venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 New 550 on the bench and to get the powder measure crank to function up and down halfway smoothly I have to set it so the failsafe rod is leaning what seems to me as too much to the right. Does this look correct? I loaded some 308 with it leaning like this with my first run with the press today. It was leaning just like this but seemed to work but still bothering me so I set up this additional powder hopper to run 6.5 Creedmoor just to see if it would be the same and it’s exactly the same. My 650 doesn’t lean like this but it also has some offset built into the rod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 Another picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayBuster Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) Twist the powder measure over. Edited May 19, 2019 by ClayBuster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) Your fail safe rod is on correctly but not claybuster. edited to correct the post.. Edited May 19, 2019 by George16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 You also want to adjust the rod where the powder actuators are all the way down with the handle of the press in the up position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 I have the rod installed the way it shows in the instructions but maybe it would work better if I reversed it 180 and went from the other side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudyVey Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Just loosen the screws on the powder measure and twist it until the rod is straight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balakay Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 10 hours ago, George16 said: Your fail safe rod is also off by 180* if you compare it to Claybuster’s picture. His failsafe rod is installed properly. Claybuster's rod is not. https://www.usermanuals.tech/d/dillon-precision-rl-550b-instruction-manual/part1#1 In other words, it is important to put your rod in holes in the proper order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George16 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Just now, Balakay said: His failsafe rod is installed properly. Claybuster's rod is not. https://www.usermanuals.tech/d/dillon-precision-rl-550b-instruction-manual/part1#1 In other words, it is important to put your rod in holes in the proper order You’re right. My eyes didn’t see the orientation of the press correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayBuster Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 It’s not mine, I was just showing the rotation of the powder measure. LOL. I didn’t catch the rod either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) The person that put his backward was probably having the same issue I am... I realize that if I rotate it would be straight but then it’s doesn’t work properly. If I rotate any further to the left the powder crank hangs badly on the way up and really bad on the way down almost to the point of binding up. Edited May 19, 2019 by venatic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHI Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Just set up 2 presses for some friends both had issues with fail safe rod. The bends are off. They need to be 90 degree bends . they were not. A little time with pliers and a vice fixed both . But I had a good rod to go by. This may be your issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balakay Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 Check the tension on the bellcrank screw. It should not be overly tight. I would also check the spring tension under the white bushing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) 29 minutes ago, AHI said: Just set up 2 presses for some friends both had issues with fail safe rod. The bends are off. They need to be 90 degree bends . they were not. A little time with pliers and a vice fixed both . But I had a good rod to go by. This may be your issue. I had thought about that as well as it’s seems that would fix the issue possibly but my thought was try a second powder setup and see if I got same results... I did. I still have two more to unbox maybe they will configure better with this rod but doubtful. Edited May 19, 2019 by venatic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venatic Posted May 19, 2019 Author Share Posted May 19, 2019 Bent it just a little not even 90 degrees and it works much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcc7x7 Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 17 hours ago, venatic said: Another picture Looks like it is going into the opening on the bottom of the press at an angle. Mine all go fairly straight into the tab under the shell plate. The rod is in the correct orientation but looks like you should rotate the measure clockwise At least from what I can tell in the photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted May 19, 2019 Share Posted May 19, 2019 The rod needs to be straight up and down. Use the nut on the bottom of the rod to take all of the slack out of the rod. It's pretty easy to make the rod. Simply buy a piece of rod stock the same size as the original, bend an elbow in one end, and use a die to thread the other. That's what I did. I left the short piece at the elbow long enough and threaded it as well, and put a Nylock nut on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78Staff Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 Or just ditch the rod. Use two springs on the powder slide, been doing it this way forever on the 550. On the 550, you control everything, and should be looking in the case anyway. I use the old style powder measure though, without the lockout bits. Not sure if you have to have the rod for the newer KaKlunk style. I have the newer style on my 1050, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSEMARTIN Posted June 2, 2019 Share Posted June 2, 2019 (edited) Your powder measure isn't lined up right correctly. Rotate the powder measure clockwise until the rod lines up straight with the shoulder washer. The powder bar should also return smoothly. http://dillonhelp.com/Dillon Manual PDFs/Dillon-RL550B-September-2010.pdf I clip the wings off the blue stripper wing nut. I set the wing nut and secure with two nuts sandwiched between a lock washer. Edited June 2, 2019 by CSEMARTIN changed "right" to "correctly" to avoid confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted June 20, 2019 Share Posted June 20, 2019 I keep mine as straight as possible Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Th3Un4givin Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 On 5/19/2019 at 8:34 AM, RudyVey said: Just loosen the screws on the powder measure and twist it until the rod is straight. This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Remove all that stuff and use spring/springs like on the older Dillon measures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RudyVey Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 22 hours ago, Steve RA said: Remove all that stuff and use spring/springs like on the older Dillon measures. pictures?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted June 28, 2019 Share Posted June 28, 2019 I don't have any pictures of my old Dillon presses. Would someone post a picture of the older powder measure with the return spring/springs. (some people used two, although they came with one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78Staff Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 (edited) Here's a quick pic, essentially just double the springs on the PM, and get rid of the failsafe rod altogether... Just look in every case as you place the bullet. eg... Edited June 29, 2019 by 78Staff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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