View Full Version : Dillon 550B lubrication
GioaJack
02-11-2010, 20:24
When Little Stevie was up here last weekend he pointed out to me that my 550B wasn't working right because I had never lubricated it.
He also pointed out that I was an idiot... a psychological evaluation I really didn't need since all those pesky ex-wives use to point out the same thing... on a frequent basis.
After a good deal of work tearing down the machine, lubricating all the parts and reassembling it to miraculous working order he showed me the VERY small lubrication points and made me swear, under penalty of kicking my cane out from under me, that I would lubricate said piece of machinery on a regular basis.
I swore... and then I promised. He suggested I get I get a small 'needle' type grease gun that would squirt grease into those tiny little holes... he even told me what he used. Said he got it at a bicycle shop. (I think he lied.)
After spending $150 on diesel driving around Denver looking for said tool and having store employees staring at me like I was an alien when I described what I needed I gave up and went home with my tail between my legs. (That tail can be very embarrassing during social interactions... apparently not everyone has one. Who knew.)
Once home I went into the loading room and stared at the machine, wondering what to do when suddenly I had an epiphany. (Ya know, it's like when a cartoon character has one of those bubbles over his head with a light bulb in it. Yea, that.)
I scrounged around and finally found my chain saw bar grease gun. It's just a small spring activated plunger with a very, very small ball bearing at the tip.
With my new found lubricating implement in hand I lined the tip up with one of the little small holes and pushed on the end of the plunger. Lo and behold grease was forced onto the enclosed bearing with no fuss and no muss.
Had all the lube points done within 30 seconds. The machine continues to run like a... well, like a well oiled machine.
The gun I use is made by Oregon chain saw supplies but I imagine many companies. They are readily available at places like Lowe's, Home Depot, Ace or anywhere that sells chain saw equipment. I don't remember exactly but they're somewhere around a $10 item.
For being an idiot I stumbled upon something that works pretty well. :supergrin:
Jack
NW-Warlord
02-11-2010, 20:31
I have to get me one of those. I have been using the stupid syringe that comes in the spare parts kit Dillon sells. The seals on the syringe have long ago been destroyed and now leaks grease back into the plunger something fierce.
Sandman_NC
02-11-2010, 20:46
Great info Jack! Any idea of the lube name Little Stevie used? I gotta head out to Lowe's to see if I can find that grease gun.
RustySocket
02-11-2010, 20:55
I got a needle oiler from the sewing machine department at sears.... 2.97
Colorado4Wheel
02-11-2010, 20:57
Great info Jack! Any idea of the lube name Little Stevie used? I gotta head out to Lowe's to see if I can find that grease gun.
I lubed it by hand as I assembled it using the Lube Jack had on hand. My lube gun has some old bicycle lube in it. I doubt it matters much at all.
Sandman_NC
02-11-2010, 21:02
Roger that. I use to use this (http://www.slickhoneyusa.com/aboutus.html) stuff for my paintball needs. Just wondered if it was the same.
robin303
02-11-2010, 23:20
Jack, I swear you crack me up daily.:rofl:
I usually clean it between caliber changes and a little oil on the shaft and pivot points. I never noticed any little holes. I'll have to dig out the book unless somebody has a picture?
BigDog[RE]
02-12-2010, 06:55
I use a little mini grease gun that I got from Harbor Freight. I think it has marine axle grease in it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93486
GioaJack
02-12-2010, 10:51
I usually clean it between caliber changes and a little oil on the shaft and pivot points. I never noticed any little holes. I'll have to dig out the book unless somebody has a picture?
BK...:
Lubing the 550 is very analogous to life in general. When you're young 'holes' that need to be lubed seem to be everywhere and are easy to find and service... as you get older they seem to become more elusive, and when you do finally find them you don't always have the energy, or inclination to do anything about it. Nature's way I guess but as I found out it can result in neglected holes and a rusty shaft. :crying:
Follow the handle down to where it screws into the linkage. Right next to the handle you'll see the long link, (surprisingly enough, it's blue) that surrounds the lower bearing and runs up to connect the upper bearing. There is one link on each side of the machine.
