Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I have my press set up with a Dillon powder/flaring die, and Lee dies on the other 4 stations with a micrometer seating die. After getting my 550 rebuild kit installed, and a deep cleaning of the press, I suddenly run into problems. One occasional pull of the handle and I'm not getting at flare on the case mouth at all. At other pull of the handle and I'm getting bullets come out of the seating die at 1.63ish OAL (I'm set up for a 1.200 max). Any help to be had with this issue? Before I installed the rebuild parts, everything was spot on. Powder charge was consistent, OAL was exact to .003. Any help in troubleshooting this is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usmc90 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 (edited) I would start maybe looking at the shell plate. . Screwed down just short of being too tight to rotate freely? It may be tipping from side to side a bit. Edited February 6, 2014 by usmc90 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motosapiens Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 makes it sound like something is occasionally obstructing the press so the ram doesn't go all the way to the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Just checked it. I have the shell plate tight enough that it still spins, but not loose enough that it wobbles. Thanks, bud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leewongfei Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Maybe the brass your using is different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 I'm using sorted Federal, Winchester, and Speer/Blazer brass. And I only use one makers brass at a time, so I don't think it's the brass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dillon Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Sounds like something is blocking the last of the downstroke of the handle. Try running one case at a time through the machine, see if you can isolate where the downstroke is being blocked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Roger that, doing the checks now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Ok, after running the press one round at a time, everything is as it should be. OAL is consistent, powder charge is consistent, flare is correct. Not satisfied, I ran it for 10 rounds with a full shell plate and I'm back to no flare, and an OAL of 1.165-1.145, and the powder charge is consistent. Seems like I'm back at square one. I did a very in depth check to make sure my ram was free of obstructions while doing the single round, and the full plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Did you move it on the bench, move it to a new bench? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Did you move it on the bench, move it to a new bench? No sir. Same exact spot it was originally mounted in. All I did was replace a few of the parts that came with the Dillon rebuild kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 What parts? Specifically? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 (edited) The primer plunger and spring, delrin shoulder washer and spring. Nothing more than that. Edited February 6, 2014 by Noximus03 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Do you have any other tool heads you can try out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 It has got to be the delrin piece....something with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeislarge Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Did you remember to tighten the setscrew for your shell plate bolt that goes into the side of the ram? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 It has got to be the delrin piece....something with it It's the one on the powder rod that connects to the main ram. Did you remember to tighten the setscrew for your shell plate bolt that goes into the side of the ram? I didn't change that out. Never touched it. I don't think that's the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsashooter45 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Did you remember to tighten the setscrew for your shell plate bolt that goes into the side of the ram? Thats what I was thinking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Forgot to add, I have a 9mm toolhead, and put that on. Ran it single round, and full shell plate with no variance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Ok, so the primer plunger and spring never move upwards, so they can't be blocking the ram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Its the tool head then....something is loose or changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 That's what I thought, but I keep coming back to the fact that the tool head wasn't moved at all. I'm gonna have to tear this thing down and start from scratch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Bear Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Sounds like an alignment issue between your dies and the shell plate. Possibly the sizing die is stopping the ram from moving through its full stroke? Because of the mechanical linkage between the handle and the ram you are dealing with either the handle not moving through its full stroke, or the shell plate/ tool head being loose. Because it seems to work with the 9mm tool head my vote is a problem with the tool head itself or the dies inside it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noximus03 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Update- after breaking everything down, including the dies and toolhead, I found the problem. The individual dies were in great shape, but when I got to the crimp die, I found a huge problem. There was a bullet jammed in the sleeve inside the die itself. After removing the bullet, and cleaning the die out, I put everything back together. Since, I've loaded 50 rounds all consistent to my load needs. Odd problem, but glad I found it. Thanks everyone for your input, couldn't have done it without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Very odd... I've had lead buildup in the seater and crimp dies give me fits before...but never a whole bullet... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now