dillon 550b question

[Littledragon777]

I am having a problem with the primer slide on my 550b. When I pull the handle down and the primer slide moves outward to pick up a new primer I am having problems. The slide is stopping short by less than 1/8th of an inch probably more like a 16th of an inch from full extension and doesn't allow the primer to drop into the cup. This problem has just started recently. I have loaded many thousands of rounds with this problem never occuring. I have taken the slide primer system apart and have given it a good cleaning and do this as a norma lroutine proceedure. I have been able to keep the process going by grabbing the slide bar and giving it a little tug on each cycle to make sure it is fully extended to allow the primer to be picked up. I am wondering if it could just be that normal wear has caused this problem to occur. There seems to be a little play in the bar when I apply a side to side pressure on it that could possible allow it to get in a little bit of a bind when it is in the aliding process. So for the time being I will continue to give a little tug on the bar to make sure it moves that tiny bit more to pick up the primer. Any ideas on this before I order a new slide bar would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Halfnutz]

As you already mentioned cleaning is the first part.

Try loosening the screws a little and see if you have any luck letting it align itself, then tighten it down when it goes all the way back.

I had problems with mine hanging up mid stroke on the way back in and then slamming forward flipping primers, and just being a pain.

I also add just a small amount of "drylube" to the primer bar.
I would imagine a little "Eezox" would be a good lubricant also. Whatever you try for a lube you want it to be dry. Others may have differing opinions about the lube, but it has worked for me for several years.

 

[Paul105]

I've used fine steel wool (and very fine emerey cloth) to polish the oxidation off the aluminum primer slide and inside of primer drop/shield/slide housing -- then dry lube. Also had to adjust the set screw mentioned below.

If you have your manual, look at page 9, fig. 12 -- the arrow points to the set screw you can adjust. If you don't have your manual, you can download one here
Dillon Reloader Manuals, Dillon Press Manual, Blue Press Manuals

Hope some of this helps.

Paul

 

[magnum12pm]

I am having a problem with the primer slide on my 550b. When I pull the handle down and the primer slide moves outward to pick up a new primer I am having problems. The slide is stopping short by less than 1/8th of an inch probably more like a 16th of an inch from full extension and doesn't allow the primer to drop into the cup. This problem has just started recently. I have loaded many thousands of rounds with this problem never occuring. I have taken the slide primer system apart and have given it a good cleaning and do this as a norma lroutine proceedure. I have been able to keep the process going by grabbing the slide bar and giving it a little tug on each cycle to make sure it is fully extended to allow the primer to be picked up. I am wondering if it could just be that normal wear has caused this problem to occur. There seems to be a little play in the bar when I apply a side to side pressure on it that could possible allow it to get in a little bit of a bind when it is in the aliding process. So for the time being I will continue to give a little tug on the bar to make sure it moves that tiny bit more to pick up the primer. Any ideas on this before I order a new slide bar would be appreciated. Thanks!

I could have wrote this word for word. I have many thousands of rounds on the small primer bar, what I noticed was when installing the large primer bar the problem disappeared, large has 2k on it. This made me think maybe the small one had worn out of spec. I contacted Dillon by email. They said new primer bar is on the way NO Charge. Which bar are you talking about small or large, and how many rounds have you loaded on it.

 

[Blackdog]

I had the same problem with the large primer bar after about 3K. I removed the bar, cleaned and lubed with graphite. Then "reformed" the actuator spring (round vertical shaft that pushes the bar) to give it a more positive push. Problem solved. I've loaded about 500 rounds since with no problems.

 

[Nathan Forrest]

Have you taken out the set screw and removed the primer cup and tiny shaft/spring from the end of the bar for cleaning. ?

 

[magnum12pm]

Have you taken out the set screw and removed the primer cup and tiny shaft/spring from the end of the bar for cleaning. ?

I'm confused how would a dirty primer cup and spring prevent the primer bar from moving all the way to the rear?

 

[PALADIN85020]

Pull the primer operating rod out from the primer slide so it hangs loose. Grab the lower part of the bar with your right hand; place your right thumb on the upper of the two bends in the bar and pry the lower part of the bar outwards towards you somewhat. This will give more oomph to the rearward movement of the primer bar. Then put the the bar back into its place on the primer slide. Do this after a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol, and don't use any lubricant on the primer bar or the plate underneath it. This should cure your problem. If not, another thing that sometimes helps is to dress down, lengthwise, each of the four long edges of the primer slide with a file - lightly. Should work smoothly then.

