RL 550B Help Guide - Page 2
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Powder and Powder Measure Questions
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| 1. Erratic
handle movement a. smoothly cycle the handle all the way down and then all of the way up 2. Not going full stroke on the handle (part #511) a. pull the handle down all of the way and then push it up all of the way 3. Machine is not secured properly a. look for loose bolts or an unstable bench 4. Powder has not settled in the hopper (part #540) a. cycle the handle (part #511) four or five times b. keep the powder measure hopper at least half full 5. Wrong size powder bar for the powder throw requirements a. use the small bar for ten grains or less and the large bar for more than ten grains 6. Powder funnel, drop tube or powder measure body is dirty or is clogged |
a.
soak the powder funnel in rubbing alcohol or in acetone b. swab out the drop tube with a dry cotton swab c. wipe out the powder measure body with a dry cloth 7. Powder die (part #542) is not screwed down far enough to allow full travel of the powder bar (part #529S or #529L) a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the proper adjustment of the powder die 8. Bellcrank bolt (part #582) is loose a. this allows the bellcrank cube to slip out of engagement with the powder bar b. tighten the bolt 9. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Powder bar
(part #545S or #545L) is dirty a. clean with acetone or with rubbing alcohol. The powder bar must remain clean. Do not lube b. do not use sandpaper, a file, or anything else abrasive on the powder bar 2. Powder bar insert (part #538S or #538L) or powder bar bolt (part #583) is over-adjusted or adjusted in the wrong direction |
a.
this can bind the powder bar insert (part #538S or #538L) causing the powder bar (part
#545S or #545L) to drag or break off the head of the powder bar bolt b. turn the powder bar bolt clockwise to drop more powder. Turn counter-clockwise to drop less powder 3. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. No funnel
is installed a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the proper funnel for the desired caliber 2. Wrong funnel for desired caliber a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the proper funnel for the desired caliber 3. Improper powder die (part #542) adjustment a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the proper adjustment of the powder die 4. Funnel is dragging in a dirty powder die a. soak the funnel and the powder die in rubbing alcohol or in acetone 5. Variations in case length a. trim cases |
6. Old RL 450
funnel being used a. some of the old RL 450 powder funnels (used in manual powder measures) were shorter than the new RL 550B funnels. The following sizes were affected: 543 C,D,E,F,G,H and 544 A,B,I,O b. E-mail or call Dillon for an updated funnel. Phone 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 7. Using an old 543G powder funnel for .44-40 a. E-mail or call Dillon for the correct funnel (part # 5344). Phone 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 8. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. New cases a. deburr the case mouth of new cases with a deburring tool 2. Powder funnel is dirty a. soak funnel in rubbing alcohol or in acetone |
b.
wipe with steel wool or Scotch-Brite® pad 3. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Powder
measure lid (part #541) is off of the powder measure hopper (part #540) a. replace the lid onto the hopper 2. Operating the machine too fast a. this does not allow the powder a chance to dispense completely into the case b. smooth cycling of the handle, down all of the way and then up all of the way, works best 3. Case is full a. this is common in 9mm b. slow down the operation of the handle |
4. Machine is
not secured properly a. look for loose bolts or an unstable bench 5. No primer in the case a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the primer loading procedure 6. Small powder bar spacer plug (part #552) is missing a. long end down for the small bar; short end down for the large bar 7. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Powder
measure is out of powder a. make sure that there is powder in the powder measure hopper 2. No case is in the shellplate a. a case must be in the shellplate to activate the powder measure 3. No funnel is installed a. consult the RL 550B Instruction manual for the proper funnel for the desired caliber |
4. Powder die
is not screwed down far enough a. the powder funnel must engage the case in order for the powder measure to work. 5. Powder measure is plugged a. empty the powder from the powder measure hopper and look for obstructions in the powder measure and in the powder bar 6. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Wrong size
bullet a. make sure to use the correct bullet for the case being loaded 2. Case is not belled enough a. increase the case bell by turning down the powder die. To do this, turn the die clockwise in 1/2 turn increments 3. Using a combination seat and crimp die |
a.
