Dillon 550B Not Lining Up

[9mmepiphany]

A friend had me over to load up some rounds on his 550B and I noticed that the case would occasionally not line up with the first die (resizing). It seemed to happen every 5th round.

His response is to apply a bit of lateral pressure to the case to get it to enter the die, so I'm thinking it is an alignment issue. Something loose or worn?

I told him to call Dillon CS, but he'll likely put it off.

I'm just wondering if anyone has had this happen to their press and what might the fix be

 

[theslasher]

Loosen the locknut for the size die. Run a case up into it and hold down on the lever while retightening the locknut. Should be g2g..

 

[Cheetos]

Contact Dillon. They make an alignment tool to align the baseplate to the toolhead. I believe they still offer them for free.

 

[Wildbillz]

Also check the little spring clip that holds the case in place. I found mine pushing the case at an angle once.

WB

 

[243winxb]

Dillon alignment tool, as said above. http://s338.photobucket.com/user/joe1944usa/library/Firearms%20%20and%20%20Reloading/Dillon%20RL-450%20Manual

 

[mdm]

With it only happening once in a while, it doesn't sound like an alignment problem. Something is loose? Something is getting on the shell plate; piece of tumbling media, piece of shaved brass from seating primer? The primer isn't sitting square in the cup?

 

[243winxb]

Dillon Linkage Test

Worn linkage - The test is to hold the lever parallel to the floor and move side to side. If ram/shell plate rotate, it may be worn. DILLON-RL-550-RELOADING-PRESS-LINKAGE for mdm

 

[mdm]

Worn linkage - The test is to hold the lever parallel to the floor and move side to side. If ram/shell plate rotate, it may be worn.

What linkage? He's on a 550.

When you are having a problem with station one not being lined up, how are the other three stations?

 

[gahunter12]

With it only happening once in a while, it doesn't sound like an alignment problem. Something is loose? Something is getting on the shell plate; piece of tumbling media, piece of shaved brass from seating primer? The primer isn't sitting square in the cup?

It could still be out of align. I did a complete strip of my RL550b last year. Afterward I had the same issue. I was able to align it back up by making sure the little idler wheel on the primer ram top plate lined up with the idler wheel on the primer bar, and a case lined up with the sizing die. I really didn't see any need for the tool.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Loosen the locknut for the size die. Run a case up into it and hold down on the lever while retightening the locknut.

That sounds simple enough to try

Contact Dillon. They make an alignment tool to align the baseplate to the toolhead. I believe they still offer them for free

All I have to get him to do is call

Also check the little spring clip that holds the case in place.

First thing we checked. I missed it as a newbie and he pointed it out

With it only happening once in a while, it doesn't sound like an alignment problem. Something is loose? Something is getting on the shell plate; piece of tumbling media, piece of shaved brass from seating primer? The primer isn't sitting square in the cup?

We though this also. This whole thing started as a session to take it apart and clean the press. Wiped everything down and took the shop vac to it.

He vacuums whenever there is any loose powder or spent primer that doesn't fall correctly

When you are having a problem with station one not being lined up, how are the other three stations?

The other stations line up fine. Tested it when we ran some shells through the progression without an initial shell

I'm leaning toward adjusting the first sizing die first to see if it cures the problem...plus it is free and easy. The other suggestions have also been very helpful of how to proceed if that doesn't work

 

[2bfree]

Make sure the shell plate is as tight as possible and still be able to turn. What die are you using ? Some dies have a very small mouth and need to be perfectly aligned, one advantage of the Dillon die is a wide mouth, especially on the 9mm.

 

[taliv]

if it happened every 4th round, i'd guess one of the cut outs in the shell plate is off center and you need a new plate. every 5th round? *shrug*

 

[9mmepiphany]

Make sure the shell plate is as tight as possible and still be able to turn. What die are you using ? Some dies have a very small mouth and need to be perfectly aligned, one advantage of the Dillon die is a wide mouth, especially on the 9mm.

It was 9mm and the dies mounted in the press were RCBS

if it happened every 4th round, i'd guess one of the cut outs in the shell plate is off center and you need a new plate. every 5th round? *shrug*

I though about that too. Sometimes it would happen every round for 2-3 rounds and then stop hanging up for almost 10 rounds

Would the ram handle hanging up on the upstroke play into this also?

We thought it was the case mouth hanging up on the expander, but now I wonder. The primer bar would sometimes not pickup (catch?) a primer too

 

[2bfree]

We thought it was the case mouth hanging up on the expander, but now I wonder. The primer bar would sometimes not pickup (catch?) a primer too

Make sure the primer bar is returning all the way. I have had this happen when the bar was not perfectly setup and and if watching the powder drop and watching the brass you would not notice most likely.

 

[taliv]

is there something stuck in there? maybe take it apart, clean it and lube

 

[Kingcreek]

Dillon dies are made for progressives and have a little more radius on the die mouth. You probably have a combination of less radius with the RCBS dies and a slight tipping of the case due to crud, media, or the little spring clip, etc.
I insert the case past the clip and give it a little roll with my thumb, turning it in the baseplate to help center it and what you describe almost never happens to me.