean the reel binding up, although I guess it might work in either case.

When you get home, clean it out and grease it up.