Encountered problems with my Dillon 550B yesterday

[lrrifleman]

I have to be very honest going into this thread. I have not used my Dillon since sometime before my accident, which was a bit more than ten years ago. When I used it last is lost somewhere in the concussion induced fog that is my memory.

What happened: it took me over 6 hours to load 93 rounds of 45, needing to get off my legs every 15 minutes for a few minutes. Apparently, I never got the seating/crimping die adjusted properly, since none of the rounds were crimped, even though I had the die totally screwed into the tool head. The spring on the automatic primer slide gave up the ghost, and it's movement was erratic and "jerky", often causing the primer to either jump out of the primer seater, or change its orientation. The shell plate seemed to "lock up" every time I advanced the shell plate, requiring me to keep it looser than I remember.

A call to Dillon is definitely in order for tomorrow, if for nothing than to get replacement springs for the priming system. I want to get this press back online so I can reload 38 Special [WC & SWC], 357 Magnum [HP & SWC], 41 Magnum [SWC], 9mm [RN, HP, & TC], 380 [RN], and 45 ACP [SWC, HP, &RN]. I got very frustrated, to the point of thinking of selling this press, but the thought of loading all my handgun ammo on a single stage press made my spine shiver and added to the pain in my legs!

There is no rust binding the press. Can anyone offer a suggestion as to what happened?

 

[MRH]

Tear it down to the point you have removed the shell plate and the priming system and the tool head. Clean it all again ... lube it where needed ... replace the primer return spring and the primer arm if necessary ... pay attention to the order in which you tighten the screw locking down he shell plate bolt. When all else fails and the Dillon voodoo is upon me, I read the manual again. About 300,000 rounds through 550’s and 1050’s and I am still figuring out the little things.

 

[cfplinker]

It sounds like it needs a good cleaning and relube job in addition to the spring. Remember that there is a lock screw on the shell plate bolt. Use a light grease on the shell plate bolt shaft and on the underside of the bolt head. Tighten the bolt down until the shell plate just turns stickily, then loosen it a small tad and tighten the lock screw. Check to make sure the shell plate just turns smoothly.

If your crimp seater won't come down far enough to crimp leave it in station 3 as a seater and order a taper crimper from Dillon when you are talking to them. Now you can seat and crimp in two steps and taper crimp the 45s.

The manual is on line but if you like paper manuals Dillon will probably send you one.

 

[Electric Head]

Priming system definitely needs cleaning. Take it apart and use methylated spirits with a rag to clean. My shell plate grabs on one of the four stations. I keep it looser than I'd like but about as loose as I expect it should be.

 

[Bob R]

If it has been sitting for ten years it is probably due for a refurb, call Dillon and I think they will do it for a decent price. I had them do my old 550B and it works as good as new now. Call them to get the price and an RMA and send it off.

bob

 

[rwsmith]

Dpn't epect to...

Don't expect to start where you left off 10 years ago before you were injured.

Is there a way you can be seated to operate the press?

Take it easy, it will come back. Albeit with some difficulty.

 

[matt berry]

What brand dies are you using? Did the primer return spring break or does it need to just be put back on the primer slide. Another thing that can cause a hang up is if there is still a primer in the primer slide it can catch the shell plate, especially if the handle is slightly forward.

 

[fredj338]

If it has been sitting for 10yrs, it needs to be cleaned, adjusted & lubed where appropriate. I picked up an older 550 for free, sat for 10yrs, it would not even cycle thru a press stroke. Took it all apart, cleaned & lubed, runs like a champ.

 

[DRAINSMITH]

If it has been sitting for 10yrs, it needs to be cleaned, adjusted & lubed where appropriate. I picked up an older 550 for free, sat for 10yrs, it would not even cycle thru a press stroke. Took it all apart, cleaned & lubed, runs like a champ.

Good advice Grasshopper. See I knew that you were not a bad guy.
Now, when you get it up and running go slow just a few rounds at a time. Let your muscle memory get up to par.

 

[Squarebutt]

I recently sent my old 550 back to Dillon for a refurb. They went through the whole thing, replaced the old powder measure and sent it back to me for a charge of $67.50. I paid the inbound shipping. It runs like new.

 

[lrrifleman]

I have been in touch with Dillon. A new primer return spring is on the way. The ultimate culprit was the primer rod, it was not parallel to the primer rod. Apparently I completely forgot about the set screw in the ram. Problems with the 45 dies were resolved.

With luck, I will resume production this weekend, weather and knees permitting.

 

[Skeet 028]

While I can reload sitting down I prefer to stand. As I get older(and older) I stand at the press for less time. One of the reasons I like the 650s and 1050s...and the Spolar shotshell machines

 

[chief38]

I never reload sitting down as it just doesn't feel right to me.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a short bar stool I sit on for long loading sessions. It puts my shoulder at the same height as standing, so the reloader feels the same. I using the roller handle instead of the original ball handle, this keeps my wrist from getting tired, if the approach angle is a little different.

Two plastic milk creates with a thick cushion will be about the same height, but the room for your feet is a lot different. Something you could try for free, to see if it works for you.

Ivan

 

[scattershot]

As far as the jerky movement of the primer slide, a good cleaning will help, as others have said. I used to run a little paraffin wax over the sliding oarts, but Dillon has a permanent solution. It’s a hardened steel plate that the slide runs on. I put one in mine, and it hasn’t hung up since.

 

[Skeet 028]

I have a short bar stool I sit on for long loading sessions. It puts my shoulder at the same height as standing, so the reloader feels the same. I using the roller handle instead of the original ball handle, this keeps my wrist from getting tired, if the approach angle is a little different. Ivan

I also have a bar stool. And must say the roller handles do work ok when sitting. But when standing you kinda rock back and forth just a little bit and it decreases the amount of force(?) you have to use to operate the press...even on single stage presses. I mostly use the ball handles on the 650s etc..Spolar too in 410 size..otherwise I have it set up with hydraulics. When I used the ol P-Ws I used a shovel type of handle. I got a friend that uses the 550s one of those primer plates and he really likes it. He keeps it waxed to make it work easy.

 

[Electric Head]

I too use a stool but not a roller handle. I feel the ball handle gives more feel and control and I have no problem with wrists. The ball rotates around in my hand similar to how I work a bolt-action, in a kinematically efficient manner, which "experts" tell me is wrong. Sure seems to work better and easier than awkwardly trying to grasp and control it completely when it is already restrained in several axes.

 

[dillonhelp]

We have some videos for cleaning and lubing the RL550 loader on our website. Dillon Precision Videos
Please phone or email us for a replacement spring, and after adjusting the tension on the shellplate bolt, snug the setscrew on the left side of the shaft, about one inch from the top of the shaft.
I encourage you to phone us when you can be in front of your loader for assistance with adjusting the dies and primer feed system.

 

[Rule3]

We have some videos for cleaning and lubing the RL550 loader on our website. Dillon Precision Videos
Please phone or email us for a replacement spring, and after adjusting the tension on the shellplate bolt, snug the setscrew on the left side of the shaft, about one inch from the top of the shaft.
I encourage you to phone us when you can be in front of your loader for assistance with adjusting the dies and primer feed system.

Well there ya go Irrifelman, it doesn't get any better than direct from Dillon