550B won't pick up primers!!!
Quote from Reloader on May 6, 2019, 7:49 pmSame problem, nothing works. Replaced parts, no solution. Then the spring popped off the slide and I cannot seem to get it back on. Working on this problem for hours. Not picking up primers, not placing the primers properly in the case, crushing the primers. About to pull my hair out.
Same problem, nothing works. Replaced parts, no solution. Then the spring popped off the slide and I cannot seem to get it back on. Working on this problem for hours. Not picking up primers, not placing the primers properly in the case, crushing the primers. About to pull my hair out.
Quote from Reloader on May 6, 2019, 9:16 pmhttps://www.dillonprecision.com/kb/article/15/rl550b-primer-feed-issues
https://www.dillonprecision.com/kb/article/15/rl550b-primer-feed-issues
Quote from Reloader on July 4, 2019, 10:50 pmMy 550b developed a problem with the primer slide not wanting to come back the last 3/8 inch to pickup a new primer. I covered all the surfaces of the primer slide with Black Marker in an attempt to find why it was binding. I discovered that the side of the primer cup (small primers) was contacting the inside of the primer housing. I swapped out the small primer cup and its primer punch from my bag of spare parts and that has cured the problem.
My 550b developed a problem with the primer slide not wanting to come back the last 3/8 inch to pickup a new primer. I covered all the surfaces of the primer slide with Black Marker in an attempt to find why it was binding. I discovered that the side of the primer cup (small primers) was contacting the inside of the primer housing. I swapped out the small primer cup and its primer punch from my bag of spare parts and that has cured the problem.
Quote from Reloader on March 5, 2020, 9:41 pmI just went through the same thing. I've had my 550B for nearly 30 years and every once in a while it would stop picking up primers and a good cleaning solved the problem but not this time.
In my case and the Operating rod bracket had become slightly skewed to the right when facing the machine. Re-aligning it to 90 degrees solved the problem and it is picking up primers again.
I had taken everything apart and re-cleaned it then carefully re-assembled it while sitting to the right of the machine. I watched it's operation with no primers and everything seemed to be working but the primer bar could still be moved back a couple thou when the handle was at full stroke. I put in some primers and worked the handle and it was missing primers. It was then I noticed that a simple tap on the left side of the primer slide would have the same effect as tugging it back and that's when the light went on. I stood in front of it and watched the actuation of the primer rod and I could see it was not moving quite right and that's when I noticed the Operating rod bracket was ever so slightly out of alignment which twisted the operating rod cause the primer bar to bind right near the end of it's stroke. The tap on the left side freed it from the bind
A quick adjustment with an Allen wrench and it's working OK again and the adjustment was maybe a couple of degrees.
I just went through the same thing. I've had my 550B for nearly 30 years and every once in a while it would stop picking up primers and a good cleaning solved the problem but not this time.
In my case and the Operating rod bracket had become slightly skewed to the right when facing the machine. Re-aligning it to 90 degrees solved the problem and it is picking up primers again.
I had taken everything apart and re-cleaned it then carefully re-assembled it while sitting to the right of the machine. I watched it's operation with no primers and everything seemed to be working but the primer bar could still be moved back a couple thou when the handle was at full stroke. I put in some primers and worked the handle and it was missing primers. It was then I noticed that a simple tap on the left side of the primer slide would have the same effect as tugging it back and that's when the light went on. I stood in front of it and watched the actuation of the primer rod and I could see it was not moving quite right and that's when I noticed the Operating rod bracket was ever so slightly out of alignment which twisted the operating rod cause the primer bar to bind right near the end of it's stroke. The tap on the left side freed it from the bind
A quick adjustment with an Allen wrench and it's working OK again and the adjustment was maybe a couple of degrees.