On the front of each end of the link, directly over the bearing, you'll see a tiny little lube hole, a total of 4 of them.
Force grease into these holes, activate your handle a few times to spread the grease along the interior surface of the bearing then repeat the process until the lube points won't accept any more grease.
If Little Stevie hadn't pointed them out to me I never would have seen 'em and I've had my 550 for the better part of 2 decades. I guess I should have read the manual.
When Steve took my machine apart the bearings were so galled we thought we'd have to call Dillon to replace them. (That wouldn't have worked 'cause I never would have gotten the machine back together by myself. I would have had a better chance of reading a Korean newspaper.)
While Stevie was doing his magic I used a Dremel tool with a buffing wheel and jewelers rouge to smooth out the galling. (Not perfect but they ended up pretty good.)
I'll now keep those little holes serviced on a regular basis... why not... it doesn't involve the help of any expensive pharmaceuticals. :whistling:
Jack
Colorado4Wheel
02-12-2010, 10:57
On the front of each end of the link, directly over the bearing, you'll see a tiny little lube hole, a total of 4 of them.
Jack
6 Total. Two more on the center shaft connecting those bottom links.:wavey:
GioaJack
02-12-2010, 11:01
6 Total. Two more on the center shaft connecting those bottom links.:wavey:
HA! You didn't show me those... just trying to get me to screw up so I'd have to buy another LNL and give you my trashed 550.
You're going to make someone a fine ex-wife... you've already perfected the sneaky part of it.
I gotta go find the newly mentioned holes.
Jack
A few drops of synthetic motor oil work for me... And they come out of a needle oiler that I got from Brownells. They sell them in 3 packs. $12.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20180/Product/NEEDLE_OILER_BOTTLES
vtducrider
02-12-2010, 11:07
hadn't touched my 550B for years... When I finally re-started again, the machine was quite seized up. Lubed those tiny holes, and brought it back to life, working like a champ. I borrowed a grease gun with a needle nose and a seal from my mechanic friend, and it worked fine. That was about 6 months ago, probably should do it again soon.
tlafrance
02-12-2010, 11:12
Interestingly enough, my original 550 from 1989 has NO lube holes and has never been serviced. However, my 2nd 550 from 1999 has lube holes, I lube them regularly, yet it's been factory serviced 2x because of binding/galling. Next time it hangs up. I plan to tap and install grease fittings to make the job easier. BTW, order the alignment tool from Dillon to re-calibrate after the teardown.
Tom
Colorado4Wheel
02-12-2010, 11:36
HA! You didn't show me those... just trying to get me to screw up so I'd have to buy another LNL and give you my trashed 550.
You're going to make someone a fine ex-wife... you've already perfected the sneaky part of it.
I gotta go find the newly mentioned holes.
Jack
I think it's something about the blind horse, water, drinking. I forget how it goes.
;)
Spoke to Dillon at the Shot Show. Thet are going to begin installing grease zerks on the presses.
GioaJack
02-12-2010, 13:47
Spoke to Dillon at the Shot Show. Thet are going to begin installing grease zerks on the presses.
Guess they must have bought a LNL and took a close look at it.
Maybe not. :whistling:
Jack
Spoke to Dillon at the Shot Show. Thet are going to begin installing grease zerks on the presses.
Wow, kinda like a Hornady upgrade for Dillons,, :whistling:
Bob :supergrin:
GioaJack
02-12-2010, 13:53
Wow, kinda like a Hornady upgrade for Dillons,, :whistling:
Bob :supergrin:
MODERATOR... Bob's trying to start trouble. Ban him.
Jack
GlockSupremacy
02-12-2010, 13:54
BK...:
Lubing the 550 is very analogous to life in general. When you're young 'holes' that need to be lubed seem to be everywhere and are easy to find and service... as you get older they seem to become more elusive, and when you do finally find them you don't always have the energy, or inclination to do anything about it. Nature's way I guess but as I found out it can result in neglected holes and a rusty shaft. :crying:
Follow the handle down to where it screws into the linkage. Right next to the handle you'll see the long link, (surprisingly enough, it's blue) that surrounds the lower bearing and runs up to connect the upper bearing. There is one link on each side of the machine.