 

[magnum12pm]

Pull the primer operating rod out from the primer slide so it hangs loose. Grab the lower part of the bar with your right hand; place your right thumb on the upper of the two bends in the bar and pry the lower part of the bar outwards towards you somewhat. This will give more oomph to the rearward movement of the primer bar. Then put the the bar back into its place on the primer slide. Do this after a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol, and don't use any lubricant on the primer bar or the plate underneath it. This should cure your problem. If not, another thing that sometimes helps is to dress down, lengthwise, each of the four long edges of the primer slide with a file - lightly. Should work smoothly then.

Thats a good ideal, never thought of smoothing the edges of the primer bar. I have the ability, just didn't have the thought.

 

[Littledragon777]

Thanks for all the comments. It is the small bar that has the problem I have probably run a little over 10,000 rounds on this bar. It sounds like a wear problem from all the post so i will order me another bar and see if that solves the problem. If it was a defect I know that dillon would take care of it no charge but since it is probably just a normal wear problem i will be happy to pay for it myself. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Littledragon777]

Have you taken out the set screw and removed the primer cup and tiny shaft/spring from the end of the bar for cleaning. ?

Thanks Nathan. I have done that also.

 

[Littledragon777]

Pull the primer operating rod out from the primer slide so it hangs loose. Grab the lower part of the bar with your right hand; place your right thumb on the upper of the two bends in the bar and pry the lower part of the bar outwards towards you somewhat. This will give more oomph to the rearward movement of the primer bar. Then put the the bar back into its place on the primer slide. Do this after a thorough cleaning with rubbing alcohol, and don't use any lubricant on the primer bar or the plate underneath it. This should cure your problem. If not, another thing that sometimes helps is to dress down, lengthwise, each of the four long edges of the primer slide with a file - lightly. Should work smoothly then.

I did put a little bit more bend in the rod where you mentioned as one of the first corrective actions I took. While it seemed to have helped some as it sticks about 90% of the time it did not cure the problem. I think some steel wool work on the bar is worth a try while I wait for my replacement oredr to get here. Thanks!

 

[magnum12pm]

Thanks for all the comments. It is the small bar that has the problem I have probably run a little over 10,000 rounds on this bar. It sounds like a wear problem from all the post so i will order me another bar and see if that solves the problem. If it was a defect I know that dillon would take care of it no charge but since it is probably just a normal wear problem i will be happy to pay for it myself. Thanks again everyone!

Sorrry Littledragon you will not be paying for anything! Dillion is famous for the NO BS warranty. In fact the C-clip on top of the sizing die broke during a session, they sent a new one no charge.

 

[hogblue]

My old 550 had that problem new out of the box. Called Dillon, can't remember what the fix was. Loaded a few thousand 9mm and got tired of the 80 yr old antiquated powder delivery system. Sold it. Have an RCBS pro 2000 now. Love it.

 

[Littledragon777]

My old 550 had that problem new out of the box. Called Dillon, can't remember what the fix was. Loaded a few thousand 9mm and got tired of the 80 yr old antiquated powder delivery system. Sold it. Have an RCBS pro 2000 now. Love it.

I have an RCBS Rockchucker that I load all my rifle loads with but have never tried on of their progressives. If I was to buy anything new it probably would be a Dillon 1050. I will be losing my job in the next year or so due to the closing of our plant which is owned by a French company. So my buying will be on the limited side till this old man can find another job till retirement.

 

[epj]

Had the same problem and called Dillon. Had a new primer bar in a couple of days, no charge. Problem solved. This is apparently normal wear.

 

[max]

This is embarrassing. I had the exact same problem about 10 years ago, but don't remember how it got fixed. I think I might have sanded or filed on the bottom of the slide.

 

[Joed49]

I've never heard of the primer bar wearing out but I'm sure it's possible. I had over 10k on my old 550 with no problems.

I do have a 1050 that I bought used, I wouldn't even want to guess how many this one has. I've probably done 10k on it myself in the past 3 years.

After owning progressive presses for the past 8 years I've made 1 observation about primers. They are the weak point of the system. When decapping the dust eventually gets to the primer feed. Typically I clean the primer system every 1k rounds. This involves breaking it down completely and cleaning it thouroughly.

 

[marc257]

I had a similar problem with my SDB and Dillon told me to replace the plastic tip on the end of the primer tube that feeds the primer cup. Loaded about 7,000 since without a problem.
Chris

 

[magnum12pm]

I had a similar problem with my SDB and Dillon told me to replace the plastic tip on the end of the primer tube that feeds the primer cup. Loaded about 7,000 since without a problem.
Chris

I tried that, but didn't seem to help my problem. I called Dillon and thought I was getting a new small primer bar. However they sent the entire assembly, including the dark colored bearing pad that fits under the primer bar. I haven't tried it yet but it seem super smooth with a dry run. No charge of course. I wish other companies would adopt a similar No B/S warranty policy.