xl750 question

[packetloss]

Does this look like some sort of alignment issue with my xl750? It's been doing this since day 1 but I never looked at it too closely and it hasn't really been an issue with 9mm. When I started doing 40 s&w and 357 sig, some cases were sized more on one side compared to the other, such that I was able to feel the difference on the case with my finger. When I called Dillon to try to see if this was an issue, they kind of blew me off and said everything is fine that it must have been "bulged" cases. But now that I've taken a closer look, I don't think the cases should tilt at all in order to enter the dies. I know on my single stage, they go straight up and don't tilt. Also, there isn't any slop in my shellplate that is causing this. The case doesn't move at all, it just tilts over slightly. Wanted to get some other opinions before I call them back and try to explain this to them a bit more.

This doesn't look like a shellplate alignment issue, it seems like the toolhead would need to go in 1 or 2 mm more than it does, but it's in as far as it goes and locked in with the pins. If I had to guess, it seems like the press is just slightly out of spec, but I don't know if all 750s are like this as I don't have any others to compare it to.

In the video notice how the case tilts over ever so slightly in order to enter the die. It's not moving in, it stays put and tilts off what I consider perfect horizontal alignment in order to enter.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Looks like you shell plate was machined incorrectly. Does it do this at all the cutouts on the shell plate or just a specific one?

Dillon had a bad batch about the time that the 750 was introduced

 

[packetloss]

When you say the shell plate, do you mean the shell plate holder on the press that the shell plate gets screwed into? This happens with both my 9mm shell plate and 40/10mm shell plate, the 40/10mm shell plate is about 5 years old so predates the 750.

I would imagine it happens in all the stations, but I will have to take a closer look to confirm.

 

[Archie]

I have an XL 650. I had some problems and it turned out I mounted the machine a bit off level. Check and make sure the shell plate is level.

 

[rfwobbly]

The Tool Head has zero adjustment, so all your adjusting has to be done at the Platen under the Shellholder. This issue typically shows up after the Main Shaft or Platen is removed for service. There are 2 socket head cap screws plainly visible under the Shellholder which control this adjustment.

I make this adjustment by loosening the 2 SHCS slightly. Not extremely loose, but just enough to allow the Platen to relocate. Then reassemble a Shellholder and install cases in all 5 positions. As the Main Shaft is slowly raised, the Platen will relocate and the cartridge cases will be able to shift over to a new position directly under each die. Carefully lower the Main Shaft and very carefully remove the Shellholder so that the 2 SHCS can be re-tightened in this new position. It may be best to tighten each screw in stages to prevent the Platen from shifting, but you get the idea.

Check and reposition as needed. This is the same procedure I use on 550, 650 and 750.

If the cartridge cases fail to move under the dies, then you have a bad Platen or Tool Head.

Hope this helps.

 

[Lafitte]

After looking at your video I just had to check my XL 650. It does exactly the same thing. It is as though the case slider did not push the case fully into the shell plate but that is not the case. The case is fully seated into the shell plate. Since I have loaded a kazillion or more rounds of .38 sp., .45ACP and 9mm with no problem I am not going to worry about it.
Lafitte

 

[packetloss]

Just checked the other stations and they are all doing it.

The main reason I noticed it was that sometimes I have to tip a case with my finger for it to enter the sizing die in station 1. At first I thought I just didn't get the case far enough into the shell plate, but that turned out not to be true. It needs to be tipped a little. Most of the times they go in enough that they tip on their own, but occasionally it needs a little help because the edge of the case hits the die and stops. A bigger issue was some of my 40 cases were resized a bit more on one side of the case. Enough that you can feel the difference with your finger. With 9mm, that effect isn't really noticeable and other than having to tip an occasional case, I wouldn't have really thought to look closer.

As far as I can tell, the shell plate holder is level. It's been doing this since day 1 when I got the press. I don't think adjusting the plate with those 2 bolts would solve this but will try that adjustment procedure if Dillon tries to tell me this is normal. It's not like the shell plate is on an angle, the stations just don't line up perfectly underneath the tool head/die. I'm thinking it sounds like what 9mmepiphany was saying and it was tooled off by 1 or 2mm.

Update: Checked everything with my levels and my bench, the tool head, the shell plate holder and the shell plate are perfectly level. It just looks like the shell plate holder is 1 or 2 mm out of spec. This happens with both tool heads I have as well as my 9mm and 40 shell plates.

 

[jmorris]

Just checked the other stations and they are all doing it.

