problem priming with dillon 550

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captain awesome

captain awesome

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Jul 18, 2009
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Mesa, AZ
So My dad gave(let me borrow) his old dillon 550 a while back, and to tell you the truth, I am not all that fond of it. My biggest problem is priming. It seems that no matter how many times I adjust it, The (forgive me I don't know the terminology) Priming cup? Does not consistently line up with the hole, compresses the spring and then sends the primer flying when the spring snaps into place. As well as dropping to Many in the first place and letting them spill all over the floor. Last time I had a busted piece on it I called dillon, and because they had no record of Me or my dad buying anything from them(not sure where my dad got it) the guy was rather disagreeable, but ended up sending the part anyway. Any suggestions?
 
You can adjust the position of the priming assembly in the press so that the primer arm is right under the hole in the shellplate. You should also look at the adjustment of the bolt securing the shellplate for proper adjustment and check under the shellplate for any powder or other material that may prevent the indexing ball from precisely locating the plate. You may have an errant primer stuck in an odd position that is restricting the movement of the primer arm.

A tech at Dillon should be able to talk you through the process if you are polite and describe exactly what's happening.
 
Which primer are you using. Do you have the correct primer cup in it (small or large)? Do you have the spring on the bottom? Do you have the correct size priming tube in it? All or none of these could be the problem.
You live in Mesa if you can't get it figured out bring it to me and I will try and help.
Near University and Signal Butte if you are close.

and what mahnsm said. Damn I type slow.
 
I feel your pain. The Priming system is the only thing that has ever given me grief on my 550. Make sure your primer tube has a good tip on it and the entire priming mechanism and the place it mounts to the press is clean. It helped mine to wipe the bottom and sides of the primer slide with some Rem Oil too.
 
I'm going to assume that you are careful to tighten the primer assembly down with the priming cup properly positioned and centered into the shellplate. Tightening the cap screws is a multi-step process, to make sure you don't put tension on the end of the priming slide arm - slowly snug up both cap screw bolts one after the other, back and forth. Basically, one has to keep the assembly from trying to turn while you tighten the other, so going back and forth between them incrementally helps keep the alignment centered.

Also, the slide assembly needs to move smoothly, so it needs to be kept clean and a little lube helps. The best thing I've found is to take a little synthetic grease (I prefer Mobil 1), and mix in a little synthetic oil. I recently tried synthetic gear oil in the mix, and I think I like that better. Anyway, I mix it to thin the grease, and lightly lube the assembly. It requires cleaning more often, but it slides smoothly now.
 
I prefer a dry lube such as graphite on the primer slide. Less chance of gunk building up.
 
Try getting a copy of the instructional video. The "picture is worth a thousand words" effect helps. Dillon gives a simple (even I can do it!) step-by-step course in adjusting the priming mechanism. After doing it a couple of times it becomes easy. Also you get a good knowledge of how this fine machine works.
 
Thanks for the replies. in answer to a few questions,

Yes, I am positive it is set up correctly

I am using the large priming cup for large primers. CCI to be precise.

I took it apart and cleaned it thoroughly long before I posted my questions, it helped but did not fix the problem by any means.

There is no damage I could find on any of it.

I have not tried any kind of lube, and I have not tried gradually and carefully tightening each screw simultaneously. I have had the priming cup firmly in the hole each time though.

I ill give these suggestions a try, and if no positive results, I will contact Dillon again.

One last question, Is Dillon's No BS guarantee transferable? or is it only the original owner?
 
Can you chamfer (slightly taper) the bottom side of the hole in the ram plate to allow the primer cup to enter easier?

Could have a burr or be slightly tight, or the cup slightly oversized or have a sharp edge, or if the assembly is worn the cup may need a little guidance to get it started. Jsut a thought.
 
One last question, Is Dillon's No BS guarantee transferable? or is it only the original owner?
Click to expand...

Might be wrong but I thought it was for the machine not the owner.
I have trouble with CCI and won't use them. When I bought mine I think they said not to us them. Rem and Win were the preferred brand.
I was there last week and they do a service for (I think) $35. They go thru the machine and replace bad or broken parts. Might want to try that.
 
AFAIK Dillon will replace any part that breaks regardless of who owns/owned it. I had a 550 and stumbled across used shell plates for various cartridges that I loaded and when they broke Dillon replaced them.
 
Quote from Dillon's website:

No warranty cards, registration or serial numbers are necessary. Whether you are the first owner, or the seventeenth, all our hobby-level reloading machines have a lifetime warranty. If you break, damage or wear out anything on them, it will be fixed or replaced – whatever is necessary to restore the machine to normal operating condition. If a minor part is all that is needed, contact us and we will ship the part. (International customers pay the return shipping costs) If something major is damaged or broken,contact us and we issue the customer a return merchandise authorization-RMA- to return the item to us for repair. The customer pays the shipping; we fix or replace as is warranted.
 
mc223 said:
Primer slide CLEAN and DRY.

There are a lot of incorrect recommendations in this thread. Read your manual or call Dillon.
Click to expand...
I tried that. What I am doing works better for my machine (and me). I may try the dry lube (graphite) next time.
 
never got a manual, may be part of my problems, everything i know about it I learned on my own, through youtube or here.
 
I read and did it the "Clean and Dry" way for a long time, I finally got tired of banging my head against the desk because it kept messing up. Or technically since i just wipe the bottom and sides of the slide with a rag sprayed with Rem Oil I guess technically it is still dry.

Captain Awesome, At some time when I was reading Dillon's own forum I did read about how it is possible to have some small dimples in the frame from the primer mechanism screws being over tightened at some point. Have you checked to see if your press might have something like this?

http://www.dillonprecision.com/550_Primer_Cup_Problem-98-10-764.htm

That I don't think is the exact thread I first heard about it in, but It is one in which dillon themselves mentions the problem and fixing it with a file.
 
never got a manual, may be part of my problems, everything i know about it I learned on my own, through youtube....
Click to expand...

Well, there you go. Problem solved. There is no knowledge on YouTube. In fact, watching some of those videos will actually lower your IQ !!!

:evil:

Easy 2 step process...

• Make sure the socket head bolts under the shell holder are tight and that the black plate on top of the ram is not able to move or change position.

• Then, loosen the 2 screws holding the priming tower in place. (They are on the bottom pointed up.) You'll be able to move the entire priming tower and priming arm around until it is EXACTLY centered in the shell plate opening. This requires the finesses and dexterity of a brain surgeon. If you don't have fine motor skills then get your wife to help. When the primer cup is centered, then snug the 2 screws down using the same torque that you use to turn off bath tube faucets. About 7 or 8 ft-lbs; it won't take much. Then move the ram up and down several times to make sure it's still hitting the center of the primer cup hole. All done.

Hope this helps! ;)
 
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Sir,

Regarding CCI primers I was told by a Dillon tech that they believe that the CCI primers are slightly out-of-round. I have used Winchesters, Federals, Remingtons, and Fiocci without a hitch but the CCI primers, especially the small size, has given me fits. I use the CCI primers on my single stage press for fine work.
 
Capt. Unusual???

Capt. when I first read your post, the first thing I looked at was your post count. Sorry, but this is the FIRST post that I have ever read on ANY problem at all with dealing with Dillon Customer Service.
I have used a Dillon RL550 for over 20 years with complete satisfaction. The CS Reps. have always been more than courteous to me, with no ownership/receipt questions ask.
Try to reset/reposition the primer assembly and if you still have problems call 1-800-223-5470. I am sure that a Dillon Rep. will be more than happy to work you through this matter. Bill.;)
 
• Then, loosen the 2 screws holding the priming tower in place. (They are on the bottom pointed up.) You'll be able to move the entire priming tower and priming arm around until it is EXACTLY centered in the shell plate opening. This requires the finesses and dexterity of a brain surgeon. If you don't have fine motor skills then get your wife to help. When the primer cup is centered, then snug the 2 screws down using the same torque that you use to turn off bath tube faucets. About 7 or 8 ft-lbs; it won't take much. Then move the ram up and down several times to make sure it's still hitting the center of the primer cup hole. All done.
Click to expand...

Let me amplify: with the priming assembly slightly loose, raise the arm as if you were priming a case so that the priming arm and cup is in the opening. Wiggle it a little bit, then raise & lower the arm to verify that it enters the opening easily. With it IN THE OPENING, with your other 2 arms :rolleyes: and without moving anything, gently tighten the two allen screws securing the primer assembly (have them slightly finger tight but still loose enough to allow movement). Once I got this down I haven't had any problems. From time to time, I have learned, re-do the centering and avoid problems (I do it before I start loading after a lull). There are adjustments you need to check on the 550, and I would think any other progressive where you have the possibility of parts loosening, shifting or wearing. As you get used to it, they will become second nature, and I guarantee you if you have problems and are getting frustrated, call Dillon and Job (or whomever answers with his patience) will calmly and diligently walk you through it. Believe me, they don't think you're a dummy or talk down to you. I can't say enough about Dillon's customer service that hasn't been repeated here umpteen times, so just give them a try. Their real-time advice as you operate it is vastly superior to our well-thought out and superb written assistance, however well-thought out and superb...;)
Dillon: 800-762-3845
 
Sorry, but this is the FIRST post that I have ever read on ANY problem at all with dealing with Dillon Customer Service.
Click to expand...

Either you have a selective memory, or you have not read much. It happens, even if rarely. Nobody's perfect, not even Dillon.

Andy
 
Just reread your post to make sure what you said before replying so here goes... I've had a SD and 550B for several years now and have had the same problems as you are at times.. If I read right your primers are dumping at the tube as it lets too many out and they overflow. In my experience I have had that problem with CCI more than any others and at one time Dillon did recommend not using them.

When I had my presses out in the shed they were bolted to the bench which wasn't truely level. After I moved them in here they are on a level table and that has helped alot, also I had to get new ends on the primer tubes also. With Winchester,Federal, or Remington primers I normally have no problems. Check the adjustment on the cup coming back and aligning with the primer tube and also make sure that the piece of spring steel is not bent or beat up. the one that pushes out when the arm is back as it controls the stop that lets the primers drop.

Once you check all of that and the other things suggested on here buy 100 primers of a different brand and try them. It does make a difference sometimes.

As for your experience with CS I can't help ya much there. What times I have called them they have been very helpful and I can't remember them ever asking me if I have ever ordered anything other than to see if I wanted to start receiving their catalog The Blue Press.

Post back and let us know how things are going and if you get it straightened out.
 
Call DILLON tech support and give them another try.

I've had a 550B for a long long time, for a while, I had two of them,....

I've never had trouble with my priming
 
If you're getting more than one primer coming out at a time, you most likely need to get a replacement of the plastic piece that's on the end of the tube that holds the primers. After it flexes lot of times during use, it loses pressure and lets too many drop. This is a part that wears out over time and use.

Go back to Maj Dad's post and adjust like that. It's very easy, very quick, and works perfectly. When I got my 550, they had some kind of goofy tool to adjust the centering of the primer cup in the hole in the shell holder. Use it for a paperweight and adjust according to that post.

I try not to use CCI's. I prefer Federal. CCI's are VERY hard. I had some that would not seat. Switched to Federal and never looked back. I also use Rem, WW's.
 
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