Loaded Cartridge Chute Issues

#1 · September 23, 2018, 6:27 am

I have an RL550B that's nearly 20 years old. I think I bought it in 2001. Several years after buying it I upgraded to the Strong Mount. When I purchased this original Strong Mount it came with a steel and black painted Loaded Cartridge Chute. This set up has worked flawlessly for years.

A couple weeks ago I ordered a new RL550C and what I thought was the same Strong Mount. However, this Strong Mount came with a cheap feeling stamped aluminum Loaded Cartridge Chute that is very clearly NOT bent in the proper shape. The top of the chute sits proud of the Shell Plate. With it sitting above the Shell Plate the loaded cartridges do not fall down the chute. Rather they fall forward and get stuck on the Shell Plate between stations 4 and 1.

I tried to bend this Loaded Cartridge Chute down but that brought it too close to the Ram and Shell Plate. So I then tried to bend it at the specific point at the top where only the chute bends back. This bend is at an awkward angle so I wasn't able to get it perfect. I say perfect because I was able to get the chute below the Shell Plate and loaded cartridges will now fall down the chute, but the bend closed the gap at the top where the plastic bin sits where the chute deposits the loaded cartridge. So now I can't fit a bin there to catch the loaded rounds.

Needless to say I'm a bit frustrated with this cheap piece of aluminum. I'm all for Dillon saving money and making modifications that allows them some cost cutting, but not at the expense of the machine not working as intended.

Can I still get the old black painted steel version of the Loaded Cartridge Chute? If not, does anyone have an suggestions on the proper way to bend this thing so that it functions?

Thanks all.

#2 · September 24, 2018, 5:16 pm

Please send some photos to sales@dillonprecision.com

Include your address in case we need to send you a replacement part

#3 · February 15, 2019, 7:47 pm

I ran into the same issue with a 550C purchased in October '18. Called Dillon but wasn't successful in communicating the issue and made no progress towards a solution. I eventually added shim washers between the new strong mount and bottom of the press. That, and a little bending, properly aligned the chute with the shell case.

#4 · July 13, 2020, 12:54 pm

Have the exact same issue with one I just received last week. Went to mount it and the press is fine but the chute interferes with the operation handle and the shell plate. Have not tried to put nay rounds through the press yet but for where the chute sits and the capture bin for the cartridges, it looks like it will fail. Is there a fix? is there a Bend it Like Dillon should have video?

Thanks

#5 · January 3, 2021, 11:30 pm

Same issue here. I bought the strong mount a while ago, put it all together but never used it. I just tried today and rounds getting jammed on chute / plate. it is not even close to be in proper position

#6 · January 7, 2021, 1:43 pm

Same issue here, had to bend the chute and then grind a curve in it to fit around the shell plate. Dillon is definitely not on top of this. I bought mine last year.