Dillon 550 Primer Feed Issue

[MoreIsLess]

I have a Dillon 550b and I am having trouble getting the primer feeding mechanism to place a primer in the Primer Seating Cup consistently. It seems to skip placing a primer about every other case unless I pull the primer slide back all the way manually, then it works OK. I have tried cleaning all the parts with alcohol to no avail.

Any suggestions?

 

[Beanie-Bean]

The two screws on the bottom should only be finger tight. I had the same issues, called Dillon, and the tech told about that. I used the spare plate from the parts kit, and Dillon sent me a new one to put back as a ready spare. My original plate had some bad gouges and marks from being over tightened.

 

[evtSmtx]

I have a 650 and have not experienced your specific problem, but the answer is "call dillon". They are great and should be able to tell you right away how to fix a problem that manifests so frequently. Maybe a cell phone video that you could email them might help but I don't think they'll need it.

 

[rodspade]

I had a similar issue. I think I moved the primer cup down a hair and also tweaked that vertical rod that pushes the slide back.

FYI, the brian enos forum is a good place to ask questions about Dillon:
www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?&showforum=4

 

[MifflinKid]

Make sure your primer tube is clean. The tubes picks up dirt over time which impedes the smooth dropping of the primers.

Whenever I switch between small and large primers I clean the new tube. I soak both ends of an ear swab with denatured alcohol and push it through the new tube with the plastic follower rod. There is always gunk on the cotton tips.

 

[Hondo 60]

Over-tightening was my problem.
As soon as I stopped doing that I had it licked.

PS - please don't lick anything on your press.

 

[Denappy]

Anvil caused mine...

I too had the same problem, turned out a used primer anvil was stuck in the back side of the plate. A good cleaning followed and no more problems.

 

[MoreIsLess]

Bend the actuator rod

Someone told me once that bending the actuator rod helps sometimes.

Does anyone know the correct way to do that?

 

[rodspade]

> Someone told me once that bending the actuator rod helps sometimes.
> Does anyone know the correct way to do that?

This guy gets to it eventually:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1iSi7coFCc

 

[25-5]

Clean all the contact areas of the bar and its track with denatured alcohol. Powder residue accumulates causing undue friction and hinders the bar from being pushed all the way back and sometimes hanging up on the return.

 

[straight-shooter]

Have you had your Dillon 550B primer feed hang up in the middle of a session? Well I have and it got darn irritating to say the least. I've done every solution I could come up with and while some lasted for a while it always went back to the dreaded hang up and when released it would throw a primer out of the cup.

I stumbled across a video on YouTube that explains the problem and a solution which makes perfect sense. It's worth the time to watch his video and you'll understand why it happens.

Believe me when I say it's worth it. I've loaded 500 rounds so far with it and it works! The feed is smooth as butter and doesn't skip a beat. Finally a solution to the one and only thing I always hated about my Dillon press. It's now a complete joy to use.

NOTE: I have no affiliation to this video or product. I just wanted to pass along this solution because it works!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI7HpdHvlco

Link to a professional plasma cut primer slide plate and bearing

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dillon-550B-550-Primer-Track-Bearing-Plate-W-Ball-Bearing-Upgrade-3rd-Gen-S-S-/231669217427?hash=item35f08fb893

 

[X-Rap]

I would start with a good cleaning first. Dillon sent me upgrade parts that were coated with a slicker surface. Is your machine an older one?

 

[Hondo 60]

This may or may not help, but, sometimes I use a touch of
Remington Dry Lube on the primer bar.

Makes it slicker than whale snot - which I'm told is pretty slick.
Not that I'd know that from any experience

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Remington-DriLube-4-oz-Aerosol/24182910

 

[scythefwd]

hondo - graphite lube works well too

 

[MoreIsLess]

I read somewhere to polish the primer slide with scotch brite or fine grade sandpaper

 

[Bamashooter]

Inspect the plastic piece (Flexible primer orifice) on the bottom of the primer magazine for damage or wrong part (small primer=blue, lg. primer=red) I have had an intermittent primer drop with a damaged orifice before. the two fingers on the orifice had become weak causing primers to hang slightly sideways, pulling primer slide further back allowed primer to straighten and drop. As far as correct orifice, saw on another site where a guy forgot to change from lg. to small primer magazine with same results. Hope this helps.