Have spent the last couple of evenings completely stripping down my 6500B. Have used parts cleaner on everything and taken it right back. The inside workings were a real jigsaw puzzle, even with the schematics to work to. Replacing the 3 ball bearings as they are poked. The bearing on the main shaft was leaking rust and one of the bearings on the handle was good as rooted.

All in all, still in excellent condition for a reel that must be on 5 years old now.


Parts box


Main body completely de-gunked

.... I'm just hoping I can put her all back together again!

So I can bring my stuff to your for maintenance now??

Just bought 2 sets of replacement bearings. In case anyone else wishes to replace the bearings in their 6500B, you need one 9 x 20 x 6mm bearing for the spool shaft and two 9 x 17 x 14mm bearings for the handle shaft

Well done...always a buzz to pull apart all those pieces and then re assemble and have it work a treat...

3500B is now fully broken down too. It's a slightly different beast with a few minor differences to the 6500B. Need another set of bearings for this reel too. These ARB bearings supposedly having awesome corrosion resistance is a load of crap!

Just about to crack open the TLD25.

Have had the TLD25 apart before. Can't remember if it was this or my TLD25 that I had trouble getting that cooling shield off. That's the plate with the reverse thread.

Best thing was that after taking the 6500B apart, the 3500B only took about 30 mins for full strip down.

Nice work, I should give this a go at some stage, where did you get the schematics from, did you still have them from new? Would the ones of the shimano site still be the same or is it likely the design has changed a little over the years? I think my baitrunner must be close to 10years now and makes a few annoying noises, still got a smooth drag thou

Not to sure Finatic, its back home in tga and I'm down here in dunnas, its pretty old though and I'm sure most of the paint has rubbed off the spool so could be hard to make that out, is the 6500A the earlier version? If it is I would imagine it is that one

nothing wrong with giving it a go i reckon, not too sure what i'll find in their thou? if it all turns to custard it'll be into the shop haha

Cheers Finatic, will have to give it a go when I get home in a few weeks