XL650 - main body defect i.e. porous casting

UR2X3M4ME

UR2X3M4ME

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
54   0   0
Location
Banana Republik of Kebekistan
Any body else have this issue?

I recently notice (felt and heard) a light rubbing/grinding sound when lowering the handle shaft (raising the platform). The source was at the press body, where the upper link arm pin fits in. The area is identified by the red circle in the drawing below.

I disassembled the press to find what appears to be a porous casting. My guess is that some of the thin surface broke loose and started to chew away the area at each stroke.

I called Dillon to see what they had to say. The gentleman said that is had been seen before and that it was not detrimental to proper functioning of the press. I insisted that area affected was more than needle holes, that it generated sound and a grinding feel. I insisted for a contact where I could forward pictures and have proper technical evaluation of the situation and fix if any required. They gave me that and now I am waiting to hear from them.

They are normally very good with warranty parts and I will personally vouch for that. A press body is something else and I am anxious to see how they will handle what I consider as a flawed body.

Before one asks, my press has about 30K rounds through it. I keep it clean and maintain it well. Not shy with the grease so it is definitely not negligence from my side.

Anybody else experienced a major flaw like this with a Dillon press?

MachineAssy-page50_zps5dim9rrx.jpg


Port side view:

DSC_1899_zps8xwnof4o.jpg


DSC_1900_zpsqbno7nrf.jpg


Starboard side view:

DSC_1896_zpsszg4s892.jpg


DSC_1894_zpsv8xomzvw.jpg


DSC_1897_zpshiruv6w8.jpg
 
Last edited:
nada said:
they'll just send him a new frame .
Click to expand...
That is what I would like.

Magellann said:
And the old one looks easily repairable by drilling it out and installing a bushing.
Click to expand...
I also think it is an easy fix but considering shipping, administration, labor, etc., a warranty replacement frame is likely cheaper.

I sincerely hope they don't ask for shipping it to Scottsdale Arizona for repair. I need it now to reload for IPSC season. I have prepped cases, powder and primers for 20K rounds. I barely have 1600 rounds left and that will be vaporized before end of April. Real sh*tty timing.

Magellann said:
You can't go wrong with having two presses up and running.
Click to expand...
Definitely the way to go. My single stage Redding is not up for this kind of volume and I have been drooling over a 1050 for some time now.
 
Last edited:
Aluminum or stainless steel can have pitting problems, seems more likely being the press has 30k rounds on it and it's being noticed now.

good luck with the replacement. :)
 
ShawnC6 said:
Aluminum or stainless steel can have pitting problems, seems more likely being the press has 30k rounds on it and it's being noticed now.

good luck with the replacement. :)
Click to expand...

Not sure if you reload but 30K rounds through an XL650 is nothing. I call it brand new.

Pitting? I guess it could be. If the case and considering the number of Dillon presses out there and the number of years they have been in production, it is surprising we don't hear of regular occurrences. This press is barely 3 years old. It is however a very interesting point. Is galvanic erosion between steel and aluminium that significant? Should reloaders ground their presses to prevent such damage from happening? No such procedure in Dillon's Instruction Manual.

Because Dillon admitted to have seen previous cases of porous castings, I find it more likely.

Thanks for your kind wish.
 
Looks like a porous casting to me. What is worse is the fragments that are flaking off are galling the pin bore, that is probably the crunching you are feeling. I'm sure Dillon will send you a new frame, their warranty is outstanding.
 
silverfoxdj said:
Just for interest what was your press lubing routine?
Click to expand...

For the concerned parts (the link arm pins), I remind you their starboard side is fitted with a grease nipple. Rather than my normal routine with fun ones, to these I apply a big fat grease gun fully loaded with wheel bearing grease. Yeah, the stinky sticky red kind. Then I slowly but firmly pump them nipples until I see fresh grease flowing at the joints and breather holes. When satisfied, I wipe the mess, have a beer (or 2), have a cigar and use the powder funnel for ashtray.

I would tell how I lube that big shaft and other fun parts but I fear an (other) infraction to forum rules. Therefore, I will refer to the instruction manual. At the very end of the troubleshooting section, there is a short paragraph called Maintenance. All the juicy details are there.

Now kind Sir, what is your lube routine?
Or perhaps, to stay on topic, you can share if you experienced similar damages or defects as the one discussed in this thread.
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't say galvanic corrosion. The way pitting happens on things like aluminum is a small area loses its protective oxide coating. That area then gets rapidly attacked... Resulting in pits that sometimes can appear even as a pinhole but with a crater underneath.

However I guess it doesn't matter either way, it shouldn't happen regardless.

You have never had it apart in the past 3 years to have a look? Porosity would have been there all along
 
teknition said:
Looks like a porous casting to me. What is worse is the fragments that are flaking off are galling the pin bore, that is probably the crunching you are feeling. I'm sure Dillon will send you a new frame, their warranty is outstanding.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The link arm pins have grease channels or grooves. Bits of thin wall are being caught by the groove's edge and add to loose fragments, which in turn contributes to increase the grinding factor. The pin being steel, it is the softer aluminium housing that takes the beating. The pin is perfect, no visible sign of abuses, the caliper reads a constant diameter throughout the length of the pin.

I have 2 previous warranty experiences with Dillon and they lived up to their "no BS warranty" promise.

My curiosity is to know if others have experienced similar defect with their Dillon.
 
ShawnC6 said:
You have never had it apart in the past 3 years to have a look? Porosity would have been there all along
Click to expand...

Stripped it a few times for cleaning but there was no reason to disassemble the crank and links. Just periodically flushed the old grease by pumping new one in. Operation was always smooth until 2 weeks ago, when a faint rubbing/grinding sound started to be heard and felt. At that point I knew I had to strip it completely to investigate the cause.
 
UR2X3M4ME said:
For the concerned parts (the link arm pins), I remind you their starboard side is fitted with a grease nipple. Rather than my normal routine with fun ones, to these I apply a big fat grease gun fully loaded with wheel bearing grease. Yeah, the stinky sticky red kind. Then I slowly but firmly pump them nipples until I see fresh grease flowing at the joints and breather holes. When satisfied, I wipe the mess, have a beer (or 2), have a cigar and use the powder funnel for ashtray.

I would tell how I lube that big shaft and other fun parts but I fear an (other) infraction to forum rules. Therefore, I will refer to the instruction manual. At the very end of the troubleshooting section, there is a short paragraph called Maintenance. All the juicy details are there.

Now kind Sir, what is your lube routine?
Or perhaps, to stay on topic, you can share if you experienced similar damages or defects as the one discussed in this thread.
Click to expand...

For my routine I lube the fittings with a high quality lithium grease every other session and the post with 10/30 oil, was trying to have a different perspective on a possible cause, but I see you have that all figured out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom