Dillon 550 B Primer Bar Sticking

[emb]

The Primer Bar on my 550 B began sticking and catching during a recent reloading session. Sometimes it would pick up a primer and sometimes not. What a PITA. Anyway, I understand that it's a common issue with the 550, and I didn't find any threads on it. So, I thought I'd tell you all how I fixed it.

I bought this in August 2008, and frankly, haven't done a thing to it, maintenance wise. So, I took it apart to the shell plate only and started cleaning. I do not have an alignment tool to take it any further. I cleaned everything with alcohol, lubed the ram with 30 weight oil, and lubed everything else as Dillon recommends.

When it came to the priming system, I took it apart, cleaned everything with alcohol, lubed where recommended, and replaced all plastic parts. When it came to the primer slide, etc, I used 000 steel wool to clean and polish all bearing surfaces. I then used dry graphite lube on all bearing surfaces and put it back together. Please do not use oil like I saw in several Youtubes. The result should be obvious but maybe not to some.

Works like a charm now. I just got done loading another 200 .45 ACP without a glitch. I also found and ordered an extended bearing track plate that is supposed to solve the issue as well. Here's the link:

Amazon.com: JW Systems Dillon 550B Primer Track Bearing Plate w/Ball Bearing : Sports & Outdoors

I also-finally- removed the cotter pin on the old primer funnel door. It was spraying used primers everywhere. I used part of a big paper clip to replace the cotter key. After 200 decapped primers, all spent primers were all in the little bin on the press.

I'm a happy reloader now.

 

[nettlle]

If you bought the 550 in 2008 and never cleaned the primer bar until 14 years later a sticking primer bar is understandable.

 

[25-5]

Take it out and clean it and adjoining surfaces with denatured alcohol. No oil, none!
Make sure spring is tight.

 

[hard holder]

ditto you must clean the powder bar often or will attract debris and stick, also under the primer main tube and any other surface on the area the bar rubs on

 

[emb]

Guys, I always cleaned it. I just didn't lube it. I would go from large to small primers and clean (wipe down) when I changed everything. But that is not necessarily the issue. When you take it apart, you'll see how the primer bar wears against the plate and primer bar housing. The spring and guide wheel on the slide bar put sideways (slang) pressure on the slide causing it to wear unevenly and eventually chatter and stick. What I never did was polish the slide bar, plate and housing nor did I lube it using anything. Dillon says not to, but I thought graphite wouldn't harm a thing. Now, Dillon will send you a new primer bar and priming tube etc, if you ask them. That, of course fixes the problem too.

 

[jmorris]

Why, I have a little dental office air compressor under my reloading bench. Much faster for me to blow off debris than letting them build up, requiring dismantling to keep going.

 

[Chuck R.]

The Primer Bar on my 550 B began sticking and catching during a recent reloading session. Sometimes it would pick up a primer and sometimes not. What a PITA. Anyway, I understand that it's a common issue with the 550, and I didn't find any threads on it. So, I thought I'd tell you all how I fixed it.

I bought this in August 2008, and frankly, haven't done a thing to it, maintenance wise. So, I took it apart to the shell plate only and started cleaning. I do not have an alignment tool to take it any further. I cleaned everything with alcohol, lubed the ram with 30 weight oil, and lubed everything else as Dillon recommends.

When it came to the priming system, I took it apart, cleaned everything with alcohol, lubed where recommended, and replaced all plastic parts. When it came to the primer slide, etc, I used 000 steel wool to clean and polish all bearing surfaces. I then used dry graphite lube on all bearing surfaces and put it back together. Please do not use oil like I saw in several Youtubes. The result should be obvious but maybe not to some.

Works like a charm now. I just got done loading another 200 .45 ACP without a glitch. I also found and ordered an extended bearing track plate that is supposed to solve the issue as well. Here's the link:

Amazon.com: JW Systems Dillon 550B Primer Track Bearing Plate w/Ball Bearing : Sports & Outdoors

I also-finally- removed the cotter pin on the old primer funnel door. It was spraying used primers everywhere. I used part of a big paper clip to replace the cotter key. After 200 decapped primers, all spent primers were all in the little bin on the press.

I'm a happy reloader now.

I added one to my 550 a few years ago.

Went back and forth with Dillon getting new bars, plates etc. Tried dry lube, polishing, cleaning and I'd still occasionally get a sticking bar and often sling shot primers. Bought the bearing kit and haven't had an issue since.

 

[lightman]

I've had this problem with mine a few times and a quick polish job with steel wool or 1200 grit emory cloth fixed it.

 

[Soonerpesek]

I think one of the main issues is that the slide plate beneath the primer slide can get askew and the spring pin catches the slot in the plate. Usually it is the first thing I check when the occasional problem arises……….meh, just an observation…

 

[epags]

The Primer Bar on my 550 B began sticking and catching during a recent reloading session. ..... Sometimes it would pick up a primer and sometimes not. What a PITA. .......I also found and ordered an extended bearing track plate that is supposed to solve the issue as well. Here's the link:
Amazon.com: JW Systems Dillon 550B Primer Track Bearing Plate w/Ball Bearing : Sports & Outdoors

Ditto on the replacement bearing plate...bought one for each of my 550's years ago.
Another item that can create your problem is over tightening the two screws that hold the primer feeder & primer bar to the assembly. Product Videos| RL550 (dillonprecision.com)