On the front of each end of the link, directly over the bearing, you'll see a tiny little lube hole, a total of 4 of them.
Force grease into these holes, activate your handle a few times to spread the grease along the interior surface of the bearing then repeat the process until the lube points won't accept any more grease.
If Little Stevie hadn't pointed them out to me I never would have seen 'em and I've had my 550 for the better part of 2 decades. I guess I should have read the manual.
When Steve took my machine apart the bearing were so galled we thought we'd have to call Dillon to replace the. (That wouldn't have worked 'cause I never would have gotten the machine back together by myself. I would have had a better chance of reading a Korean newspaper.)
While Stevie was doing his magic I used a Dremel tool with a buffing wheel and jewelers rouge to smooth out the galling. (Not perfect but they ended up pretty good.)
I'll now keep those little holes serviced on a regular basis... why not... it doesn't involve the help of any expensive pharmaceuticals. :whistling:
Jack
After this it almost impossible to ask a question! ;)
Anyhoo, anything else i should put either grease or oil on?
I lube the bottom of the shell plate and the underside of the bolt that holds it down to make it index easier.
GlockSupremacy
02-12-2010, 13:56
Spoke to Dillon at the Shot Show. Thet are going to begin installing grease zerks on the presses.
Darn it! We will all be buying 550 C's now.
Thats how they get you, man!
MODERATOR... Bob's trying to start trouble. Ban him.
Jack
Your just upset cause I just beat you to the punch line!
:supergrin:
Bob
GioaJack
02-12-2010, 14:06
Anyhoo, anything else i should put either grease or oil on?
Seems to me that's a personal question that you should be discussing with your wife and/or girlfriend. Really not appropriate for this forum.
As far as proper maintenance for a 550 is concerned Little Stevie advised me to oil the top of the ram and let it run down... ultimately dripping on the carpet.
I'm sure he told me to do that in an effort to keep my machine running properly and the fact that he's a carpet salesman had absolutely no bearing on his advice.
Jack
shotgunred
02-12-2010, 14:27
BK...:
Lubing the 550 is very analogous to life in general. When you're young 'holes' that need to be lubed seem to be everywhere and are easy to find and service... as you get older they seem to become more elusive, and when you do finally find them you don't always have the energy, or inclination to do anything about it. Nature's way I guess but as I found out it can result in neglected holes and a rusty shaft. :crying:
Jack
For some reason my wife likes to point out there is only one hole I am allowed to lube. So my pour dillion has never been lubed. Thankfully the appliance that has the said lube point is 20 years younger than I am so it is still easy to find and service. My poor dillon will have to make due with gunpowder for lube.
6 Total. Two more on the center shaft connecting those bottom links.:wavey:
Mine must be newer. It has zerks.
Since my 550 is only 6 months old I guess I haven't worn it out yet :supergrin: I have a 450 that looks older than me. I have oiled that quite a bit but have not looked for holes. I guess this weekend I'm going looking for holes :supergrin:
Colorado4Wheel
02-12-2010, 16:20
You guys kill me.
Sigma40sw
02-13-2010, 10:49
Just received a new Crank for my 550. It came with a new shaft with the grease fitting and the Alignment Tool. The old one cracked near the handle,was causing me to have high primers. It was flexing during primer seating. Dillon's service is GREAT! My 550 is 22 years old.
I will be modifing the shaft that attaches the ram when I disassemble,clean, and replace the crank. I will be adding the grease fitting to it.
Will make lubing easy and more often.
whitey4311
02-13-2010, 10:54
I got a new 650xl and it came with 2 grease fittings on the linkages. On my 550 I would just use a Wd-40 red straw fitted to the tip of some mobil 1 gear oil 75-90 and shoot it into those lube holes. I dont see how grease will migrate into the bolts by just squeezing some into those little holes. You need a zerk fitting like they come with now or you need to remove the bolt all together then apply grease.
