Dillon 650 Case Feed Issue

[Sniffer]

I have a Dillon 650 (had it for about 6 years now at a guess) and it has loaded a LOT of rounds.

Its needed a few tweaks and some TLC along the way (I did a decent sized overhaul earlier this year and replaced a bunch of worn looking parts / springs etc and polished a bunch of things which has gotten ragged through wear and tear).

It runs 99% but one niggling issue which keeps happening is that the case (its setup for 9mm 90% of the time) drops, gets pushed into the station one location on the press (I can watch it slide right into the shellplate and seat correctly) but for some reason the case sometimes slides back out a little (its pretty sporadic - I cant see any underlying cause or pattern) which causes the edge of the case to hit the decapping / resizing die in station 1 and lock everything up.

Its an easy fix (simply reach around and push the case in a little to where it should be).

The station 1 locator (Dillon option 5) looks pretty worn and I wonder if it could be worn to the point that it is a little thinner than it should be and therefore not at the same level as the shellplate which means the case is tipped back a little and falls out of the shellplate cup.

Thoughts?

 

[adamg]

My 650 does that sometimes.

Perhaps some lube and foreign material has built up on the shell pusher surface that gives the pusher some ability to "pull".

 

[tigrr]

Mainly caused by a slightly short stroke. You might get a primer that is not fully seated as well.

 

[Sniffer]

My 650 does that sometimes.

Perhaps some lube and foreign material has built up on the shell pusher surface that gives the pusher some ability to "pull".

I understand what you mean (if there was sticky lube on the face of the surface that pushes the case from where it drops to where it seats in the shell plate then it could act like a glue and stick / pull back slightly before the adhesion breaks)

I have disassembled and cleaned everything to try to rule that out. I also replaced the spring for the pusher. Maybe I will clean everything again and try a different lube (like Hornady One Shot which isn't sticky) to see if there is an improvement.

One interesting thing I did find what that there is a fine cut / recess in the shellplate where the case rim slides neatly into, some of those rims had filled with gunk (case lube probably acted like glue and then debris stuck there) so I scraped them clean with a rag and some solvent so they were good as new. I figured that would fix the issue but while it is better it still happens sporadically.

I clean the shellplate after every loading session now for that reason.

 

[Sniffer]

Mainly caused by a slightly short stroke. You might get a primer that is not fully seated as well.

Definitely not a short stroke, I push back on the handle pretty hard with every stroke.

I check all my match ammo and I *might* see one improperly seated primer in 1000 rounds (even that estimate is on the high side) whereby I may have seen the station 1 issue 20 times.

 

[Bfranklin]

If you are using case lube I can see every case being some what sticky.

Use carbide dies for those 9mm cases and don't worry about the lube.

 

[Sniffer]

If you are using case lube I can see every case being some what sticky.

Use carbide dies for those 9mm cases and don't worry about the lube.

Yeah, I will try cleaning followed by One Shot (or maybe nothing as I do have carbide dies) to see if there is any improvement (lube just makes everything runs smoother and I do two passes to load anyways - clean brass without pins -> lube / resize / deprime -> clean with pins -> load)

Come to think of it this still happens when I load (so no lube on the cases).

Another pertinent point is that this has only started happening in the last year, when the press was new I ran the same way (lube etc) and this was never an issue.

 

[Sniffer]

I found a similar issue mentioned on another forum (not sure if I can post a link here so I wont) but they mentioned a couple of things to try, replacing a worn position one locator being one of them.



This is a picture from that thread and it is pretty much identical to what I am seeing:

 

[4n2t0]

1) New bench or location? Make sure the bench doesn't wobble/flex while loading.

2) Make sure the camming pin is adjusted properly (see instruction manual for details). I get the fewest stoppages when the camming pin is adjusted to the point where the case initially makes contact with the shellplate. I do not give it any space, and I do not press the case so hard against the shellplate so that it tilts.

3) Check the underside of your case insert slide. This is what mine looked like when I was experiencing some issues.



4) You should lube the case insert slide platform rails with a light coating of grease.

 

[Sniffer]

1) New bench or location? Make sure the bench doesn't wobble/flex while loading.

2) Make sure the camming pin is adjusted properly (see instruction manual for details). I get the fewest stoppages when the camming pin is adjusted to the point where the case initially makes contact with the shellplate. I do not give it any space, and I do not press the case so hard against the shellplate so that it tilts.

3) Check the underside of your case insert slide. This is what mine looked like when I was experiencing some issues.

View attachment 816149

4) You should lube the case insert slide platform rails with a light coating of grease.

Hmmm, good info.

I will check this first.

From the manual regarding adjustment of the camming pin:

With the handle pushed against its full aft stop, start backing the camming pin out by turning it counter clockwise FIG 190. Continue to back the camming out until the case stops its forward movement into the shellplate. Once the case becomes fully inserted into Station 1, stop turning the camming pin. When a case is properly inserted, it should not be jammed all the way into the shellplate pocket. There should be a little play so the case is relaxed and won’t tilt. To understand this fur- ther, notice how the brass locator but- tons work. They don’t put pressure on the cases, they only keep them aligned. this should be checked whenever changing calibers.

So the case insert slide platform - to be clear do you mean there should be grease on the top side (ie the case should slide along on a fine bed of grease) or the underside or both?

 

[4n2t0]

With regard to the camming pin adjustment. I find that it must be snug against the shellplate for me to achieve the smoothest operation possible. If you adjust the camming pin really slowly, you can see when the case makes contact, then go further, and you'll see the case start to tilt outwards because the bottom is being pressed into the shellplate too aggressively. You can try to leave a little play as the manual suggests, but I find snug, but not aggressively against the shellplate, works best. Also, I think a primed or spent primed case must be in station 2 while adjusting the camming pin for it to be setup correctly.

