Persistent problems with primer system
Quote from Reloader on November 21, 2016, 2:40 pmI may have found the problem..... maybe.
When pull the cotter pin out of the pickup tube, I noticed that the primers tend to jam up in the plastic tip, and I have to flick it with my finger to get the primers to drop into the feeder tube. My guess is, as a result of the "jam up", the primers may be going into the tube helter-skelter.... some upside-down, some sideways.
My press came with some extra pickup tube tips, so I measured the inside diameter of each, and found that the clear tip (the one with the holes) that was on the end of my SMALL PRIMER pickup tube is actually larger than the blue one that came with the press. So I switched them and tested with 50 primers. The test went well, with no jams, and no misplaced primers. I'm hoping that this is the root of the problem.
Again, if the telephone support person didn't have such a condescending attitude and was a bit more eager to help, he would have taken the time to ask me pertinent questions (including about the pickup tube) and we may have solved the problem on the call, instead of him laughing at me and telling me to bring the machine in for repair.
I've been in the Dillon Store many times, and the people there are much nicer and more willing to help than I have experienced on the telephone.
I may have found the problem..... maybe.
When pull the cotter pin out of the pickup tube, I noticed that the primers tend to jam up in the plastic tip, and I have to flick it with my finger to get the primers to drop into the feeder tube. My guess is, as a result of the "jam up", the primers may be going into the tube helter-skelter.... some upside-down, some sideways.
My press came with some extra pickup tube tips, so I measured the inside diameter of each, and found that the clear tip (the one with the holes) that was on the end of my SMALL PRIMER pickup tube is actually larger than the blue one that came with the press. So I switched them and tested with 50 primers. The test went well, with no jams, and no misplaced primers. I'm hoping that this is the root of the problem.
Again, if the telephone support person didn't have such a condescending attitude and was a bit more eager to help, he would have taken the time to ask me pertinent questions (including about the pickup tube) and we may have solved the problem on the call, instead of him laughing at me and telling me to bring the machine in for repair.
I've been in the Dillon Store many times, and the people there are much nicer and more willing to help than I have experienced on the telephone.
Quote from Reloader on November 21, 2016, 4:28 pmRe: the laughing telephone support person . . . I agree that is hardly what could be classified as competent, customer friendly service. My guess is that you may have gotten that person at a bad time/day (no excuse). I would also guess that if the LTSP shows continuing customer service problems, he should start looking for another job! Mike D. (rest in peace) would never have put up with an employee like that for long.
Hope your solution is the answer to your problem. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Enjoy safe and happy loading on your SDB!
Re: the laughing telephone support person . . . I agree that is hardly what could be classified as competent, customer friendly service. My guess is that you may have gotten that person at a bad time/day (no excuse). I would also guess that if the LTSP shows continuing customer service problems, he should start looking for another job! Mike D. (rest in peace) would never have put up with an employee like that for long.
Hope your solution is the answer to your problem. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Enjoy safe and happy loading on your SDB!
Quote from Reloader on November 21, 2016, 7:25 pmCheck to see if the primer cup and punch are fully seated in the primer slide:
• Remove the primer slide from the primer feed.
• Using calipers, measure from the underside of the primer slide to the top of the cup. It should be 1.410", plus or minus .003".
• If necessary, use a clamp or vise to reseat the primer cup and punch, and hold them down in place while you tighten the setscrew.
Next lets check the shellplate and primer punch alignment:
• Put light pressure on the shellplate with your thumb, and cycle the handle enough to advance the shellplate. See if the shellplate rotates far enough for the detent ball underneath it to locate the shellplate properly.
• If this measurement is okay, pull the handle down on the Square Deal B.• Underneath the primer slide, just above the coil spring, there is a set screw. Turn this setscrew in or out, in 1/4 turn increments, to align the primer cup to come up through the shellplate.
Next check to see if the slide binds without primers in the tube.
