Dillon 550 spilling powder- why?

NM_HighPlains

New member
When a Dillon 550 starts spilling powder what are some causes? The funnel is correct (I've loaded 1,000 rounds), but I started getting powder spills every 10 rounds or so. Suggestions?
 
Spilling powder where...at the powder measure, between the powder measure and the bullet seating position,,,? I've loaded hundreds of thousands of pistol ammo on a 550, and only get a few grains/flakes of powder kicked out onto the shell plate when I spin the wheel too fast.
F1
 
The powder measure has an arm that connects from the powder measure to the base for a manual return. It'll also return w/out this, but it's not as solid.

When the shell goes up, it all activates. When the shell comes down, there's a powder dump. I think that maybe the measure is not closing fast enough or something. I'll go watch it (no powder in place) and see if I can figure it out.

Powder is Xterminator- shouldn't be any issues there.

EDIT:
Googling on it, I'm probably just cycling too fast. I'll clean and tighten everything, but man, it's a mess when that powder spills. I dunno... the Dillon's find for pumping out 500 rounds of prairie dog ammo, but if I'm just doing 50 rds or so, I kind of like the old fashioned way of a single stage press and RCBS powder measure.

 
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I had the same problem until I talked to Gary Kieft at Dillon. He walked me through everything to ensure the unit was set up correctly. He's the trouble shooter guru.
 
Do not use the Dillon with out the return link in place and properly adjusted, you can end up not charging cases.

The adjustment on that link is wrong in one part of the directions. Learned that the hard way. Called Dillon, they told me the way to adjust it is:

1) Push the handle to lower the carriage and keep pushing till it bottoms like you were priming the brass.

2) Hold it there tight against the stop, tighten the wing nut till the spring is totally compressed, coils touching, then release the lever and back off a turn and a half on the wing nut.

If you have to adjust the powder die up or down, you will also have to readjust the linkage.

Fitch
 
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