Quote from Reloader on April 8, 2020, 5:29 pmI have spent hours cleaning and repairing my 550, I bought multiple replacement parts from Dillon and also own two presses. With the amount of money we spend on these one would expect them to work better. I have called for support and been able too temporarily repair them. I have never been able to load more than 200 rounds with out having some sort of major problems. I want to reload not repair my machine. I was told at the store Dillion was the best. I do not agree,
I have spent hours cleaning and repairing my 550, I bought multiple replacement parts from Dillon and also own two presses. With the amount of money we spend on these one would expect them to work better. I have called for support and been able too temporarily repair them. I have never been able to load more than 200 rounds with out having some sort of major problems. I want to reload not repair my machine. I was told at the store Dillion was the best. I do not agree,
Quote from Reloader on April 14, 2020, 6:43 pmI've had my 550 cum 550B for >30 years and just encountered this problem. I'm going to check the distance from slide to cup but what I did to remedy the problem in the short term was to add an additional step of insert a new case, then a bullet and lastly when the lever was down to pull on the primer slide to make certain it was all the way out. I would often hear a click and sometimes it would pull further out about an 1/8th of an inch.
I've had my 550 cum 550B for >30 years and just encountered this problem. I'm going to check the distance from slide to cup but what I did to remedy the problem in the short term was to add an additional step of insert a new case, then a bullet and lastly when the lever was down to pull on the primer slide to make certain it was all the way out. I would often hear a click and sometimes it would pull further out about an 1/8th of an inch.
Quote from Reloader on May 4, 2020, 8:34 amHad problems with my 550 after years of use with sticking slide bar on the small primer feed. The bar appeared to rough or galled from sliding in the housing. I would clean it and after some number of rounds it started binding again. The large primer feed still worked well.
Put a little bit of 6u diamond lapping compound on the small primer bar and worked it manually in the housing a few dozen times. Then cleaned the lapping compound off and coated with a little light oil from my fingers. thousands of rounds later and still no more sticking and missed primers. Great piece of equipment but sometimes the little things can be a pain.
Had problems with my 550 after years of use with sticking slide bar on the small primer feed. The bar appeared to rough or galled from sliding in the housing. I would clean it and after some number of rounds it started binding again. The large primer feed still worked well.
Put a little bit of 6u diamond lapping compound on the small primer bar and worked it manually in the housing a few dozen times. Then cleaned the lapping compound off and coated with a little light oil from my fingers. thousands of rounds later and still no more sticking and missed primers. Great piece of equipment but sometimes the little things can be a pain.
Quote from Reloader on May 19, 2020, 3:19 amI've had problems with the primer bar 'stuttering' on its way back to the front after picking up a primer. This would sometimes cause a primer to fall out of the cup and it would get stuck inside the housing... you can't see it unless you shine a flashlight in there but it shortens the rearward travel of the bar by the width of the primer. I solved the problem with a VERY LIGHT film of axle grease on the sides and bottom of the bar.
Oh and one more thing... when you are installing the primer cup it chews up your thumb when you hold it down while you tighten the set screw... so I use a penny on the top of the cup to push down while I tighten the screw and protect my delicate little digits. I found this helps ensure you get it adjusted right the first time.
I've had problems with the primer bar 'stuttering' on its way back to the front after picking up a primer. This would sometimes cause a primer to fall out of the cup and it would get stuck inside the housing... you can't see it unless you shine a flashlight in there but it shortens the rearward travel of the bar by the width of the primer. I solved the problem with a VERY LIGHT film of axle grease on the sides and bottom of the bar.
Oh and one more thing... when you are installing the primer cup it chews up your thumb when you hold it down while you tighten the set screw... so I use a penny on the top of the cup to push down while I tighten the screw and protect my delicate little digits. I found this helps ensure you get it adjusted right the first time.
Quote from Reloader on August 11, 2020, 11:15 pmOver the years i replaced and tried everything. This is the solution:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dillon-550B-C-Primer-Track-Bearing-Plate-W-Ball-Bearing/231783630462
Over the years i replaced and tried everything. This is the solution:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dillon-550B-C-Primer-Track-Bearing-Plate-W-Ball-Bearing/231783630462
Quote from Reloader on October 25, 2020, 3:59 pmUniqueTek.com 550 primer track bearing
https://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1571
UniqueTek.com 550 primer track bearing
https://www.uniquetek.com/product/T1571