XL 650 squeaking on handle upstroke? - RESOLVED

[FTDMFR]

My 650 has started squeaking right at the start of the handle upstroke (lowering the platform). It's a very short metallic squeaking / rubbing sound that happens right as the platform starts to lower. I have no idea where it's coming from.

Things I've tried so far that did not make it go away:

• Greased / lubed the entire press (other than the powder measure)
• Lubed the roller handle
• Cleaned the crimp die
• Cleaned the sizing die
• Cleaned the powder die (definitely not it, since the squeak happens before the case is pulled off of the die).

Some other info that might be relevant:

• I'm loading 9mm
• I wet tumble
• I lube the cases with WD-40 Specialist Silicone spray (not the regular WD-40 stuff)
• The squeak seems to be dependent on how much force or torque I'm applying to the roller handle as I start the upstroke. If I relax on the handle before the upstroke, the squeak seems to go away.

Any thoughts on what could be causing this? I was hoping that it's being caused by one of the dies, but now I'm worried that something is wrong with the shaft and/or platform.

Thanks in advance.

Edited August 4, 2015 by FTDMFR

[johniac7078]

Roller handle.

[Boxerglocker]

Powder funnel.... the wet tumbling essentially make the brass too clean and extremely skeptical regarding your choice of case lube (I use HOS)

I would give your powder funnel a good polish and change your lube or go back to dry media cleaning.

[FTDMFR]

Powder funnel.... the wet tumbling essentially make the brass too clean and extremely skeptical regarding your choice of case lube (I use HOS)

I would give your powder funnel a good polish and change your lube or go back to dry media cleaning.

That was my first guess too, but the squeak happens well before when the case starts to get pulled off of the funnel.

[Bkreutz]

I lube the cases with Dillon case lube, I know it doesn't adversely affect the powder charge. Not knowing what's in WD-40 would bother me. The only squeak that's ever developed on my 650 has been the roller handle, but it was easy to find on mine, all I had to do was wiggle the handle. One good way to trace down noises is to take a piece of tubing (the flexible clear type), tape one open end at various places on the press and hold the other open end near your ear, the source of the noise will become very apparent when you get close. (used this for 40 years finding noises in machines) Retired now, (besides my hearing is going anyway ) Good hunting.

[Youngeyes]

Hold the handle without holding the roller. Try raising and lowering the ram. This will rule out the roller.

[MNshooter]

Roller handle.

^^^^this

[Alan550]

Are you sure it's a squeak and not a whistle? I've had a whistle coming through the just-deprimed case as it's pulled out of the sizing die. Air being sicked in through the primer pocket on my 550.

Just a thought.

Alan~^~

[TANFARM]

Mine was the roller handle.......this is funny....we all can have the same problems........put a shot of Teflon spray on both ends of the roller......

[mpssrh]

@FTDMFR: Had a similar issue with a Dillon 550B. The case feeder has clear plastic tubing that delivers the cases from the hopper to the shell plate. This tubing is composed of 2 pieces that interdigitate (i.e., one piece slides within the other as the shell plate moves up and down). In my case, the noise was occurring from friction at that location. A small amount of silicone lubricant applied to the plastic tubing solved the problem. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

[Brooke]

Roller handle.

This!

Just squeeze a little oil under the roller (from the inside end is easiest) and the squeak will quit.

650 case feeder does not have the sliding connection of tubing as the 550 does.

[FTDMFR]

Turns out it was the sizing die after all.

After cleaning the sizing die, and removing all the galled brass from the powder die, my press is running buttery smooth.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

[Jimk60]

If you are wet cleaning brass yourself, try using Armor All Wash and Wax with Carnuba wax

instead of Dawn. It leaves a dry slick coating inside and outside the case. It also has a side benefit

of keeping your cases shiny, longer, and severely reduces tarnishing over time.

My tumbler holds 1.5 gallons. I use 10 lbs pins, no more than 8 lbs of brass, and fill with water.

I add 2 tbs of AA, and 1 tbs of Lemishine Booster.

Dawn, or similar dish washing liquids strip everything off of whatever you are washing.

You must use a case lube. I have found that using the AA permits me to load on my 650 without any additional lube.

[rodell]

If you are wet cleaning brass yourself, try using Armor All Wash and Wax with Carnuba wax

instead of Dawn. It leaves a dry slick coating inside and outside the case. It also has a side benefit

of keeping your cases shiny, longer, and severely reduces tarnishing over time.

My tumbler holds 1.5 gallons. I use 10 lbs pins, no more than 8 lbs of brass, and fill with water.

I add 2 tbs of AA, and 1 tbs of Lemishine Booster.

Dawn, or similar dish washing liquids strip everything off of whatever you are washing.

You must use a case lube. I have found that using the AA permits me to load on my 650 without any additional lube.

I use the Armor All car wash to great effect as well. It has the extra benefit preventing tarnishing. No more Dawn for me.

[FTDMFR]

If you are wet cleaning brass yourself, try using Armor All Wash and Wax with Carnuba wax

instead of Dawn. It leaves a dry slick coating inside and outside the case. It also has a side benefit

of keeping your cases shiny, longer, and severely reduces tarnishing over time.

My tumbler holds 1.5 gallons. I use 10 lbs pins, no more than 8 lbs of brass, and fill with water.

I add 2 tbs of AA, and 1 tbs of Lemishine Booster.

Dawn, or similar dish washing liquids strip everything off of whatever you are washing.

You must use a case lube. I have found that using the AA permits me to load on my 650 without any additional lube.

Thanks. I'll have to try this.

I dry my brass in a food dehydrator, and the brass gets too hot to touch. Do you think this would be a problem with the Armor All?

[Jimk60]

Don't know. I dry mine in a downstairs dishwasher that has a hot dry cycle without any problems.