XL650 Primers not always feeding
- Thread starter Jeryray
- Start date
You don't need another alarm on the press ( and i'm not sure it would be possible -- without significant changes in press.../ i Reload at least 20,000 handgun rds a year on a 650 and I have never seen an issue like this on my press....and none of my buddies using 650's are having this issue....??
But the solution lies in the details...maybe you broke something in the primer feed mechanism....when did you last take it off the press and clean it out ( take it apart )....check all springs - in lever on top & one Under detent ball inside....make sure bolts are tight on top, make sure the priming seater is tight....is primer feed tube securely seated in mecanism with the knurled nut on top of tube holding it down....is shell plate tight.....make sure bolt holding the primer feed plate is tight.....all the little stuff...
But you should be able to easily feel when no primer is seated....
Remove it, take it apart, inspect, clean ....reinstall and check it again before continuing...
What caliber ?
What brand and kind of primers ?
How many rounds have you loaded on this press ?
( if it's. 45acp...are you sure cases are all using large pistol primers .... there are some cases out there using small pistol primers....)....
What did you mean, you have a .45 case on top....?? ...on top of what ?
But the solution lies in the details...maybe you broke something in the primer feed mechanism....when did you last take it off the press and clean it out ( take it apart )....check all springs - in lever on top & one Under detent ball inside....make sure bolts are tight on top, make sure the priming seater is tight....is primer feed tube securely seated in mecanism with the knurled nut on top of tube holding it down....is shell plate tight.....make sure bolt holding the primer feed plate is tight.....all the little stuff...
But you should be able to easily feel when no primer is seated....
Remove it, take it apart, inspect, clean ....reinstall and check it again before continuing...
What caliber ?
What brand and kind of primers ?
How many rounds have you loaded on this press ?
( if it's. 45acp...are you sure cases are all using large pistol primers .... there are some cases out there using small pistol primers....)....
What did you mean, you have a .45 case on top....?? ...on top of what ?
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OK, this press is 6 weeks old. 1600 rounds of 9mm. I have the .38 and the .45 head and have not set those up yet.
This is the 3rd or 4th time I had no primer seated. I have been getting some primers not seated all the way, though I was being slow and methodical..
I took the primer assembly apart, cleaned it put fresh primers in and will try another couple of 9mm tomorrow.
I did check the alignment, looks ok.
Perhaps I need more weight than a .45 shell on the primer feed tube?
This is the 3rd or 4th time I had no primer seated. I have been getting some primers not seated all the way, though I was being slow and methodical..
I took the primer assembly apart, cleaned it put fresh primers in and will try another couple of 9mm tomorrow.
I did check the alignment, looks ok.
Perhaps I need more weight than a .45 shell on the primer feed tube?
Ok ---- where did you see it recommended to put a case on top of the plastic rod ? ...
( you may be putting too much pressure on primers in tube ... causing them to jam vs flow smoothly....)..../ probably 400,000 rds thru my 650 and I have never put weight on top of that plastic rod...
( you may be putting too much pressure on primers in tube ... causing them to jam vs flow smoothly....)..../ probably 400,000 rds thru my 650 and I have never put weight on top of that plastic rod...
I don't think you understand what is going on exactly. Primers not seated all the way is not caused by a dirty primer assembly. It is because you did not push the handle towards the rear of the press.
The primer anvil has the ability to travel up much further than is necessary to properly seat a primer.
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Rock Hammer
New member
Jeryray......I too had this very problem it was the primer indexing arm and spring it would not retract and catch in the next hole there for not rotating the next primer my spring had somehow gotten scrunched. I took my primer assembly apart cleaned and lubed it , and i stretched out the spring a little and now its working great .....it is number 6 and 11 on page 53 of your manual.....my problem was random that is why it was hard to find .......I have a spare quick change primer system and while holding it and working it manually with my thumb I noticed how smoothly and cleanly it popped back into the next hole , unlike the one on my machine........Hope in someway this helps you and others......
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I was loading a few boxes of 9mm myself this am....and I was wondering if you have the shell plate down as tight as it should go ...
Press on the plate - installed in the press..if it gives much at all...then it's probably too loose. Back out the set screw on the shaft...hold the shell plate down with your finger and seat the bolt tighter into the center shaft...( and back it out just a hair ) so it indexes properly - and remember to tighten the set screw again.
I saw your other post on finished rounds getting hung up on the spring as they exit to the chute..( that tells me you might not have the shell plate down tight enough too ).....and I would make sure you set the press up as it was meant to be stock ( no thrust bearings, etc ) that are not proided by Dillon -- until you get this worked out.
I would basically just start over with the shell plate installed properly, take the primer system off the press, clean it, make sure the feed tube is seated all the way down, make sure the knurled nut is on tight...and reinstall it ( and make sure the primer seating mechanism is tight as well...)..
The problem you're having is not typically an issue on the 650's in my experience...so I still think its the little things ( but I would also take that spent .45 acp case off of the plastic rod ).
If you are not using Winchester or CCI primers....( you may have a primer issue as well ) ....some of the oddball brands can be an issue / change whatever you are using for CCI ..( or my 2nd choice would be Winchester ).
Press on the plate - installed in the press..if it gives much at all...then it's probably too loose. Back out the set screw on the shaft...hold the shell plate down with your finger and seat the bolt tighter into the center shaft...( and back it out just a hair ) so it indexes properly - and remember to tighten the set screw again.
I saw your other post on finished rounds getting hung up on the spring as they exit to the chute..( that tells me you might not have the shell plate down tight enough too ).....and I would make sure you set the press up as it was meant to be stock ( no thrust bearings, etc ) that are not proided by Dillon -- until you get this worked out.
I would basically just start over with the shell plate installed properly, take the primer system off the press, clean it, make sure the feed tube is seated all the way down, make sure the knurled nut is on tight...and reinstall it ( and make sure the primer seating mechanism is tight as well...)..
The problem you're having is not typically an issue on the 650's in my experience...so I still think its the little things ( but I would also take that spent .45 acp case off of the plastic rod ).
If you are not using Winchester or CCI primers....( you may have a primer issue as well ) ....some of the oddball brands can be an issue / change whatever you are using for CCI ..( or my 2nd choice would be Winchester ).
Wow, thanks for all the posts. I received the primer alignment tools today. Cleaned the plate and primer. Made sure the alignment was correct.
Made 200 rounds with only one primer that did not seat, the brass was some weird brand.
I do push forward pretty hard though. Also replaced the eject spring.
I'll be making another 500 or so tomorrow.
The plate doe not have any play, just enough to turn smooth.
I am seriously thinking of getting an extra shell plate and drilling small pilot holes so I can see if there is a primer waiting for the next shell. There is a sweet spot where I think it can be done. I look at every case as it feeds and this would be in view as well.
Should work. Small home like 1/8 on every station of course.
Made 200 rounds with only one primer that did not seat, the brass was some weird brand.
I do push forward pretty hard though. Also replaced the eject spring.
I'll be making another 500 or so tomorrow.
The plate doe not have any play, just enough to turn smooth.
I am seriously thinking of getting an extra shell plate and drilling small pilot holes so I can see if there is a primer waiting for the next shell. There is a sweet spot where I think it can be done. I look at every case as it feeds and this would be in view as well.
Should work. Small home like 1/8 on every station of course.
Good luck then, I hope that is the end of the issues ( but just for comparison for you .... i loaded 1,000 rds of 9mm today ...and no primers failed to advance or seat properly )...i haven't had a case go thru press with no primer in many years....about the only issue i have is an inverted primer about 1 in 4,000....but i haven't had one in awhile..../ and i load and shoot 8 - 10 boxes a week of 9mm...
So keep workkng to fine tune that press...
So keep workkng to fine tune that press...
Watch this video and you can see what I am talking about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgW6yvWpXSs
If you have to remove the tool head and just prime 100 cases paying attention only to priming to get used to the feeling, I think that would be a good use of your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgW6yvWpXSs
If you have to remove the tool head and just prime 100 cases paying attention only to priming to get used to the feeling, I think that would be a good use of your time.
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Jmorris, thanks for the video. I have about 3/8 inch difference between primer and no primer.
I don not see what stops the cam.
There is a bar that has two screws that has the spring and is the primer pusher.
This does not seem to have any adjustment.
I am thinking of setting up a micro switch that will allow me to know if the stroke goes to far telling there is no primer.
Do you have more than a 3/8 difference?
TIA
I don not see what stops the cam.
There is a bar that has two screws that has the spring and is the primer pusher.
This does not seem to have any adjustment.
I am thinking of setting up a micro switch that will allow me to know if the stroke goes to far telling there is no primer.
Do you have more than a 3/8 difference?
TIA