ugly but simple and effective solution for 550 priming woes

[roval]

i've been having issues with my 550 primer arm jamming with the pulley/guide wheel going too close to the arm and hanging up. the upper part of the operating rod sometimes come too far out pushing the bottom part too far inwards causing the jam so here was my temporary solution that takes a few seconds to put on and off. i don't go fast to begin with but it fixed the issue except when the loop at the primer tube unravels. the yellow wire prevents the operating arm from going too far out.

 

[GaryL]

Interesting. I've never had that problem - not even close. Makes me wonder what is causing the issue.

 

[roval]

don't know if it's my pull on the handle or what but it happens often enough that i have to stop quite a bit. i'm using some of my presized/ predeprimed brass( light smooth pull) along with some cleaned but un resized and non deprimed brass( harder pull)

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not criticizing your fix but if it were me i would try to find the problem and eliminate it instead of doing a work-around.

You specified CCI-550 primers, does that mean it doesn't happen with CCI-500 primers?

 

[roval]

it wasn't with particular primers it was for my dillon 550.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

it wasn't with particular primers it was for my dillon 550.

Sorry, my mistake. I should have realized that with the picture you posted!

 

[roval]

btw the press as pictured was set up for my 223 reloading. i had previously batch resized the brass so i just do the priming , charging and seating on the press. the jams happen more when i have the full complement of dies in place(9mm and 45 acp)

 

[weemsf]

My small primer arm/seater hangs upm as well. I have polished it, now I keep a liitle light oil on it. Still hangs once in a while.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I am betting that something is bent or improperly adjusted. I have two 550s and neither of them have this issue.

Dillon has excellent support in case you need to call them.

 

[kelbro]

Something is wrong. Fixing the root cause is always better than addressing the symptom. I have two 550s both work well.

No oil on the slider. Graphite or mica only.

 

[rbernie]

i've been having issues with my 550 primer arm jamming with the pulley/guide wheel going too close to the arm and hanging up. the upper part of the operating rod sometimes come too far out pushing the bottom part too far inwards causing the jam

The better fix may have been to slightly bend the primer actuator operating rod thingee a wee bit at the bottom, between the second and third bend, to help keep the wheel pushed to the right and the top of the rod to the left.

I've had to play with the rod a bit to get my 550B running smoothly, although in my case the issue was that the slide would stick and I wound up playing with the rod to reduce the offset between the slide and the wheel at full travel.

 

[mugsie]

I too use a 550b for my progressive loading, and after tens of thousands of rounds have never had that problem. I'd call Dillon, but there is something else going on.

 

[El Tejon]

No oil on the slider. Graphite or mica only.

No oil at all on the 550?

I lube my 550 with Singer sewing machine oil. No issues so far.

Need I be concerned?

 

[koz4guns]

This is from Brian Enos's website about adjusting the priming assy on the 550.
There is more info to adjusting the whole assy but this part I think might address your problem.

* Angle of Primer Slide Operating Rod (13869) - Release rod from rollers and swivel it 180º so it's pointing straight up - it should be parallel with the Primer Housing Shield, or maybe outward "a little"; it should not be "inward" at all.

Koz

 

[3GunEric]

Call Dillon! You have a great machine, from the best company so why rig it? They will help you.

 

[roval]

swiveled the operating rod upward and it was parallel to the primer housing. made it go outboard a tad. i took off the yellow wire and will recheck with with 9 mm loading.
so i guess it's not a common occurence. will call dillon next time i'm off. once tried calling them during my lunch break and from caller 12 i made it to number 2 and then the line went dead. grrrr

 

[rbernie]

No oil at all on the 550?

I lube my 550 with Singer sewing machine oil. No issues so far.

Need I be concerned?

I would not be.

After trying two different primer slides and primer track bearings, my primer slide will still 'stick' and not completely actuate unless I keep the slide and track lightly lubed. I have used CLP and litium grease, and neither has caused issue in loading nor in primer contamination.

 

[gahunter12]

My small primer arm/seater hangs upm as well. I have polished it, now I keep a liitle light oil on it. Still hangs once in a while.

DO NOT polish the primer arm (this will cause it to hang). DO NOT oil period! Remove the priming system, and look inside where the arm rides. On the side where its threaded for the two Allen screws you will more than likely see where the pot metal has stretched, and you will feel two little humps. Take a good flat file, and file that area down till you start to see even file marks. The black arm plate may also have some wear. If so call Dillon and have a new one sent to you.