Dillon 550 primer getting cocked

[BamBam]

I have a Dillon 550 press, Id say about of every 100 rounds loaded I get between 2 and 4 rounds that the primer gets cocked or crooked and wont seat, I adjusted my shell plate to just a slight drag when rotating but still get the same results. is this a normal thing being the primer pocket isn't being cleaned during the loading process?
P.S. Ive used Remington and CCI primers

[Stradawhovious]

Two quick things come to mind.... Are you using the right sized primer tube in primer pick up tube, or the magazine on the press? Also, is there any gunk on the plunger that seats the primers? Either one of these could cause the primers to seat sideways or upside down.

[1911fan]

I have found that taking the whole sliding block out of the machine, and scrupulously cleaning it and the ways it slides on as well as any debris around the primer area. what happens for me is the thing stops sliding smoothly and starts bucking and jerking as it hits crap. this acts like stabbing the brakes on your car and your coffee splashes.

If I remember to keep it very clean, and blow it clean every few hundred rounds, the cocked primers went away and stayed away

[Sigfan220]

I have found that taking the whole sliding block out of the machine, and scrupulously cleaning it and the ways it slides on as well as any debris around the primer area. what happens for me is the thing stops sliding smoothly and starts bucking and jerking as it hits crap. this acts like stabbing the brakes on your car and your coffee splashes.

If I remember to keep it very clean, and blow it clean every few hundred rounds, the cocked primers went away and stayed away

+1 I even have to debur in some areas. If there is any debris or burr on the bar it may short stroke. I use moly to lube the parts as well.

[Rem700]

Wimpy benches and or press mounting can also cause primer problems.

[Pinnacle]

I have a friend in NY that has a 1050 and he had a chain detonation the other day - scared the crap out of him and I laughed my arse off - Federal Primers were the culprit.

[BamBam]

Thanx everyone for you suggestions, I did find some debris in the plunger area, but also have the Bucking with the primer bar, I studied it for awhile and it seems the spring that rides against the wheels or pulleys don't always track correctly, when moving the press arm back to seat the primer the spring will pop or snap back into the pulley grove thus making the primer bar buck. I'll take it apart and give it a good clean and lube then do some adjusting. will let you gays know how it goes, Thanx

[Stradawhovious]

will let you gays know how it goes, Thanx

I think that's a bit harsh.

[BamBam]

LOL , that being the case I might not be able to

[bensdad]

will let you gays know how it goes, Thanx

I think that's a bit harsh.

Jeeze Strad, you and your friends could start a sub-forum... like the one for the womenz.

[Stradawhovious]

will let you gays know how it goes, Thanx

I think that's a bit harsh.

Jeeze Strad, you and your friends could start a sub-forum... like the one for the womenz.

I'm not the one that said it............ I you feel that you need a seperate sub forum I will bring it up with the mods.

[livnlg55345]

First chore...get a source of compressed air. Makes cleaning simple.

Primer anvils seperate from the cups many times getting in places to cause hiccups. Make sure your #13899 Spent Primer Catcher Chute (aka the flapper thingy) is working smoothly, hint ditch the provided pin and find baby safety pin the is same size or use on the the retaining pins from primer pick up tubes this will help with keeping errant debris from messing up the place to a certain extent.

Get one of the Green Scotch Brite pads and hit your #13920 primer slide till it is pretty darn smooth and shiney. This means the sides and bottom. The shine up the base on the inside of #20263 primer housing and shield, again make it nice and shiney. Use something like Flitz to help with final shine.....Wipe down with something like 99% Isospropyl Alcohol so it evaporates dry and clean before reassembly....You do not need hit the #14015 Primer Track Bearing, just keep it clean and same with underneath it. Trapped debris under the primer track bearing can bind it up a tad. Do not Lube it attracts crap!

When changing primer sizes drop the #13871 Shell plate platform down so as to orientate the primer cup on the primer slide.
Then snug down the #14014 Primer housing screws...NOT Hulk Hogan Tight, just snug...

Make sure your #13597 Primer Shield Cap is snug. Make sure that your primer magazine is firmly seated in the the Primer Housing and Shield. There is an index ridge on the distal tip to help with alignment. Put a empty 45ACP case on the #13707 Follower Rod to help keep a nice pressure on the primers.

[BamBam]

First chore...get a source of compressed air. Makes cleaning simple.

Primer anvils seperate from the cups many times getting in places to cause hiccups. Make sure your #13899 Spent Primer Catcher Chute (aka the flapper thingy) is working smoothly, hint ditch the provided pin and find baby safety pin the is same size or use on the the retaining pins from primer pick up tubes this will help with keeping errant debris from messing up the place to a certain extent.

Get one of the Green Scotch Brite pads and hit your #13920 primer slide till it is pretty darn smooth and shiney. This means the sides and bottom. The shine up the base on the inside of #20263 primer housing and shield, again make it nice and shiney. Use something like Flitz to help with final shine.....Wipe down with something like 99% Isospropyl Alcohol so it evaporates dry and clean before reassembly....You do not need hit the #14015 Primer Track Bearing, just keep it clean and same with underneath it. Trapped debris under the primer track bearing can bind it up a tad. Do not Lube it attracts crap!

When changing primer sizes drop the #13871 Shell plate platform down so as to orientate the primer cup on the primer slide.
Then snug down the #14014 Primer housing screws...NOT Hulk Hogan Tight, just snug...

Make sure your #13597 Primer Shield Cap is snug. Make sure that your primer magazine is firmly seated in the the Primer Housing and Shield. There is an index ridge on the distal tip to help with alignment. Put a empty 45ACP case on the #13707 Follower Rod to help keep a nice pressure on the primers.

Ok so I did all the stuff you mentioned. I appreciate the part numbers as that lets me know exactly what were talking about. I did find that the operating rod bracket #13887 had rotated due to the screw was not tight enough, that made the operating rod #13869 to get off track with the #13889 large roller. It would snap back into the roller and cause the buck along with the debris and gunk under the primer bar. I have yet to reload but the action of the press is way smoother than before. I'll let you all know how goes (blows)

[SIGP240]

Say, quite a lot of dope here that helps. I have the Baby Dillon 550, it is the slowest loader I have ever owned, but at least you can see your mistakes before they happen! The primer feed and seating process is just average. My Green Machine from RCBS (1970's era) same friggin problem. Clean is the answer and careful with lube!

[1911fan]

Yup, I have only used dry silicon spray for lube, it dries hard and will not spread, the stuff I use is food safe, so I am not so worried about being around it. before that, i would rub a carpenters pencil on the mating services using the powdered graphite as the friction reducing element.