leftee Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I'm a reloading beginner. I set up a Dillon 550B for 45ACP. The indexer isn't smooth and gets hung up. Is there any suggested trouble shooting I could try? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hey leftee, welcome to the forums. Is it binding when you turn the star? Is the set screw tight in the ram? There is a set screw in the left side of the ram that locks the plate bolt in place. The center bolt in the plate is not supposed to be tightened too tight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CZinSC Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Did you tighten the set screw on the shaft? When you pull the handle down, there is a set screw on the left side under the shell plate. You need to tighten the main shell plate bolt tight enough so the shell plate doesn't wobble, but loose enough so that the indexer rotates freely ( takes some trial and error ). After you get it just right, you pull the arm, raise the shell plate, and then go and tighten down that set screw. It prevents the indexer from tightening the bolt as you index it. Based on your description, that sounds like the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftee Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 Yes, I've been using the set screw. I think my problem was that I was screwing down the indexer too tight. Seems to work if I leave the star so it's wobbly. Is this normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckfarris Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 There is a fine balance between too tight and too loose. Tighten it just enough so you can index smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Yes, I've been using the set screw. I think my problem was that I was screwing down the indexer too tight. Seems to work if I leave the star so it's wobbly. Is this normal? Yes. My star wobbles slightly but the plate does not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARKAVELI Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 (edited) Yes, I've been using the set screw. I think my problem was that I was screwing down the indexer too tight. Seems to work if I leave the star so it's wobbly. Is this normal? Yes. My star wobbles slightly but the plate does not. Same here! Just make sure that set screw is tight enough or the bolt will tightin and or to the point where the plate & star will be to tight to turn.. Edited June 25, 2011 by MARKAVELI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter57 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Just to let you know that's the hardest thing to adjust on a 550B and it's easy once you do it a couple of times to get the right feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g56 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Keep in mind that when you tighten the set screw, it seems to tighten the center screw as well, so you need to balance the 2 screws to get it just right. Its not hard to do, set the center screw then tighten the set screw, then rotate the shell plate at least a couple of full rotations, if its binding go back and do it again till you find the sweet spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postal Bob Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 You might also want to try just a spot of grease on the index ball under the shellholder. This way it won't bind up and is a little smoother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg in VA Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Also make sure the ejector is not hitting either the star or the shellplate.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rfwobbly Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Seems to work if I leave the star so it's wobbly. Is this normal? Wobbly? Somebody call me? I had a hard time with that too. The center bolt needs to be slightly looser than you'd first think. If you think about it, the ball detent is going to stop the shell holder where it needs to be regardless of the bolt setting. And since the position of the shell support plate doesn't move if the center bolt is a little loose, there's simply no reason to have that bolt set to a critical clearance. On mine I run it down until it touches and then back off 1/3 turn. The center bolt is 3/8-16 UNC, so each full thread is .062". Therefore 1/3 turn gives you about .020" shell holder clearance. Try that my friend! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theycallmeingot Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 i've found this problem to always be too tight of a shell plate. i overtighten, and then keep backing it off until i can JUST turn it smoothly. too lose and your cases will get hung up in the resize die and may ruin the mouths of the cases. ask me how i know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftee Posted July 5, 2011 Author Share Posted July 5, 2011 Just to finish the story for those that might be reading this thread, I finally figured out the problem. Two the arms on my indexing star were bent slightly down. This caused the star to sometimes hang on the ejector. To eliminate the hang I had to set the plate too loose which caused other problems. Once I discovered the source of the problem was the bent star, it was easy enough to straighten the arms, and then I could properly set the plate tension, and the indexing problems are now solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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