Dillon Service? Warm And Fuzzy Feeling?

[river-rider]

I have used Dillon Equipment Since the 450 press. I currently have the Sq Deal, the 550, the 650, and the 1050. Up until today I had a warm and fuzzy feeling about Dillon service. I had a problem with my 1050 jamming up. I finally was able to get all the shells out of the press but it was still jammed. The press is about 4 or 5 years old. I realize that Dillon considers the 1050 as a commercial machine and the warranty is only good for a year. But when I called Dillon and explained what problems I was having I was advised just start taking it apart, starting with the primmer system and when it unjams you will know what the problem is. I got the distinct feeling that they just really not want to be bothered with questions about the 1050. Is this typical of the service any you who have 1050s have been getting?

[shred]

I've never had to call on my 1050, but that's about what I do to diagnose it. Usually the culprit for me is the rocker and pins that drive the primer system are getting stuck.

[Merlin Orr]

Take the lever loose at the connection where it goes around the primer tube and slide it up the tube. The only time I have ever had a "solid" jam is when the lever/primer slide relationship goes awry. I would think that this is why you received the response you did from Dillon...Because that is most likely the root problem area.

[Pigdawg]

While I do not own a 1050 I have a 650 and had a 550 in the past. EVERY time I have ever called them with questions they have been patient(as I explaind "Well I broke this thing here" and never hesitated to send me a replacement part.

[chuckbradley]

Just got off the phone with Dillon concerning my 1050. Last night a buddy was loading and he blew up many primers. We were having problem with it jamming up. It seemed to be around the primer slide. We always seemd to get it loose and kept on going until last night with the explosion. Luckily he wasnt hurt. It swelled the primer tube and disentegrated the primer rod. I called dillon to order it and although the parts were not covered since the 1050 was over a year old we got the replacement parts on the way. They did replace some primer pickup tube caps that were worn, free of charge.

Now for the problem. Many months ago I dropped one of the stage pins in a hole in the shell plate. It dropped down into a hole that is just above where the pivot screw for the primer cam is located. This stage pin was interfering with the primer cam sometime not letting it retreat thus not letting the slide or shell plate move. I assume that last night it jammed and when trying to work it out a primer ignited. I was at the post office when it happened and when I got back Tony was a littel shell shocked. He asked me if I smelled anything. I said yes. Then he proceeded to tell me what happned. 3 hours later and after robbing some parts from another press he was loading again. It appears no less than 20 primers ignited. He said it was loud. So if you drop something under the shell plate its best to disasemble the machine and retrieve it. I was too lazy to do so.

I am a little suprised that Dillon doesnt offer the same service on their top of the line model as they do on the other models. Of course i do understand disqualification after a year for commercial use. I would be willing to bet that many more of these machines are in private hands than commercial loaders so i wonder if its just not an excuse to not offer the same service. Not to say that i dont think We/I should pay for problems as I had last night, that wasnt Dillons fault, excpet maybe a design flaw to allow it to happen but no big deal. i just like being able to get parts so we dont have to treat the presses like disposble items like so many other things these days.

[Merlin Orr]

Love those 1050s.

Edited October 21, 2006 by Merlin Orr