MoreIsLess
Member
For some reason my Dillon 550b has started intermittently not dropping powder charges, Any ideas what would be causing this or how to correct/prevent this. I am using Bullseye powder.
Dillon 550b powder not dropping
- Thread starter MoreIsLess
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medalguy
Member
Do you use this often? Check for spider webs in the bottom. It's happened before.
Nothing at all falls or just a little bit of powder? Is the slide moving every time?
Nothing at all falls or just a little bit of powder? Is the slide moving every time?
OP
OP
MoreIsLess
Member
It either drops the correct charge or no charge at all. No middle ground
shooter1
Member
Watch that powder bar when it cycles. Make sure the linkage is properly adjusted and is not binding. Bullseye meters great in a Dillon measure. Have you emptied and cleaned the measure lately. Powder could be bridging. I wrap a dryer sheet around mine to keep static cling under control, works great.
str1
str1
OP
OP
MoreIsLess
Member
You wrap the bar with a dryer sheet?
OP
OP
MoreIsLess
Member
The meter bar goes all the way to the right but does not come all the way back to the left
When there is a case under the powder measure and it is raised into the powder measure, the charge bar should extend fully. When the case is lowered, the charge bar should retract fully.
If not, something has gotten mis-adjusted or there is too much friction in the system.
My suggestion would be to check your adjustments, particularly the rod that pulls the charge bar back in and disassemble the powder measure and clean it out.
But, someone may have better suggestions.
If not, something has gotten mis-adjusted or there is too much friction in the system.
My suggestion would be to check your adjustments, particularly the rod that pulls the charge bar back in and disassemble the powder measure and clean it out.
But, someone may have better suggestions.
mdm
Member
Pull the powder bar, clean, and reinstall. Check the linkage for proper setup. Make sure the wing nut at the end of the powder bar operating rod is putting the proper load on the spring. Make sure the bolt that secures the bell crank isn't too tight.
shooter1
Member
Ha ha! Should have been more specific. I wrap the dryer sheet around the powder hopper and secure it with a rubber band.
str1
str1
medalguy
Member
One of my Dillons had a little slop in the charge bar and allowed tiny pieces of powder to get between the slide and the body. Dillon provided thin shims to reduce this clearance. I have four Dillons and had this problem on only one press.
2bfree
Member
Can someone explain to me how if the safety rod is installed and adjusted correctly it is even possible for the bar not to return ? The older measure, before the safety rod used springs to return the bar.
mdm
Member
Improper assembly/adjustment.
Powder bar binding.
jmorris
Member
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- Sep 30, 2005
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With the failsafe rod, the only way it won't return if adjusted correctly is if the ram is not lowered all the way. At that point it doesn't matter if your charge with powder or not because there will be no primer in the case.
There was less "clunking" on the pre failsafe measures but they could stick.
2bfree
Member
I think that was my point, although I can't see the powder bar binding because you could not raise the handle far enough to seat a primer then. In the future when this question comes up, as it has in the past, the answer is simple, make sure it is adjusted correctly and you fully cycle the ram.
And the old style it could happen as it is spring return, I have one although it has now been upgraded, free by Dillon.
2bfree
Member
Could, it had no failsafe rod, just used a spring for the return.
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