Anyone else have issues with their dillon presses rusting?

[Obvious]

So my 550C lost basically all of it's detent, messed around with it for a while and took off the shellplate only to discover the detent ball was rusted so badly it was stuck in a depressed position. I was able to eventually get it out, but even if I add a new detent spring/bearing I'm worried they'll just rust like crazy again. Is this normal? Worth sending to dillon to have it refurbished and hopefully rust free? Granted I live in a fairly humid environment, but I've only had my press since late February. Just curious what everyone else's experience is in this realm. 

[ddc]

I have three Dillon presses. One is about 10 years old. 

I have not seen any rusting as you describe.

That older one has spent most of it's life in a climate that has it's share of humidity but it has been indoors the entire time. No garage either.

[RudyVey]

Have two 550's, and live in NJ which is also quite a humid state, especially in the summer months.

Both my presses are in the basement and none shows any kind of rust.

[outerlimits]

i live a 3 wood from the pacific ocean.  every machine screw on my 650 has been replaced with marine grade SS.  a little corrosion X on other steel parts and no problem.

[Obvious]

9 minutes ago, RudyVey said:

Have two 550's, and live in NJ which is also quite a humid state, especially in the summer months.

Both my presses are in the basement and none shows any kind of rust.

odd, mine has been completely indoors for just the few months ive had it, not in a garage or anything. Still rusted pretty badly 

[Ben53]

I have a 1990's 550, generally fairly well cared for and no rust at all.  Interestingly, I have a 9mm SDB that sat in a garage for about 8 years, and no rust on it, either!  That one was a pleasant surprise to me.  It was in a box that got misplaced when I moved nearly 10 years ago.

[ddc]

2 hours ago, Obvious said:

odd, mine has been completely indoors for just the few months ive had it, not in a garage or anything. Still rusted pretty badly 

 

Is it just the index ball or is it more widespread?

 

Any pictures?

[Obvious]

21 minutes ago, ddc said:

 

Is it just the index ball or is it more widespread?

 

Any pictures?

i tried to upload a picture but it was too big. Here's an imgur link 

 

https://imgur.com/a/KguQDTw

 

the rust was all over the detent ball, the spring, inside the hole they sit in, the heads of the bolts, on the main bolt that holds down the shell plate, and spread over in a few more places. 

[ddc]

On my computer can be hard to tell exactly from a picture but from that and your description it seems excessive for a press that was new in February.

 

I think it is worth a call to Dillon. 

[Obvious]

9 minutes ago, ddc said:

On my computer can be hard to tell exactly from a picture but from that and your description it seems excessive for a press that was new in February.

 

I think it is worth a call to Dillon. 

That's the plan, calling them on monday. Really not excited about likely having to box it back up and paying to ship it back

[Farmer]

I’ve seen that before on other equipment. It’s almost like when it’s assembled the worker had sweaty fingers or there was high humidity in the area or moisture in the grease. Taken from high humidity warm to cold could condense moisture too, as in warm factory to airplane cargo hold. If left long enough the metal will turn black with oxide and almost weld itself together. Most of the time a good cleaning and greasing clears it up. Did you buy this new, used or NOS?

Edited May 22, 2022 by Farmer

[Obvious]

3 hours ago, Farmer said:

I’ve seen that before on other equipment. It’s almost like when it’s assembled the worker had sweaty fingers or there was high humidity in the area or moisture in the grease. Taken from high humidity warm to cold could condense moisture too, as in warm factory to airplane cargo hold. If left long enough the metal will turn black with oxide and almost weld itself together. Most of the time a good cleaning and greasing clears it up. Did you buy this new, used or NOS?

Brand new from scheels 

[ddc]

8 hours ago, Farmer said:

I’ve seen that before on other equipment. It’s almost like when it’s assembled the worker had sweaty fingers or there was high humidity in the area or moisture in the grease. Taken from high humidity warm to cold could condense moisture too, as in warm factory to airplane cargo hold. If left long enough the metal will turn black with oxide and almost weld itself together. Most of the time a good cleaning and greasing clears it up. Did you buy this new, used or NOS?

 

I can recall of seeing over the years pictures of new equipment that arrived with significant rust.

I don't have any links.

You have to wonder what happened in the process to result in new equipment arriving in that condition.

[Farmer]

2 hours ago, ddc said:

 

I can recall of seeing over the years pictures of new equipment that arrived with significant rust.

I don't have any links.

You have to wonder what happened in the process to result in new equipment arriving in that condition.

I’ve taken apart items like alternators, generators and starters that have a rusty coatings on the shafts even though there’s plenty of grease coating. Kinda think it’s caused by partially being exposed to the elements some what, but also think it has something to do with the electricity flowing though it. It always appears between a shaft and bearing or bushing. Things that are a close fit.  Does the OP have any electronics hooked up to the press that aren’t grounded??

Edited May 22, 2022 by Farmer
Spelling

[Tom S.]

I bought my press in the 80. Perhaps because I keep it cleaned and lubed, it zero rust on it anywhere.

[Obvious]

9 hours ago, Farmer said:

I’ve taken apart items like alternators, generators and starters that have a rusty coatings on the shafts even though there’s plenty of grease coating. Kinda think it’s caused by partially being exposed to the elements some what, but also think it has something to do with the electricity flowing though it. It always appears between a shaft and bearing or bushing. Things that are a close fit.  Does the OP have any electronics hooked up to the press that aren’t grounded??

nope no electronics. although it's not uncommon for dissimilar metals to experience galvanic corrosion which may have been what you were seeing in those instances. 

[Farmer]

1 hour ago, Obvious said:

nope no electronics. although it's not uncommon for dissimilar metals to experience galvanic corrosion which may have been what you were seeing in those instances. 

Just a thought. Most of the instances I’ve had are with metals that are similar. Steel on steel. Either way I think if you just give that a good cleaning and lube should be good to go. Just rub the ball in some scotch bright should do the trick. 

[boatdoc173]

zero rust in the years I have  ha d  mine. I do clean and  lube the whole machine  at least once a year.  add oil to the shaft  every week  and lube to the shell plate/bearing area at least once pe r  month.

 

I keep the loaders and supplies in a dehumidified basement-  humidity less than 40 % all year. I live  near the shore in CT

[Nathanb]

I’ve got a couple speckles on my main shaft. But it comes right off with some work. 

[OptimiStick]

I've got a 650 and 1100 in the garage in North Texas. The 650 has been there 5+ years, 1100 about 2. Never had any rust issues. Due to component shortage they hadn't been used in a good while. I noticed a few mos ago some rust starting on the 1100 main shaft, and on a couple of dies on the 650, and I greased it up 

[AHI]

So you have never lubed your machine?

[Obvious]

35 minutes ago, AHI said:

So you have never lubed your machine?

not aside from a bit of lube on the ram. Didn't realize i had to keep the platform and shell plate constantly lubed 

[Nolan]

On 5/22/2022 at 2:10 AM, Obvious said:

Brand new from scheels 

 

Who knows what happened at Scheels, although I can't imagine it sat in their warehouse for any real length of time with the demand for Dillon reloading equipment.  Any recent floods in Corpus?  How did the box look?

 

Nolan

[Obvious]

2 minutes ago, Nolan said:

 

Who knows what happened at Scheels, although I can't imagine it sat in their warehouse for any real length of time with the demand for Dillon reloading equipment.  Any recent floods in Corpus?  How did the box look?

 

Nolan

Box looked fine upon arrival, everything looked brand new. No floods lately. I suspect it may just be how humid it is this close to the coast, but it’d also be nice if Dillon started using stainless steel parts. Finding 1/4-28 stainless steel socket head screws is gonna be a bitch 

Edited May 23, 2022 by Obvious

[Nolan]

You do know Dillon is located in Aridzona, right?  LOL!

 

https://www.mcmaster.com/browse-fasteners/socket-head-screws/system-of-measurement~inch/material~stainless-steel/thread-size~1-4-28/

 

Nolan