Sarge Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Well, I am finally having some reliability issues with my press after a few years of moderate use. My"blue nut" on the failsafe rod is working loose. I can actually watch it turn a little every stroke. Has anybody done a mod to keep it tight? Did you just put a lock nut on it? Two nuts locked together? Or just put a new insert in the blue nut to make removal easier? You can get them at ACE Hardware. And Why did you do what you did? I am also starting to have problems with with the primer catch chute sticking open. I know I can put a safety pin or a finish nail in it but I want to do something more permanent. I have read about putting tubing on the 650 to catch primers. But has anybody done anything like this on the 550? There is alot of movement involved and was wondering if anybody had success with a tubing mod. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHolsted Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Top, I use a small piece of 24ga wire that I wrap around the nut and the threads. Been there for aleast the last 5 years and never had a problem since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark R Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 On my 550B, I haven't had the primer failsafe rod issue yet <<knock on wood>>, but I have had the primer catch chute sticking open. Seems when the cotter pin starts to wear, it will allow the chute to ever so slightly catch on the side of the mount area. I removed and reinstalled the cotter pin only to have it do it again. I removed the chute and used it to measure for a small nail the diameter size of the holes, remounted it using the small nail and with a small set of needle nose pliers was able to bend the pointy end of the nail just enough to hold it in place...haven't had a problem since. I guess I could have asked Dillon for a new cotter pin, but engineered it instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
open17 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Had a fail safe nut back off, causing the powder measure to throw some really light charges. That lead to the conversion of an open gun barrel, slide and comp into an interesting paper weight. I double nutted it, no problems since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 Get a new nut from Dillon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paraman1 Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 What is the failsafe rod he asked curiously ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 The rod that goes from the Powder Measure to the shellplate and makes sure the powder measure never sticks open. It on all the new presses. Has been for years. Some people hate the thing. I think it helps the measure work better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98sr20ve Posted February 18, 2011 Share Posted February 18, 2011 You can't use a tube to catch the primers like you can on the 650. Different design. Cotter pin and a paper clip works great. Make sure the chute is not contacting the underside of the shellplate/ram area as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alvarez Kelly Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 Dillon will mail you a new nut insert for the blue knob for the asking. Same with the primer chute cotter pin. Having said that, I'd take the whole "roller bracket assy" off (see page 5 of the 550 manual) and give it a thorough inspection and cleaning. I've seen some of the tin chute parts pretty bent up and binding on each other. If the tin parts are badly worn, replace 'em. Dillon will send you new ones for free. Good luck and let us know the outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 I've used a rubber flexible plumbing connector as a neat funnel to catch primers. It's shaped like a squat icecream cone. Push it in the collector cup and it works great. Home depot under flex coupling. Not sure of size. If you'd like I can PM you with size when I get home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 19, 2011 Share Posted February 19, 2011 (edited) Had a fail safe nut back off, causing the powder measure to throw some really light charges. That lead to the conversion of an open gun barrel, slide and comp into an interesting paper weight. I double nutted it, no problems since. Mine has worked loose in the past, I just keep an eye on it. But, even if mine does work loose, it will never throw light charges....I use the springs from the old style on EVERY measure I use, old style or new style...The springs are easy to find, Home Depot and Lowes carries them or a near replica. Another thing you can use is the 3/8" wide rubber band that comes on stalks of broccoli at the super market...You usually can even find them in Blue! So, you get some fiber in your diet and don't blow up your gun! A thought, if you didn't want to double nut it, maybe a dab of finger nail polish on the threads, or some easily removed thread locker on the threads would help. The primer chute thing has given me fits, at times, until I took it apart, cleaned it to shiny mirror finish, replaced the cotter pin with a stainless nail (stainless seems to be harder than regular nails, and doesn't scratch, making the chute open and close smoother). No problems since. Edited February 19, 2011 by GrumpyOne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WatchmanUSA Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I am also starting to have problems with with the primer catch chute sticking open. I know I can put a safety pin or a finish nail in it but I want to do something more permanent. I have read about putting tubing on the 650 to catch primers. But has anybody done anything like this on the 550? There is alot of movement involved and was wondering if anybody had success with a tubing mod. The safety pin solution is the Dillon fix. It works like a champ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZinSC Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I am also starting to have problems with with the primer catch chute sticking open. I know I can put a safety pin or a finish nail in it but I want to do something more permanent. I have read about putting tubing on the 650 to catch primers. But has anybody done anything like this on the 550? There is alot of movement involved and was wondering if anybody had success with a tubing mod. The safety pin solution is the Dillon fix. It works like a champ. I used a small paper clip. Cut it to length, bend one end with pliers, insert it, then bend the other end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 I put a finish nail on the chute. I'll probably go with a wingnut and blue loctite or a double nut fix on the failsafe rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prreed10 Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 I have found that a large safety pin does the trick on the primer Shute. I need to keep a better eye on my railways rod... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrt4me Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thanks for these tips; I've experienced both issues with my own Dillon 550B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cworks Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I was having the same problem with my primer catch chute. I used a paper clip and cut it to the length I wanted. At first it didn't work because I bent the ends so much it was binding the chute up. This was not allowing it to move freely. So I figured out if you just barely bend the tips just enough to keep the paperclip from sliding out it doesn't bind the chute and allows it to move freely. Hope this helps someone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punkin Chunker Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 I fixed the failsafe rod by drilling a small hole through it and putting putting a pin through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Too_Slow Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 There should be a spare Tinnerman nut for the wingnut in the spare parts kit. There was for my XL650. So when I had that problem I just replaced it. Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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