Dillon 650 alignment help

[CMV]

So...was previously having the issues of sideways squished primers & have had other little issues I've had to tinker with.......overall like the 650 a LOT ...... when it runs. I managed to bend the index arm on the primer feed and couldn't get it bent back with same curve to work (and oddly my spare parts kit was minus this piece and is supposed to be here so think maybe original owner had same issue [speculation - could just be missing]). Anyway, on the phone with Dillon describing current issue and then asked about RMA if I just can't get it running right for more than 1,000-1,500 rounds at a time without a fairly major malfunction/time sink tinkering session. I mentioned that I tore the whole thing down for cleaning and installed many parts from spare parts kit because I was just stumped at all these little problems and how they were intermittent, yet frequent enough that something was wrong. Asked if I aligned after reassembly & did I have alignment tool. "nope". So he sent that along with index arm & spring for it.

So following instructions (and watched youtube of the guy in striped shirt tear one down, align, & reassemble), I run into this issue:

The platform needs to rotate counterclockwise just a bit more to have no drag on alignment tool (top pic). BUT to rotate it that much, the case insert slide interferes with the case feed body bushing (bottom pic). It appears the case slide (plastic piece that pushes the brass into station #1 if I'm calling it wrong thing) has a lot of lateral play. Can wiggle it a good bit side-to-side and can easily move it by hand and hold it out of the way enough to move rotate platform and have no drag on alignment tool. Problem is, if I let go and try to run that way, the press will jam on downstroke with that plastic case slide jammed on the aluminum casefeed bushing. I don't see any way to adjust to correct this.

Not sure if I need more replacement parts or if it's time to box it up and send it to them to fix for me.....

 

[jmorris]

Not being the original owner, there is no telling what has been done to it, abuse wise.

Not sure how much help it would be but this is the relationship of the parts you are talking about on one of my 650's, that runs 100% as long as I don't feed it crimped brass that hasn't been cut or swaged.

 

[CMV]

Yes, no telling. Can only go by what the seller told me, but wear on it as far as drag marks and whatnot went along with his statement of "only 2k rounds of 300 BLK" 3 of the 4 gray case feeder plates were brand new, lack of any noticeable marks/wear on station 1 locator, underside of shellplate very faint line where it rides on detent ball, platform looked new, etc. It was almost new condition. I can sure tell now after 10s of thousands of rounds all the areas showing wear that did not when I got it. That doesn't mean he didn't crash the bejeezus out of it and use ape-like force on every stoppage, but I don't think I bought someone else's problem. Could be. But once I learned it, I'd do long sessions and most issues were user error like crimped brass, or forgetting to swap some piece for caliber conversion, or not adjusting station 2 locator just right, shellplate bolt too loose/tight, or whatever. Until I started getting these sideways squished primers and then shortly after a lot of station 1 not inserting brass all the way (or it bouncing back) and jamming on sizing die, I've been able to diagnose (with much help from YOU and BDS et. al.) & fix issue and get it back to running.

So as always, I just kept tinkering and have it adjusted to where it runs with no interference, but there is very slight drag on the alignment tool. It's as far as it can go with no case feed bushing interference. It bumps the alignment tool - more like "nudges" it - and the alignment tool will either stay still or raise slightly (~.050") and drop back down, but as close as I can possibly get it.

In process of reassembling ( I had even taken off case feed since I was frustrated enough to just mail it off for them to troubleshoot), but will see. So far it looks good running it dry so will finish reassembly & do a test run tomorrow. Fingers crossed......

 

[CMV]

This is where it is so far. This looks right to me, although it could be argued I don't know what right looks like.....

 

[DukeConnor]

My first progressive was a used SDB. In a short time I was referring to it as a SOB. There were a few issues but the primer system kicked my but. After several frustrating months I surrendered and sent it back to Dillon. Can't remember the cost,maybe 40 bucks ? I got back a virtually brand new press (I still think they just threw a new press in my old box and sent it back) that has been running perfectly for about 5 years.

Moral of the story is I should of sent it in right away and avoided the frustration.

If it were me I would send it in for refurbishment and enjoy years of trouble free operation.



My point i

 

[James Petti]

If you think you got problems with the Dillon, get an RCBS Green Machine!

 

[Tilos]

If you think you got problems with the Dillon, get an RCBS Green Machine!

A flame for a 1st post...
Why is that

 

[GoldieMI]

If it were me I would send it in for refurbishment and enjoy years of trouble free operation.

79.95 for each press now- and that includes the return shipping and a fresh dillon box. Just did that with 2 SDBs and a 550 that I acquired.