As for the case insert slide. You should be greasing the platform rails that the plastic case insert slide rides on. Here's a picture to help pinpoint the areas I'm talking about. You should also lightly grease the underside of the station 1 locator.

 

[Sniffer]

With regard to the camming pin adjustment. I find that it must be snug against the shellplate for me to achieve the smoothest operation possible. If you adjust the camming pin really slowly, you can see when the case makes contact, then go further, and you'll see the case start to tilt outwards because the bottom is being pressed into the shellplate too aggressively. You can try to leave a little play as the manual suggests, but I find snug, but not aggressively against the shellplate, works best. Also, I think a primed or spent primed case must be in station 2 while adjusting the camming pin for it to be setup correctly.

As for the case insert slide. You should be greasing the platform rails that the plastic case insert slide rides on. Here's a picture to help pinpoint the areas I'm talking about. You should also lightly grease the underside of the station 1 locator.

View attachment 816293

Thats exactly what I did and it helped.

I processed a bucket of 9mm cases this afternoon and loaded 350 556 rounds.

Station 1 was still a little fickle (I probably mangled ~6 cases when they moved back a little which caused them to hit the depriving / resizing die and get chewed up). I think the camming pin had work to the point it was no longer toughing the piece of plastic is rides on at the end of the stroke when the case is being placed in the shell plate which causes the tilting you describe.

I think I can fine tune this further still but there was a definite improvement so thanks for the pointers

I also ordered a new #5 station 1 locator in case mine is worn. I'm almost tempted to contact Dillon and see if they will sell me a new camming rod and the plastic / nylon pushing parts (my press has reloaded a lot of rounds and there has to be wear there), I know it never used to be this fickle / fussy.

 

[Winchester1973]

Mine did this, I took off the shell plate there are two bolts under the shell plate that had come loose and was allowing the head to tilt which was causing my miss alignment problem, tighten them up and all problems went away

 

[Sniffer]

Mine did this, I took off the shell plate there are two bolts under the shell plate that had come loose and was allowing the head to tilt which was causing my miss alignment problem, tighten them up and all problems went away

Where were you 3 months ago?!

I had this exact issue a few months back. The press was running like garbage and the two bolts you speak of were loose. I clean / lube the press pretty much at the end of every session now and these bolts get checked (havent found them loose since)

Fairly sure they are not contributing to the issue I am currently experiencing with cases aligning in station one but thanks for the input, it could help someone else in the future.

 

[4n2t0]

The camming pin isn't worn, or it's highly unlikely, what is worn is the top of the plastic case insert slide, which Dillon will likely replace free of charge if you describe the problem, stating that you think it's caused by a worn case insert slide. They replaced mine free of charge, but there was obvious ware to the bottom of mine

 

[Sniffer]

The camming pin isn't worn, or it's highly unlikely, what is worn is the top of the plastic case insert slide, which Dillon will likely replace free of charge if you describe the problem, stating that you think it's caused by a worn case insert slide. They replaced mine free of charge, but there was obvious ware to the bottom of mine

View attachment 816446

Honestly, both are worn.

The camming pin is worn for sure. I can clearly see that it has worn to the profile of the surface it slides on, so much so that when I adjusted it yesterday I had to do so in full rotations as the adjustment was not linear (as it should be) owing to the worn / angular shape of it now. I will try to get a picture. Like I said this press has loaded a LOT of rounds.

I will reach out to Dillon and go from there - thanks!

 

[4n2t0]

Since that's the case Dillon will replace both. Call or email and send them pictures.

 

[barsik]

The camming pin isn't worn, or it's highly unlikely, what is worn is the top of the plastic case insert slide, which Dillon will likely replace free of charge if you describe the problem, stating that you think it's caused by a worn case insert slide. They replaced mine free of charge, but there was obvious ware to the bottom of mine

View attachment 816446

you can replace the camming pin with an aftermarket pin that has a roller bearing on the end which eliminates wear. the cam that advances the shellplate can also be upgraded to one with a roller bearing too. I think your case slide is tilting the case in the shellpllate like someone else has suggested. is your shellplate set fairly close to the press?

 

[Sniffer]

you can replace the camming pin with an aftermarket pin that has a roller bearing on the end which eliminates wear. the cam that advances the shellplate can also be upgraded to one with a roller bearing too. I think your case slide is tilting the case in the shellpllate like someone else has suggested. is your shellplate set fairly close to the press?

I have that upgrade already. I got the MK1 from Armanov and it just failed too (little roller bearing & shaft came away from the mount). I suspect that is why they dont offer that style anymore.... Anyways I have a MK2 on its way and a stainless steel #5 locator which will be new (obviously) and should be more wear resistant.

I will see if I can find a camming pin with a roller (that sounds like a good move). Still need to take some pics and send to Dillon. I will take some pics and post later.

 

[4n2t0]

you can replace the camming pin with an aftermarket pin that has a roller bearing on the end which eliminates wear. the cam that advances the shellplate can also be upgraded to one with a roller bearing too. I think your case slide is tilting the case in the shellpllate like someone else has suggested. is your shellplate set fairly close to the press?

I'm not sure that you meant to quote me, as I'm not the one currently experiencing issues, but no "upgrade" would have saved the wear to my case insert slide which is pictured in post #9 (damage to the underside). As an aside, I find most, if not all, "upgrades" usually cause more issues than they solve.