SOMETHING I'VE NOTICED ABOUT RELOADING PRESSES AND ALWAYS FORGET TO BRING UP.......

[chief38]

Well this time I remembered!

I've seen many many videos and live operation of Dillon and other brand of reloading presses but extremely rarely do I see any lubrication on them. There are many problems that occur from lack of lubricating and smoothness of operation is the first to degrade. Serious problems are avoidable most of the time if properly lubed!

I am a reloader that does so for practical purposes and not so much for fun, so I reload many cases at a time over 4 or 5 days and then tuck the press in for a year or longer. When I cover the press, I clean, lube and inspect everything so the next time I take the cover off it is ready to rock.

I've got a Dillon 650 and so the video below is for that press but there are other videos made by Dillon and other manufacturers that I am sure are similar.

Proper cleaning and lubrication is such a simple thing on reloading presses but all too often over looked and forgotten. Below is a very good video on the Dillon 650 but it would basically apply to almost any press as they are not all that different. Next time you see a video or a press in operation take note if it is being operated properly or is bone dry. I think you might be surprised.

YouTube

[JBnTx]

Thanks for posting that video.

I need to take my 4 year old 550B completely apart and clean and lubricate it. I've done nothing but lube the shaft in 4 years.

What kind of fitting do I need on a grease gun to fit my 550B?
It looks like a regular sized fitting?

[chief38]

Originally Posted by JBnTx

Thanks for posting that video.


I need to take my 4 year old 550B completely apart and clean and lubricate it. I've done nothing but lube the shaft in 4 years.

What kind of fitting do I need on a grease gun to fit my 550B?
It looks like a regular sized fitting?

I use a standard grease gun (mine is a Lincoln Brand) which fits cars, motorcycles and my Dillon. It's the fitting that came with the grease gun as they are standard Zirk fittings. I also bought a flexible hose type that I use for hard to get to places on cars and m/c's.

The best type of Oil to lube the Main Shaft with is NON Detergent straight 30 weight motor oil.

Since it has been four years since you cleaned & lubed it, I'd sort of recommend thoroughly cleaning the parts with Denatured Alcohol before applying new lube. My grease gun is filled with Amsoil #2 grease but pretty much any Automotive grease will work. I use Valvoline wheel bearing grease on the non Zirk fitting areas because it is slightly thicker and stays put better than the grease gun grease. Again, brand is not important.

NOTE:

When you slide the Main Shaft Pin out to clean & lube, loosen the allen screw at least 2 to 3 turns. After lubing, tighten allen set screw until it just touches, then back it out 1/2 turn. There is a groove in the center of the pin so it won't come out, but it does need free movement. HAPPY LUBING!

[JBnTx]

Originally Posted by chief38

I use a standard grease gun (mine is a Lincoln Brand) which fits cars, motorcycles and my Dillon. It's the fitting that came with the grease gun as they are standard Zirk fittings. I also bought a flexible hose type that I use for hard to get to places on cars and m/c's.

The best type of Oil to lube the Main Shaft with is NON Detergent straight 30 weight motor oil.

Since it has been four years since you cleaned & lubed it, I'd sort of recommend thoroughly cleaning the parts with Denatured Alcohol before applying new lube. My grease gun is filled with Amsoil #2 grease but pretty much any Automotive grease will work. I use Valvoline wheel bearing grease on the non Zirk fitting areas because it is slightly thicker and stays put better than the grease gun grease. Again, brand is not important.

NOTE:

When you slide the Main Shaft Pin out to clean & lube, loosen the allen screw at least 2 to 3 turns. After lubing, tighten allen set screw until it just touches, then back it out 1/2 turn. There is a groove in the center of the pin so it won't come out, but it does need free movement. HAPPY LUBING!

Thank you again. I just ordered the platform alignment tool from Dillon. I want to do it right.

[SLT223]

zerks are standard to the best of my knowledge.

[OldChief]

I use a RCBS Rock Chucker and Turret press and I put a drop or two of gun oil on the ram and pivot joints once in a while. This keeps them working smoothly and prevents rust.

[SMSgt]

I think I've oiled my Herters single stage press once since 1975...

It probably didn't need it.

[Rollis]

Thank you for posting this, though I would always lube the main shaft once in a while, I never thought of the other spots covered in this video.

[Bkreutz]

Current Dillon presses have standard zerk fittings, the earlier ones had "pin" fittings that took a special adapter on the grease gun, the even earlier ones had no grease fittings (but they seized up and had to be replaced under warranty)

[glenwolde]

I did have a main shaft pivot pin start binding on me. It was on my old RL450. After 20 years. Galled the pin up. I polished it up and it worked fine, but I decided to replace the pin anyway. Dillon ended up giving me a new one free. I have since converted it to a 550 frame. I probably should go hit that with some grease.

[andyo5]

My RL550 does not have zerk fittings. I have never been able to get grease into the little holes that are on mine instead of zerk fittings.

[41 fan]

I have two ancient 550's that do not have grease fittings. Once in a great while I totally disassemble them for cleaning and lubing with lubriplate. I lube the ram with gun oil and the primer arm with graphite. Dean

[chief38]

AND........ FORGOT to mention that a well lubed Press is as SMOOOOOOTH as glass! Just feels so nice!

[JBnTx]

My four year old, and heavily used, Dillon 550b is currently completely disassembled and cleaned with mineral spirits.

It was beyond filthy. I spent a half hour cleaning black gunk, primer residue and old worn out grease out of it.

I'm waiting for the ten dollar alignment tool from Dillon.
Then I can grease it up right, put it back together and get it filthy again.

[andyo5]

Originally Posted by JBnTx

I'm waiting for the ten dollar alignment tool from Dillon.
Then I can grease it up right, put it back together and get it filthy again.

Please educate me about the alignment tool. I can't find any reference to it on the Dillon website.
Thsnks.

[JBnTx]

Originally Posted by andyo5

Please educate me about the alignment tool. I can't find any reference to it on the Dillon website.
Thsnks.

Watch this video from Dillon.

That tool is listed on the Dillon website.

RL550 SERIES / XL650 PLATFORM ALIGNMENT TOOL
Stock Number: 13713

YouTube

[Harrison]

I have been using my Dillon 550B constantly for over 25 years now. I wipe the main shaft down with 10w-30 mobile one, since that is what I have use in my cars/trucks foreever, once a month. The rotating shaft by the handle gets greased twice a year, and the other rotating parts get a few drops of 10w-30 every month or so. Ya gotta keep the primer bar real clean. That gets cleaned every 700-1000 rounds, or when I change from small to large primer bars. My Dillon manual had directions on how and when to lubricate. No videos in those days.

[chief38]

If I had to gripe about one thing Dillon could really improve, it would be their Owners Manual that come with the Presses. The one I got with my 650 4 years ago is a whole lot better than the one that came with my Square Deal B back 35 years ago, but STILL not that great! The photos are in B&W and not terrific. Lubrication and maintenance is barely mentioned. Thankfully they do have good videos now.

[andyo5]

Originally Posted by JBnTx

Watch this video from Dillon.

That tool is listed on the Dillon website.

RL550 SERIES / XL650 PLATFORM ALIGNMENT TOOL
Stock Number: 13713

Thanks! I could not find a video for the RL550B until I saw your post.