 

[CMV]

Will see. Reassembled now and did a real small run with no issues. If the larger run goes well, will call it good. RMA is good for 6 months, so if still acting up, I think $80 would be worth it to have someone go thru it. 100 isn't much of a test, but a good sign that it ran thru those with no stoppages, no primers wrong, and good feel all around. Have about 5k 9mm to go on this run so will know one way or the other for sure.

Also, hate to seem like I'm bashing Dillon or the XL 650 with negative/troubleshooting posts. I just rarely post stuff like "just filled a couple 50 cal cans of .223 without a hitch" or "just loaded 400 rounds in a half hour - I sure appreciate how much faster this is compared to my turret press". When I call Dillon, whoever answers the phone really KNOWS the machine and the issue. They get replacement parts out quick, and ask enough questions to make sure you're even asking for the right parts or should include something else to go along with it.

But I do get frustrated with it at times when I can't figure out why it goes from running perfectly to developing some issue. I got it used, my first progressive, so more is me just not knowing "the issue I'm having is probably caused from X". As I experience and resolve more issues, it is becoming easier. And sometimes, just taking the time to post & snap a couple pics is enough of a break to look at it again and see something i overlooked.....

 

[jmorris]

A flame for a 1st post...
Why is that

Stuck in the house with a green machine and frustrated? Posting something off topic and less than helpful it still better than kicking the cat...

I can sure tell now after 10s of thousands of rounds... Until I started getting these sideways squished primers

This is the most important part, to me. What changed? I'd bet $1 the platform to ram relationship didn't until you loosened the fasteners.

I'll be honest and say that not only do I not own a Dillon alignment tool but I have never removed the platform from the ram on any of my 650's. I have always been a revert to what worked guy though in problem solving. I realize you can't just change one thing at a time when doing a caliber conversion but sometimes going back to smooth sailing can give you confidence and focus vs just changing things for the sake of trying something different.

 

[roc1]

Amen on RCBS Green machine bought one in garage sale bunch other reloading stuff for $50 terrible glad get rid of it never made it run right.
The Dillon 650 I bought my cousin out cheap knew 650 would have problems been used lots and abused. It crushed and blew 2 primers right off never ever have blown primers in 50 plus years loading before. He tried helping me to no avail . I realigned platform. When I had tore down I saw it was wore out. Called Dillon got great tech give me a RMA I shipped it back . I got a 99% new machine back.

I mean everything over 2pages of new parts no charge. New arms even only thing left was ram and handle. All new priming system even sent new style switch for casefeeder which I didn’t even send in. New frame and all
Looks and runs like brand new machine.
So I say send her back they must have ton of 650 parts.
Great company great service
Hope this helps
Roc1

 

[CMV]

This is the most important part, to me. What changed? I'd bet $1 the platform to ram relationship didn't until you loosened the fasteners.

That's what is frustrating - I don't remember changing anything or having some odd situation or feeling something break (until the point I broke the primer index arm but was already deep into acting up by then). I changed over from 223 to 9mm. Ran about 1k with no real issues other than very occasional "that didn't feel right" or a case hanging up in station #1. Then the sideways primers, some upside down. A lot of WMA 1x brass got into my mix, so that exasperated little issues. But only thing that changed was getting a casefeed hopper full of ~1/4 crimped brass in the mix. Same primers, no adjustments to press or dies.

That misalignment may have always existed and been the cause of a lot of issues? No idea, but i didn't run 1k, tear down machine, then have issues. It was run 1k, have issues, tear down machine sequence.

Eager to get off work today & run it some more to see if it's right or needs boxed up & sent off for them to diagnose.

 

[James Petti]

I've owned a Dillon, great machine. It was the full manual 450, so I never experienced a malfunction that wasn't of my own making. Just thought a little levity might help. The manufacturer of any product knows more about their own than everyone else on the planet combined. As such I opted for humor. Thanks for the input, now I know better.

 

[CMV]

Seems OK now. Did these 1200 & had 3 upside down primers & 1 squished sideways. I was thinking upside down must be coming from vibraprime. So did 500 more but pecked with pickup tubes and 0 upside down so either one of my pickup tubes or the VP is allowing them to go in that way. I go straight from VP into Dillon pickup tube - I don't use the VP tube that attaches with the black plastic ears.

So still don't know how I got 1 squished sideways, but I guess I can live with 1 out of 1700. Felt it on the press as soon as it happened & caught in station #2. Was plain Speer headstamp so not a crimp issue.

Otherwise, press seems to be running well overall now. Runs of 300 take right at 18 min. That's with pickuptubes loaded, powder hopper full, bullet tray full, case hopper full...everything ready to go, 18 min of just handle pulling & refill primers ready to go in tubes - not claiming an overall 1,000 per hour on 650