All stations tipping the case towards the center (that’s an assumption, is it correct?), would be something stuck in the shell plate not allowing the cases to go in all the way (I have seen corn cob do this but not in all stations at once) a shell plate not correct for the case head or a tool head machined incorrectly.

This happens with both tool heads I have as well as my 9mm and 40 shell plates.

To have multiple Dillon tool heads and shell plates out of spec seems pretty odd to me. What is the number/letter on your 9mm/40 shell plates?

 

[packetloss]

They all tilt away from the case feeder (as in to the left when facing the press). I highly doubt it's the shell plates or tool heads. They are all from different time periods (years apart). I think the shell plate holder, that the shell plate gets screwed down onto is out of spec and putting every case 1 or 2 mm too close to the case feeder in comparison to the holes in the tool head. Alternatively, the tool head slot could be out of spec, not allowing the tool head to sit 1 or 2mm deep enough.

 

[packetloss]

I think I found what the problem is. Still not sure what the real solution will be. Basically there is slop in the tool head when it's inserted and the pins are put in. If I forcibly hold my hand against the tool head so it stays as far in as it goes with the pins, it's pretty close to aligned and there is minimal tilt (probably would never have noticed that tilt). If I take out the 2 pins, the tool head can move in about 1mm deeper and if I hold it like that then there is no tilt at all. The pins can't be inserted when it's held all the way in (actually 1 pin will go in, the other will not without moving one side away).

 

[packetloss]

Just heard back from Dillon on this. It turns out the press was twisted and out of spec.

 

[durachoke]

Just heard back from Dillon on this. It turns out the press was twisted and out of spec.

How are they planning on making it right?

 

[packetloss]

It's on it's way back to me, should get it Monday. I'm assuming they replaced the press with a new one. Since this was a problem since day 1, I didn't have to pay to ship it to them.

 

[Bat Rastard]

I wonder how it got twisted.

 

[packetloss]

They said it was twisted when I called to ask them what they found (all I got was a shipping notification that a package was sent) but you could never tell by looking. Had the press maybe 4 months and loaded maybe 6K rounds. I still think one of the pin holes was drilled out of spec, but who knows. I do remember the primer tube insert with the plastic piece that goes into the bottom of the primer tube was loose and broken when I first took it out of the box. Nothing looked damage, but maybe they had the Samsonite gorillas loading it on and off trucks.

 

[durachoke]

Ah. I’m glad they’re covering shipping.

 

[Rusty_Nails]

Hi everyone. I just joined the forum from Australia, please don’t hold that against me…I’m just an every day guy with a keen interest in all things gun related.
I came across this thread yesterday and I have exactly the same problem. I got my 750 a couple of weeks ago but only got round to setting it up a few days ago. As the Dillon carbide dyes in 44 mag weren’t available here, I decided to go with RCBS carbide dies, but I’ll probably move these on when the Dillon’s become available again, just for convenience. I find it annoying to put the locknut underneath and no hex at the top to use a spanner while tightening it.
Anyway as I’m in Australia, its not so easy going back to Dillon, so I’ll try the gunshop first and hopefully all will be sorted out pretty soon. It just makes me wonder if this is an isolated issue or not? It would be good to know if the op’s replacement press was spot on as they all should be or if he had any further problems.

Thanks in advance. I’ve read a lot of interesting stuff on your forum and some helpful info as well!
Rusty

 

[Damon Larsen]

They said it was twisted when I called to ask them what they found (all I got was a shipping notification that a package was sent) but you could never tell by looking. Had the press maybe 4 months and loaded maybe 6K rounds. I still think one of the pin holes was drilled out of spec, but who knows. I do remember the primer tube insert with the plastic piece that goes into the bottom of the primer tube was loose and broken when I first took it out of the box. Nothing looked damage, but maybe they had the Samsonite gorillas loading it on and off trucks.

I know this post is over a year old, but you’re not alone here.
My XL750 did the same thing, to the point where loading longer cased 357 magnums were really bad!! They’d resize so much on one side, that you could see the case head at the bottom wearing through…best way I could describe it.
I also load 9mm and 40 like you, and they would tilt as well, just not as noticeable because they are shorter cases. But after making a complete bullet, it was not concentric. Drove me insane, and spent hours on the phone with Dillon tech support and replaced the entire tool head which didn’t help.
I finally sold it, and bought a brand new press. Dillon told me I could send it in(on my dime) but I’d be waiting up to 3 months to get it back.
My new press does this same thing, but just not as bad. I’m pulling my hair out. Lol!

