trouble with the primer feed on a dillon 550

[JB]

ok so i have the press all set up everthing was ok for about the first 4 cases then the primer stop feeding a nother primer into the cup any thoughts on what to check

 

[Walter Hornby]

first off pull the bar back by hand to see if a primer drops in. if not check to see if there is a spent primer sitting on top of the bar or mashed in against the primer tube. if not very gently push down on the plastic rod to see if that dislodges a stuck primer. if all of the above fails take the feeder off but have a coffee can or something underneath the tube as odds are they will all spill out.

 

[colt45cz75]

Bend the operating rod a bit to ensure the primer slide is travelling fully to the rear and picking up the new primer.

 

[JB]

i have done all of the above

 

[Quigley]

You most likely have an upside down primer in the tube.

Pull the bar back several times while applying some slight pressure on the plastic rod in the primer tube. Keep doing this until the stuck primer feeds.

i have done all of the above

 

[JB]

You most likely have an upside down primer in the tube.

Pull the bar back several times while applying some slight pressure on the plastic rod in the primer tube. Keep doing this until the stuck primer feeds.

i have clear out the tube and and put primers back in about 8 times still not working

 

[Biggunners]

Empty the feed and do one primer at a time , just for now and see they are having problem and no shaking and baking just start one primer at a time . I would feed couple spent primers to check the feeding and avoid a BOOM

 

[Quigley]

i have clear out the tube and and put primers back in about 8 times still not working

Will it feed a primer if you manually pull back all the way on the feeder bar?

 

[Opcx6]

Take the primer feed tube out of the steel guard and look down it with the primer slide retracted, the primer cup should line up with the center of the steel guard, if it does not adjust the primer slide until it does. This is most likely your problem.

Cheers

 

[Chuck McCann]

I had a similar problem with a Dillon 550 I had bought used. After trying all sorts of things I broke down and called Dillon's toll free line and told them I had a used Dillon and what my problem was.

The first thing they asked me to check was the height on my primer seating cup which should be 1.215 to 1.220.

The next thing they suggested was that I remove and clean the primer feed stop pin and grease the back third with a light grease of some type. I used reel grease and that fixed the problem.

While I was on the line they got my contact information and indicated they would send me a spent primer cup and a cartridge collection bin that where missing from my press when I bought it at no charge.

In case your interested the number I have for Dillon's tech assistance line is 1-800 223-4570.

 

[scout]

The two suggestions that come to mind are:

1/ check your primer cup height (as previously noted). It can be a bit finicky to adjust - push it down all of the way and let up a bit before tightening the set screw. Try it a couple of times if it does not work with more or less pressure.

2/ Usually a problem of 'loose' rather than 'tight', but try and replace the plastic tip on the primer feed tube or tweak the lips of the one you have.

 

[buckbrush]

the primer feed system is about the only thing on the 550 that can be unreliable. Once you get it functioning reliably remember to keep it super clean.

The grit from depriming will get into the primer slide/system and create problems if you don't.

 

[golddust]

You can also check the plastic tip on the primer tube. It can be bent out of line and not letting the next primer release. Change the tip with a new one and try again.