• If no, then either the magazine tip is damaged, or the primer cup & punch are sitting too high in the primer slide.• If yes, check for stray primers in the escape notch in the primer slide bar.
Check to see if the primer cup and punch are fully seated in the primer slide:
• Remove the primer slide from the primer feed.
• Using calipers, measure from the underside of the primer slide to the top of the cup. It should be 1.410", plus or minus .003".
• If necessary, use a clamp or vise to reseat the primer cup and punch, and hold them down in place while you tighten the setscrew.
Next lets check the shellplate and primer punch alignment:
• Put light pressure on the shellplate with your thumb, and cycle the handle enough to advance the shellplate. See if the shellplate rotates far enough for the detent ball underneath it to locate the shellplate properly.
• If this measurement is okay, pull the handle down on the Square Deal B.
• Underneath the primer slide, just above the coil spring, there is a set screw. Turn this setscrew in or out, in 1/4 turn increments, to align the primer cup to come up through the shellplate.
Next check to see if the slide binds without primers in the tube.
• If no, then either the magazine tip is damaged, or the primer cup & punch are sitting too high in the primer slide.
• If yes, check for stray primers in the escape notch in the primer slide bar.
Quote from Reloader on November 23, 2016, 3:40 pmDillon - done all that, sent SDB back to you for cleaning/service and still have the same issue.
Now what? Live with issues and change blue orifice every 500 rounds?
Dillon - done all that, sent SDB back to you for cleaning/service and still have the same issue.
Now what? Live with issues and change blue orifice every 500 rounds?
Quote from Reloader on November 23, 2016, 4:54 pmscotzman,
Please send me an email and equest a replacement primer feed system.
send it to sales@dillonprecision.com , remind me of this thread, and include your name and address.
scotzman,
Please send me an email and equest a replacement primer feed system.
send it to sales@dillonprecision.com , remind me of this thread, and include your name and address.
Quote from Reloader on November 27, 2016, 2:58 amI have confirmed that the root of the primer feed problem was that from the very beginning when I first got this press, I had been using the small pickup tube with the large dispensing tip on it. Apparently, the large dispensing tip is large enough to allow the small primers to tumble about as they are being fed into the primer tube. This is what has been causing the primer system to jam up, and primers being fed upside down and sideways.
I discovered this by measuring the ID of the various dispensing tips that came with the press and found that the turquoise dispensing tip is smaller than the clear dispensing tip that was on the small pickup tube when I received the press. It would have been nice if these color codes had been mentioned somewhere in the documentation or on the video that I purchased.
I loaded 250 rounds today with no primer system problems, so I declare this problem solved.
I have confirmed that the root of the primer feed problem was that from the very beginning when I first got this press, I had been using the small pickup tube with the large dispensing tip on it. Apparently, the large dispensing tip is large enough to allow the small primers to tumble about as they are being fed into the primer tube. This is what has been causing the primer system to jam up, and primers being fed upside down and sideways.
I discovered this by measuring the ID of the various dispensing tips that came with the press and found that the turquoise dispensing tip is smaller than the clear dispensing tip that was on the small pickup tube when I received the press. It would have been nice if these color codes had been mentioned somewhere in the documentation or on the video that I purchased.
I loaded 250 rounds today with no primer system problems, so I declare this problem solved.
Quote from Reloader on December 6, 2016, 6:38 pmI have had primer problems in the past, here are some areas to look at or solutions to use.
After picking up primers and you turn the tube upside down, insert the plastic drop rod, when you remove the safety pin, the weight of the plastic rod will help push the primers into the feed tube.
Inside the feed tube of the primer system, first make sure you have the correct tube, small or large AND check to make sure that no part of the end of the plastic piece, looks like a clamp, is broke. One issue I had was that i did not notice a small piece of plastic was just hanging but not providing support to the dropping primer to seat correctly into the cup
Last check to make sure the your primer feed cup retracts all the way so that it is underneath the drop tube. The allen screw is what you use to adjust how far back the cup sits.
doing these things fixed my problems. Yes the plastic pieces do break over time, they are plastic.
hope this helps
Lefty TSGC
I have had primer problems in the past, here are some areas to look at or solutions to use.