 

[packetloss]

The new one they sent me is significantly better. I won't say perfect, but at least I'm not getting cases that blatantly look like they weren't centered when being sized.
There is no question the original press was out of alignment as it did that with several different Dillon toolheads as well as several non Dillon ones I tried. I guess the taller the case the more pronounced the issue will be. It was a little off on 9mm but completely unacceptable for .40 or .357 Sig.

 

[Damon Larsen]

Looks like you shell plate was machined incorrectly. Does it do this at all the cutouts on the shell plate or just a specific one?

Dillon had a bad batch about the time that the 750 was introduced

So Dillon had bad 9mm shellplate’s at the time the 750 was introduced?? My 750 is doing the same thing with all 5 pistol calibers I load. You can see that there more neck tension on one side than the other.

 

[Damon Larsen]

The Tool Head has zero adjustment, so all your adjusting has to be done at the Platen under the Shellholder. This issue typically shows up after the Main Shaft or Platen is removed for service. There are 2 socket head cap screws plainly visible under the Shellholder which control this adjustment.

I make this adjustment by loosening the 2 SHCS slightly. Not extremely loose, but just enough to allow the Platen to relocate. Then reassemble a Shellholder and install cases in all 5 positions. As the Main Shaft is slowly raised, the Platen will relocate and the cartridge cases will be able to shift over to a new position directly under each die. Carefully lower the Main Shaft and very carefully remove the Shellholder so that the 2 SHCS can be re-tightened in this new position. It may be best to tighten each screw in stages to prevent the Platen from shifting, but you get the idea.

Check and reposition as needed. This is the same procedure I use on 550, 650 and 750.

If the cartridge cases fail to move under the dies, then you have a bad Platen or Tool Head.

Hope this helps.

Please help me out sir! When I load 9, 40, 45, 10mm progressively on my 750, there is more neck tension on one side than the other. Is it my sizing/decap die, a bad shell plate that’s not perfectly flat, or is it the main platform?

 

[Damon Larsen]

The new one they sent me is significantly better. I won't say perfect, but at least I'm not getting cases that blatantly look like they weren't centered when being sized.
There is no question the original press was out of alignment as it did that with several different Dillon toolheads as well as several non Dillon ones I tried. I guess the taller the case the more pronounced the issue will be. It was a little off on 9mm but completely unacceptable for .40 or .357 Sig.

Exactly what my problem is!! Was and still is I should say. I got rid of my last 750, and just bought a new one to start fresh. Just loaded up some 9mm today to test it out, and I’m still getting rounds sized on one side more compared to the other when I spin it in my fingers. What are the odds of me getting another lemon. Lol! I’m guessing I should send mine in?
Worried that my dies, since they are the same ones from my last press, have been compromised from loading crooked rounds.

 

[packetloss]

For me it happened in every position of the shell plate. While it could have been a bad shell plate then every station was wrong.
What I noticed was if I took out the toolhead retaining pins, I could push the toolhead in a bit more on one side and if I were to size a round like that it was correctly centered. Something was off for sure. The new press I got was better, but definitely not 100% centered.

This happened with whatever dies I tried (Dillon and Lee). I seriously doubt this would hurt the dies. Just the cases.

Take a close look as the case enters the die. Is it getting tipped a bit like in my original video? If so, something (most likely the press) needs to be replaced. I would send them in the dies, shellplate and press though. Let them test it all out and figure out where the issue lies.

 

[Damon Larsen]

Thanks for getting back to me man, really appreciate it. You are the 4th person I’ve found now with a 750 with case tilt. A fifth guy popped up in the comments of the video you posted.

I did get a really bad tilt in my previous 750, especially the taller cases like you mentioned in 357 Mag.
I still get slight case tilt in my new one now too, but not as bad…but…fully made 9mm is coming out lopsided(for the lack of a better word) or sized more on one side than the other.
So yeah, I’m getting case tilt for sure. I know I get it on station one. Station 2 seems fine, but I haven’t watched the other dies, seating and crimp. I’ll have to look.
I called Dillon today, and they sent me a return number. No mention of paying shipping, but I don’t care.

I think I’ll do what you did, and just send it back. You said yours came back a lot better, but not perfect. Kinda disappointing to hear that because these machines aren’t cheap.

 

[packetloss]

I would say the new one is about 95% perfect. It's probably within the expected tolerances that can be achieved with multiple moving parts. I guess it's one of those things where if you could test out 20 presses, you might find 1 that is absolutely perfect, most would be 95 and 1 would be off.

I haven't really been loading much .40 or .357 sig lately, but at least with respect to 9mm they are coming out perfect for the last 5000 I've run off in the last 6 months.