? for owners of multiple 550's

[JLarsson]

I already asked this question of Bush Pilot and he didn't know, so I'm turning to the rest of you that have more than one Dillon 550 press.

If you set up a toolhead with dies on one press, should you be able to put that toolhead and the corresponding shellplate, etc., in a different 550 and just start loading? Or do you expect that you might have to adjust the dies a little when going from one press to another?

The reason I ask is that I just finished rehabbing a lightly used, much abused, 550 and I had to take it completely apart. This means I removed the shellplate platform from the ram. After a thorough cleaning (it involved Naval Jelly if that tells you anything), I got it all back together, no extra or missing parts, and it seems to operate normally. I did have to get an alignment tool from Dillon which they provided at no charge (thanks, Gary!) and that procedure went well.

But when I put the toolhead set up for 9mm in the new press, I couldn't quite raise the ram all the way. I don't know how much I had to back the dies out, but it wasn't much. I just want to make sure that I didn't get something back in wrong or forget to do something.

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[Steve Koski]

Good question. I dunno.

[cohutt]

Should be able to, unless Koski helped you reassemble the cleaned 550, then all bets are off.

[Pitmaster]

I don't know the answer. But I would always check everything to specs anyway. If not where I want it I would make an adjustment.

I check the OAL and powder weights with my LCT when changing turrets.

[Gashira]

I'd double-check. It only takes a few hundredths of an inch to goof up a load, and only a few extra minutes with the calipers to make sure that it isn't :). Technically they should be the same but it doesn't hurt to check.

[MakeMineaP99]

From just strictly a mechanical equipment prespective, as I don't have one or more 550s, every machine is different, even if they rolled off the assembly consecutively and I would expect some adjust would be required. The simple reason is everything has a tolerance and when you have a dynamic system, tolerances stack up over time. No two systems are going to be completely the same.

[JLarsson]

Good advice from y'all or you-all or all y'all - whatever. ;) (And funny, Cohutt. :yesnod:)

The tolerances issue makes sense and is probably the real culprit. I loaded a few last night and everything seems to work fine. I did have to remove some flashing on the blue plastic tip for the primer magazine. The primers weren't making it through even though I have a .45 ACP case on the end of the follower rod.

It's working well - that's the main thing.

[Mogollon]

The correct answer is "Seldom to Sometimes". The frame mold has been rebuilt a few times, with resultant very minor variations between some dimensions. Next, there are working tolerances for the shaft length, pivot pin hole location in the frame and link arms, hole locations in the crank. All these can result in a shaft length travel variation of several thousanths from one machine to the next. We tell customers they should readjust toolheads when moving them from one machine to the next.If it works, enjoy it, but don't expect it.

[JLarsson]

Thanks for that reply, Mogo. In comparing my two frames, one from the past couple years or so and this one from some time earlier (old powder pullback system), I can see several differences in the casting. I notice also that my toolhead sits slightly below flush on the old one whereas the toolheads sit flush or even slightly proud on the newer frame. 200 rounds through it so far and it's running great.

BTW, this is the press discussed a while back that had the .30-06 case stuck in the sizing die. The entire head of the case is missing and it looks like someone tried some extreme means of removal without success. I'm sending the die back to Dillon in hopes that they can get it out.

[JLarsson]

*****UPDATE*****

Regarding the .30-06 die with the stuck case, I should have taken a pic but around the mouth of the die were four dents in the die steel. They were about 3/32" wide and flat like they were made with something with a square or rectangular cross-section. I have NO idea how you could even do that to a die, but somebody had to this one.

I sent the die back to Dillon with a request to remove the stuck case if possible and thanks for their time and effort if not.

Today I received a brand new Dillon .30-06 sizing die. At no charge. I repeat - At no charge!

Dillon's reputation for incredible customer service is well-deserved. They went WAY above and beyond the call here.

I'm also going to post this as a new thread. Thanks again to Dillon, and to Mogollon (for being here and for saying to send the die in :thumbsup:).

[BigDog[RE]]

I can't switch toolheads between my two 550's without readjusting the COL, flare, and crimp...

[JLarsson]

That's cool, BigDog. I guess that's the exception, not the rule.

I got to thinking about it (yeah, yeah) and I could have left my dies set the same, but the ram would not quite have gone all the way up. The dies would have acted as the stop, which probably would have been okay but something about it didn't sit right with me.

[fredj338]

I have an older 550b & a newer one. I can swap back & forth w/ only a minor adjusting of the seating & crimping at most. I don't much though, after all, it's the reason I have two. One for LP & one for SP.

[PoiDog]

I have an older 550b & a newer one. I can swap back & forth w/ only a minor adjusting of the seating & crimping at most. I don't much though, after all, it's the reason I have two. One for LP & one for SP.

For me, that would be the only reason to have two. I only have one, but I've considered a second one.

Just too cheap, I guess. LOL

[jwp]

2-550, have to adjust when switching, solved by using one for large and other for small primers

[OLDSTEEL]

Mines were both different, requiring substantial re-adjustment to the dies in the toollhead and wound up doing what JWP did, one press for small primer stuff and the other for large pistol.

[mdcutler]

I have a 650 [one only]--primarily use it for 9mm. If I get the second one--it will be the 550 for .45 cal.--don't shoot that much of the bigger stuff. BUT--every time I change that press from 9mm-.45 and back, I get that much closer to making the call to order no. 2 !!!!

[Phunahm]

hmm something to think about....:biker_h4h:

[blueline541]

I have one for SP and the other for LP, and this has never crossed my mind. I would guess you would have to tweak the dies. Maybe.

[fredj338]

To avoid any issues, just have one setup for small primers & one for large. then adjust the dies for each toolhead & they will never be cross used. That is how I run my two 550B.

[chask]

A DILLON TECT AT THIS NUMBER WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER 1-800-762-3845 . GREAT PRESS AND BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE.

:wallbash:

[Timberwolf]

I'm not a 550 owner but I say no.

Minimum tolerences on the toolhead and amaximum tolerences on the press will yield a different OAL, flare etc than the press that i9t was set up on.

[MullahElRon]

Threads like this make me want stuff I don't need.

[fredj338]

For me, that would be the only reason to have two. I only have one, but I've considered a second one.

Just too cheap, I guess. LOL
I inherited the other one. I bought one for my dad when he retired, he needed something to do, so he loaded my 45colt & 45acp ammo for competition/practice. After he passed away 3yrs ago, I got the press back & kept it. I was happy w/ one, extatic w/ two! I keep thinking I should sell one & trade up to a 650, but I don't really need mor ethan 450rds/hr & can easily do that on the 550B & a bit more.