Got my first Dillon progressive and having an issue. Wanted to ping the forum and see if anyone could help.

The issue is the tool head and ram/shell holder are slightly misaligned around 1/16". The case is hitting the die and jamming at station 1 and in station 3, the seater is cutting shavings off the edge of the case. Loading 45acp. In both stations, the shell is too far "right" from the operator side and die is too far left. If I remove pins from the tool head plate, the plate will slide over flush with the frame on the right and everything lines up much better. I have taken the shell holder plate and indexing star thing off and reassembled with no change. I adjusted the spring on station 1 with no change. I tried running cases up into the dies and then locking them down while engaged and no change. Not sure what else to try at this point?

This is a used loader, not new (otherwise I'd just ship it back to Dillon).

Appreciate any help you guys can give.

Dillon used to have customer service that would help with that sort of thing.

They suggested about half the stuff I've tried so far.

They use to do a free rebuild on all presses except the 1050 but looks like now it is $85 for a 550.
I guess since Mike passed, they have a new business model. What a shame.


https://www.dillonprecision.com/s000403

I rebuilt my 650 with their videos and some help from their technician. In my case I had to replace and re-align the platform. They even shipped me a new alignment tool with the new platform. They sent the parts for free. Only condition was I had to send the old platform back as proof that it was replaced. In my case it was so old that it had actually bent and the new design was cast rather than stamped.

How much was the new platform? That's not encouraging...

Platform was free. Shipping was free both ways. Mine was bought in the 90's. I probably loaded 100,000 various rounds on it. We determined I bent the feed arm that loads the cases onto the platform. I had an issue and it started causing cases to not fully feed onto the shell holder. After several smashed cases it bent a tad more and the problem got worse. They helped me diagnose over emails with pictures and finally a call where we determined the slight slope was actually a bent feed ramp. When they saw the picture and realized it was the old design it was like a light bulb went off.

Once diagnosed I also ordered a 45 caliber change kit to be shipped with the order too. Dillon has been good to me. I use them for ammo boxes too and sometimes for other things as a thank you. They earned my business.

I recently picked up a used 650 set up for 45 Auto. It was part of a package deal. I may leave it permanently set up for large primer shells since I often load .380, 9mm, 44Mag and 45 Auto. I have never had a problem changing out the primer station, large/small, but it will be a time saver, especially with the 45 now having both primer sizes. ( insert curse mother truckers ).

I also have a used square deal setup for 38 that I never used. I think its missing a pin or two and I never got around to sorting it out but it appears to be all there. Not a bad setup for straight wall
pistol cases.

That is a known issue with the 550. Try a different tool head. Or shim the tool head to "back" it out. The tool heads are castings and then final machined. They were CNC machined at one time, MANY years ago.

I didn't realize they had tool head issues...

The tool head is already too far backed out. I can't figure a way to force it further into the slot.

I would think Dillon would replace a defective tool head. Worth a call.