bullet gets crimped before being fully seated b. adjust the the seating stem depth first, then adjust the crimp after the seating depth is correct 4. Cracked case mouth a. throw the case away 5. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. New cases a. the symptom will usually go away after one or two firings 2. Case mouth is worn or thinned out a. the case is worn out, and should be discarded |
3. Too much
flare in case a. decrease the bell by turning the powder die upwards. To do this, turn the die counter clockwise in 1/4 turn increments 4. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Bullet was
not straight on the case prior to seating 2. Case is belled too much or not enough a. set the bell so that the bullet sits on top of the case without falling off but not so much that the bullet falls into the case 3. Wrong seating stem for that bullet or caliber a. make sure to use the correct seating stem for the desired caliber b. use the stem that makes the best contact with the bullet 4. Using the wrong diameter bullet a. make sure that the bullet diameter is correct for the bore being used b. some brands and shapes of bullets give greater variation than others |
5. Using
wrong locator buttons a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the right size locator buttons for the desired caliber 6. No case in station two when tightening the powder die nut (part # 516) a. this leaves the bell uneven and slants the funnel b. after adjustment of the bell, put the case back into the shellplate, pull the handle down all of the way and then tighten everything up 7. Variations in case wall thickness a. if case appears thicker than usual, chamfer the case mouth b. check the case length, it may need trimming 8. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Wrong
seating stem for that bullet or caliber a. make sure to use the correct seating stem for the desired caliber b. use the stem that makes the best contact with the bullet 2. Case is not belled enough a. increase the bell by turning down the powder die. To do this, turn the die clockwise in 1/2 turn increments |
3. Lead or
wax has built up in the die a. soak the die in rubbing alcohol or in acetone 4. Soft lead a. use Dillon hard cast bullets 5. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. New cases
have not been sized a. new cases should always be sized 2. Bullet is undersized a. check the bullet diameter with a pair of calipers 3. Wrong size bullet for that caliber a. consult a loading or powder manual for the correct size bullet for the desired caliber 4. Using wrong crimp die for that size case a. look on the die body for caliber identification 5. Not going full stroke on the handle (part #511) a. pull the handle down all of the way and then push it up all of the way 6. Over-belled case a. over-belling in station two will require an over-adjustment of the crimp die to take out the excessive flare |
b. set
the bell so that the bullet sits on top of case without falling off, but not so much that
the bullet falls into the case 7. Over-crimping a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for adjustment instructions 8. Variations in case lengths a. trim cases 9. Using an old 543G powder funnel for .44-40 (with .427" or .428" bullets) a. E-mail or call Dillon for the correct funnel (part # 5344). Phone 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 10. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Over-all
length of the cartridge is too long a. bullet is hitting the rifling b. consult a loading or powder manual for the over-all length specifications 2. Too much flare has been left on the cases a. over-belling in station two will require over-adjustment of the crimp die to take out excessive flare b. set the bell so that the bullet sits on top of the case without falling off, but not so much that the bullet falls into the case 3. Not enough or too much crimp a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the proper die adjustment |
4. Using
range brass that has been shot in someone else's gun. Especially those with extra large or
unsupported chambers a. start with new cases and shoot only in a known chamber 5. Incorrect headspace a. purchase a headspace gage (Rifle) b. for proper use, see the case preparation manual 6. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Need
Dillon lock rings (part #14067) a. three extra lock rings come with each machine 2. There is no need to over-tighten--only one thread above the toolhead is sufficient enough to hold the dies |
3. Use Dillon
Dies 4. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Battery is
low on power or is missing a. replace the battery 2. Follower rod (part #E10) is not properly placed a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for proper placement of the follower rod 3. Primers are stuck in the magazine tube (part #13879 or #13673) |
a. do not try to
force primers out of the magazine tube. Dispose of the tube safely b. spray lube inside the tube and tape both ends. Dispose of the tube safely c. E-mail or call Dillon for a replacement. Phone 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 4. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Ejector
wire (part #571) is missing a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for the correct placement of the ejector wire 2. Wrong locator buttons a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for proper placement and size locator buttons for the desired caliber 3. Ejector wire (part #571) is set too high |
a.
push the ejector wire down far enough so it does not rub on the shellplate or hit on the
index sprocket (part #568) 4. Openings of the shellplate are pointed or may have a burr a. round off with a file 5. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
| 1. Primers
are trapped under the shellplate a. remove the shellplate and remove any trapped primers 2. Main shaft is dirty or dry a. clean and lubricate the shaft and cylinder with 30 WT motor oil 3.Link arms (part #503A or #503B) and/or upper link arm pins (part #515A or #515B) need to be a. use an all purpose grease. Do not use aerosol lubricants greased |
4. Frame
(part #501) is marred where the shellplate“s brass-tipped set screw (part #505) was
backed out too far a. consult the RL 550B instruction manual for proper adjustment 5. If you are still having difficulty, please E-mail Dillon's Technical Support Staff or call 1-800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 |
Call Toll Free 800-762-3845 or 480-948-8009 ° Fax 480-998-2786
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