After picking up primers and you turn the tube upside down, insert the plastic drop rod, when you remove the safety pin, the weight of the plastic rod will help push the primers into the feed tube.
Inside the feed tube of the primer system, first make sure you have the correct tube, small or large AND check to make sure that no part of the end of the plastic piece, looks like a clamp, is broke. One issue I had was that i did not notice a small piece of plastic was just hanging but not providing support to the dropping primer to seat correctly into the cup
Last check to make sure the your primer feed cup retracts all the way so that it is underneath the drop tube. The allen screw is what you use to adjust how far back the cup sits.
doing these things fixed my problems. Yes the plastic pieces do break over time, they are plastic.
hope this helps
Lefty TSGC
Quote from Reloader on March 31, 2021, 5:16 amI have had primer problems as well. I have not had any problems with the men at Dillon being as helpful as they can when I call and I will call again.
I went to the range yesterday with a couple of boxes of .38 loaded into Winchester stamped cases using CCI small pistol primers. About half the primers were just enough too proud to allow the rounds to be used. I have been giving the second stage primer setting a little extra push lately but it is not always enough. I have not measured the primer slide height on the small one so I wonder if it is too low. It was brand new when I began loading .38. I have the same problem with CCI large pistol primers and .45 ACP cases but of course it does not keep the rounds from firing. Obviously if the primers are too proud I reseat them.
I have had primer problems as well. I have not had any problems with the men at Dillon being as helpful as they can when I call and I will call again.
I went to the range yesterday with a couple of boxes of .38 loaded into Winchester stamped cases using CCI small pistol primers. About half the primers were just enough too proud to allow the rounds to be used. I have been giving the second stage primer setting a little extra push lately but it is not always enough. I have not measured the primer slide height on the small one so I wonder if it is too low. It was brand new when I began loading .38. I have the same problem with CCI large pistol primers and .45 ACP cases but of course it does not keep the rounds from firing. Obviously if the primers are too proud I reseat them.
Quote from Reloader on March 31, 2021, 5:20 amThis is not a reply, just added info. I have a Square Deal press, an older one to be sure, but in good shape and my .38 tools are all new. I did read in this thread that CCI primers themselves could be the problem. I bought these a few years ago, maybe they had quality problems then, Blue boxes and small yellow boxes. Right now there are no primers out there, as you well know, so I am kind of stuck, primer brand wise.
This is not a reply, just added info. I have a Square Deal press, an older one to be sure, but in good shape and my .38 tools are all new. I did read in this thread that CCI primers themselves could be the problem. I bought these a few years ago, maybe they had quality problems then, Blue boxes and small yellow boxes. Right now there are no primers out there, as you well know, so I am kind of stuck, primer brand wise.
Quote from Reloader on April 10, 2021, 5:26 pmI put very little stock in the notion that the primers are the problem. It really sounds to be like your problem is with the height of the primer cup. The Dillon spec for this part sets the height of the primer cup at 1.410 inches plus or minus .003.
carefully. What to do with your loaded rounds with high primers? Some might suggest simply trying to reseat the loaded rounds.
While possible, I think it dangerous, and I suggest the safe route of pulling the bullets, dumping the powder and then reseat your primers and reload your correct cases.Best,
Terry
I put very little stock in the notion that the primers are the problem. It really sounds to be like your problem is with the height of the primer cup. The Dillon spec for this part sets the height of the primer cup at 1.410 inches plus or minus .003.
carefully. What to do with your loaded rounds with high primers? Some might suggest simply trying to reseat the loaded rounds.
While possible, I think it dangerous, and I suggest the safe route of pulling the bullets, dumping the powder and then reseat your primers and reload your correct cases.
Best,
Terry