Dillon 550 powder bar stickiness

[gwalchmai]

Last night I was loading some 9mm and I noticed a lot of resistance during the return stroke. After some investigation I narrowed the problem down to the powder bar sticking. Strangely, I didn't notice it on the primary stroke, just the return.

So I disassembled the powder system and sure enough, the powder bar is gunked up with something. I never oil it or anything, and there was no contamination I could see, but it was all I could do to remove the bar. So I took it out and cleaned it with a 320 grit sanding sponge (really light, just to clean it), and cleaned out the channel real good.

Put it all back together and it works as good, if not better than new.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

[Blackdog]

Anyone else ever have this problem?

On my 550, the powder bar "stutters" once in a while on the return stroke, but not enough yet to be concerned.

[gwalchmai]

BD, do you use a spring to help return the bar? Mine won't return all the way without it. It doesn't seem to affect the powder drop in any way but I put a rubber band on it just to make me feel better.

[Blackdog]

Nope. No spring. Just the standard setup.

[D. Manley]

Last night I was loading some 9mm and I noticed a lot of resistance during the return stroke. After some investigation I narrowed the problem down to the powder bar sticking. Strangely, I didn't notice it on the primary stroke, just the return.

So I disassembled the powder system and sure enough, the powder bar is gunked up with something. I never oil it or anything, and there was no contamination I could see, but it was all I could do to remove the bar. So I took it out and cleaned it with a 320 grit sanding sponge (really light, just to clean it), and cleaned out the channel real good.

Put it all back together and it works as good, if not better than new.

Anyone else ever have this problem?

Dillon says to avoid any abrasive on the powder bars. A little wipe with alcohol or acetone every now and again should solve any problem with gunk. On the other problem, check the tension adjustment on the fail-safe rod. A rule of thumb is that when you push forward on the handle, as if seating a primer, the spring above the blue wing nut should be compressed to almost, but not quite a solid. I adjust mine by pushing the operating lever full-up (primer seat position) and then tighten the wingnut until the spring is in full compression - then, back off 1 turn. Adjusting this way should exert more force to return the powder slide.

[gwalchmai]

Thanks, D. That fixed it right up! :thumbsup:

[cohutt]

I dust them and the primer slide bar with graphite powder after i wipe them down.

This is only temporary though.... I find I need to repeat every 15000 rounds or so.

[Glooooock]

Last night I was loading some 9mm and I noticed a lot of resistance during the return stroke. After some investigation I narrowed the problem down to the powder bar sticking. Strangely, I didn't notice it on the primary stroke, just the return.


Anyone else ever have this problem?

I think we are all too lazy , to clean the press every 2 -3 K loads .
Its noticeably better .

[BigSlick]

I think we are all too lazy , to clean the press every 2 -3 K loads .
Its noticeably better .

+1

A little clean up along the way will prevent these issues.

This being a full admission on my part, I still clean my powder bar once a year or so, but, I run different measures from one quick change to the next.

If I was running just one or two, I'd clean em every time I changed powders

[gwalchmai]

I think we are all too lazy , to clean the press every 2 -3 K loads .
Its noticeably better .Yep, when I'm righteous I clean the whole press every couple thousand, but I'm not that often righteous... ;)

[Glooooock]

Yep, when I'm righteous I clean the whole press every couple thousand, but I'm not that often righteous... ;)

The powder measure sticking and seating depth changes with lead . Thats all fine , I throw in the towel when the indexing goes south . Crushed cases and sideways primers ,,,,, NO mas ....

[VN350X10]

For a short time, Dillon made teflon coated powder bars. Got a few of those but not enough.
The problems really show up with fine ball powder (H-110, 296, etc)
They gave up & told folks NOT to use fine ball powders, but I think they also tightened up the clearances on the powder measure to help the problem.
I really don't like the new "fail-safe" klanklank powder measures, all of my presses have the older return spring assist measures, using 2 or 3 springs.
Sometimes, "new & improved" ISN'T !

uncle albert

[creophus]

Mine's doing the same thing. I take it as a sign that I need to reload more.

[Anvil]

I had the same problem with mine after my 550 sat up for a year and a half. I soaked down the charging bar system with wd40 several times over the weekend and it got loosened up, but not for several days. I don't get it... how can you dowse wd40 on a piece of aluminum and it still take so dang long to get to working right again?

[BigSlick]

The powder residue draws moisture and cakes up on the bar, then eventually dries, making it sticky ;)

[cohutt]

vn,
I have a few of the black powder bars that I picked up with the older 650 I bought a few years ago and it never crossed my mind they might be teflon coated or similar. (I guess I ought to dig them out and give them a try vs the "new" aluminum ones but then again I'm not having any trouble, so maybe not).

[gwalchmai]

I wonder if one could wax the bar to prevent this powder buildup? Hmmm, probably not...

[BigSlick]

You could, but it will be a PITA to remove it.

Run the bar dry, just use it often and brush it out once in a while.

When it finally gets gunked up, hit it with a pad and some alcohol

[gwalchmai]

When it finally gets gunked up, hit it with a pad and some alcoholWhite scotchbrite?

[BigSlick]

Yup :thumbsup:

Don't forget the keeper plate thing ;)

[bello]

lube it a little bit see what happens