Dillon 650 Failure

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 12:04 AM

Has anyone experienced this type of failure with a Dillon 650? (Refer to Attachments) This occurred on one of my machines (Large) after 100k rounds, the other machine (Small) is starting to show hairline cracks on one side after 40k rounds

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 12:05 AM

Here's the picture of the large crack.

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 12:07 AM

and the hairline crack.

JohnK · March 16, 2002, 01:59 AM

Wow, I've never even heard of that happening. Have you contacted Dillon about it?

chazecon · March 16, 2002, 02:05 AM

ryucasta,

I was concerned about the aluminum linkeage when ordering my 650 since I previously broke off the lever on a Lee LoadMaster. The Dillon rep said not to worry unless I was a gorilla. He was evidently thinking of you!!

I began hearing and feeling poping/cracking in my press a few thousand rounds back and haven't figured out what it is. Seems to be coming from that same area where yours cracked. When I seat the primer, I get two pops. During the down stroke, I hear one pop when the cases start into the dies and two more at the completion of the stroke. Everything that can be tightened has been. I have decided to just keep on and if it breaks, they can replace it.

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 02:49 AM

JohnK,

This actually happened today at 5:00 pm PST so I tried contacting them but they had closed for the day. I will be contacting them tomorrow morning and hopefully this will be resolved quickly.

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 11:15 AM

Called Dillon this morning, customer service was extremely responsive and they'll be shipping the two parts by Monday.

Frank Iacono · March 16, 2002, 12:19 PM

Just curious: Do you resize your brass on the dillon? What calibers do you reload on this press? I have a Dillon 550B with 15K rounds reloaded, but I resize as a separate step on a RCBS. In any event, if dillon treats you as they've treated me through out the 20+ years I've used their presses, you should receive the new parts at no charge.

ryucasta · March 16, 2002, 12:54 PM

Yes I resize my pistol brass on the Dillon press and I don’t reload any rifle calibers on those presses. On the large primer press I only reload 45ACP and 10mm on the small primer press 40S&W, 9mm Luger, 357 SIG and 38 Super Comp.

T.Labren · March 17, 2002, 03:45 PM

I had my loader since 1981 and it loaded over 89k rounds (pistol and mag rifle) never a big problem,
you must have 18" guns on you!

444 · March 18, 2002, 03:28 AM

Holy ****, I mean holy cow.

pahrumpcaveman · March 18, 2002, 08:36 AM

I bought my 550 used so I have no idea how many rounds have been loaded on it . I do ALOT of reloading and filling a 50 cal ammo can in one afternoon is not uncommon . I use it for everything from 308. to 9mm . My press shows no sign of wear. I am sure Dillon will take care of you .

Selfdfenz · March 18, 2002, 11:09 AM

Oh my goodness.
That which was said could never happen has happened!!!

Not one but two blue presses have fallen short of perfection.

Surely you are posting from a parallel universe.

Sorry guys just couldn't resist.

Up the RebelLEEs,

S-

Keith J · March 18, 2002, 02:20 PM

And 100k rounds/cycles sounds like that part was indaequately designed considering LCF (low cycle fatigue) of aluminum.

I'm sure Dillon will make it right but its still something to consider on alloy selection and part design. Just a simple modification to the mold/dies used to cast this part would more than double the life.

Fred S · March 19, 2002, 01:35 PM

Any follow up on Dillon on this issue?

JohnK · March 19, 2002, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Oh my goodness.
That which was said could never happen has happened!!!

Not one but two blue presses have fallen short of perfection.

Surely you are posting from a parallel universe.

Sorry guys just couldn't resist.

Up the RebelLEEs,

Not a parallel universe, just proof that bad miracles can happen as well as good.

ryucasta · March 19, 2002, 02:36 PM

Fred,

I'm still waiting for the parts, but hopefully I'll have them by the end of the week.

Master Blaster · March 19, 2002, 03:10 PM

Just curious, Do you set the dies in your tool head, the resize die in particular, so that they touch or even press on the shell plate at full ram extension?

I got into a discussion of this on another forum, where a newbe was advised to disregard the dillon manual, and set the dies so that the ram cams over as the die bears on the shell plate, the reason given by the poster was to avoid a varriation in OAL.

I warned that doing this might wear or break the linkage, and was PooPoohed off the thread.

Thanks

ryucasta · March 19, 2002, 03:45 PM

Master Blaster,

While you bring up a valid point, unfortunately that was not the case here. I wish it were since this would be the easiest way to prevent the failure from happening again.

March 16, 2002, 12:04 AM	#1
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	Dillon 650 Failure Has anyone experienced this type of failure with a Dillon 650? (Refer to Attachments) This occurred on one of my machines (Large) after 100k rounds, the other machine (Small) is starting to show hairline cracks on one side after 40k rounds

March 16, 2002, 12:19 PM	#8
Frank Iacono Member Join Date: February 25, 2002 Location: vermont Posts: 18	Dillon failure (ryucasta) Just curious: Do you resize your brass on the dillon? What calibers do you reload on this press? I have a Dillon 550B with 15K rounds reloaded, but I resize as a separate step on a RCBS. In any event, if dillon treats you as they've treated me through out the 20+ years I've used their presses, you should receive the new parts at no charge.

March 17, 2002, 03:45 PM	#10
T.Labren Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: Lafeyette,La. Posts: 35	BIG GUY I had my loader since 1981 and it loaded over 89k rounds (pistol and mag rifle) never a big problem, you must have 18" guns on you!

March 18, 2002, 02:20 PM	#14
Keith J Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 469	Its aluminum... And 100k rounds/cycles sounds like that part was indaequately designed considering LCF (low cycle fatigue) of aluminum. I'm sure Dillon will make it right but its still something to consider on alloy selection and part design. Just a simple modification to the mold/dies used to cast this part would more than double the life.

March 16, 2002, 01:59 AM	#4
JohnK Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2001 Location: Duvall, Wa Posts: 552	Wow, I've never even heard of that happening. Have you contacted Dillon about it?

March 16, 2002, 02:05 AM	#5
chazecon Junior Member Join Date: November 20, 2001 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 12	ryucasta, I was concerned about the aluminum linkeage when ordering my 650 since I previously broke off the lever on a Lee LoadMaster. The Dillon rep said not to worry unless I was a gorilla. He was evidently thinking of you!! I began hearing and feeling poping/cracking in my press a few thousand rounds back and haven't figured out what it is. Seems to be coming from that same area where yours cracked. When I seat the primer, I get two pops. During the down stroke, I hear one pop when the cases start into the dies and two more at the completion of the stroke. Everything that can be tightened has been. I have decided to just keep on and if it breaks, they can replace it.

March 16, 2002, 02:49 AM	#6
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	JohnK, This actually happened today at 5:00 pm PST so I tried contacting them but they had closed for the day. I will be contacting them tomorrow morning and hopefully this will be resolved quickly.

March 16, 2002, 11:15 AM	#7
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	Called Dillon this morning, customer service was extremely responsive and they'll be shipping the two parts by Monday.

March 16, 2002, 12:54 PM	#9
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	Yes I resize my pistol brass on the Dillon press and I don’t reload any rifle calibers on those presses. On the large primer press I only reload 45ACP and 10mm on the small primer press 40S&W, 9mm Luger, 357 SIG and 38 Super Comp.

March 18, 2002, 03:28 AM	#11
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	Holy ****, I mean holy cow.

March 18, 2002, 08:36 AM	#12
pahrumpcaveman Member Join Date: December 1, 2000 Location: pahrump,nevada Posts: 65	I bought my 550 used so I have no idea how many rounds have been loaded on it . I do ALOT of reloading and filling a 50 cal ammo can in one afternoon is not uncommon . I use it for everything from 308. to 9mm . My press shows no sign of wear. I am sure Dillon will take care of you .

March 18, 2002, 11:09 AM	#13
Selfdfenz Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2001 Location: The Gas Tax State Posts: 949	Oh my goodness. That which was said could never happen has happened!!! Not one but two blue presses have fallen short of perfection. Surely you are posting from a parallel universe. Sorry guys just couldn't resist. Up the RebelLEEs, S-

March 19, 2002, 01:35 PM	#15
Fred S Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 1999 Location: New Baltimore, MI Posts: 569	Any follow up on Dillon on this issue?

March 19, 2002, 02:36 PM	#17
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	Fred, I'm still waiting for the parts, but hopefully I'll have them by the end of the week.

March 19, 2002, 03:10 PM	#18
Master Blaster Senior Member Join Date: October 12, 1999 Location: One of the original 13 Colonies Posts: 2,281	Just curious, Do you set the dies in your tool head, the resize die in particular, so that they touch or even press on the shell plate at full ram extension? I got into a discussion of this on another forum, where a newbe was advised to disregard the dillon manual, and set the dies so that the ram cams over as the die bears on the shell plate, the reason given by the poster was to avoid a varriation in OAL. I warned that doing this might wear or break the linkage, and was PooPoohed off the thread. Thanks

March 19, 2002, 03:45 PM	#19
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	Master Blaster, While you bring up a valid point, unfortunately that was not the case here. I wish it were since this would be the easiest way to prevent the failure from happening again.