The gear oil worked great for me on my 550 which got 7 years use before selling to upgrade with my 650.
LiberalHater
02-13-2010, 13:18
Didn't Dillon used to have a diagram showing the lubrication points? I am more of a visual learner and too lazy to pick through the humor to find the actual information. Anyone have that diagram??? But, I am still laughing at the information about getting older and finding holes.......ROFL
frankmako
02-13-2010, 13:29
well my 1985 550 has no holes. i give it some 30wt now and then, she run as good as day one.
Colorado4Wheel
02-13-2010, 16:24
I got a new 650xl and it came with 2 grease fittings on the linkages. On my 550 I would just use a Wd-40 red straw fitted to the tip of some mobil 1 gear oil 75-90 and shoot it into those lube holes. I dont see how grease will migrate into the bolts by just squeezing some into those little holes. You need a zerk fitting like they come with now or you need to remove the bolt all together then apply grease.
The gear oil worked great for me on my 550 which got 7 years use before selling to upgrade with my 650.
All you do is push the thing into the hole. Push the plunger on the back of it which tightens it to the hole even more. It forces grease into the pivot. If that does not work just cycle the handle a little while doing it.
OK I looked at the 6 month old 550, now that I'm looking for holes, and they are all over the place if you are looking for them. My old 450 has 1 going into the shaft and thats it. Are you actually supposed to force grease into those little holes or oil?
Colorado4Wheel
02-13-2010, 19:00
Grease
Sigma40sw
02-13-2010, 19:30
My 550 is from 1988 and did not have lube holes. As I had to remove the link arms to install the new design greaseable Crank Shaft, I drilled holes for lubrication in the link arms.
This is what the new shaft looks like and it is a larger diameter than my old one which was held in with E Clips; (Crank-Shaft) Dillon supplied me with a modified ground spike to use as a punch to drive out the shafts for disassembly.
The second picture (Installed Crank) shows the new Crank installed and the additional holes I drilled in the links.
The Third picture (Alignment) shows the alignment tool in place to align the shell base. The Tool fits in a powder die placed in station #1 and uses the primer hole for locating.
The Fourth picture (Cracked Crank)shows the crack in my old crank. This allows the pess handle to flex when seating primers.
The result is a high primer,which for me in my striker fired guns,causes a miss-fire. Between my two 550's this is the 4th crank I have replaced in 22 years of use. I inspect the crank for this defect when ever I have primer seating problems. If cracked, seating primers will feel spongy.
GioaJack
02-13-2010, 19:40
If the shaft has a grease zerk on it and the shaft has what appears to be grease channels, why did you need to drill holes?
What the upper bearing at the top of the link?
Did Dillon charge or is it a free upgrade?
Jack
Sigma40sw
02-13-2010, 21:25
Jack,
The grease fitting only lubes the bearing surface in the crank, but not the links. The link arms still need freedom of movement at both the top and bottom ends. I put the holes in to be able to use the needle grease gun to lube them. I thought about installing grease fittings,but it was not worth the effort and they would just be something to bang my knees on ;<) The primer catcher would block the top right one,if installed. My second machine from 1992 aready has the holes in the link arms,so I just copied them.
The top of the links are held in with pressed in shafts. One is solid, the left side on my press, and the right side is hollow. The ground spike/punch Dillon sent me is used to remove these shafts. You remove the solid one by driving it out with the punch through the hole in the right side one. Once it is removed,you punch out the hollow one through the left side. Mine were slightly galled as steel and aluminum with interact with each other. The new holes will let me keep them lubed.
Dillon didn't charge me as it was a warranty item to replace my crank. I got the new shaft because the new cranks have a larger diameter shaft hole in them. ( I think it is the same shaft as used in the 650) So I got everything in the picture plus the new crank to fix my machine.
Sam
GlockSupremacy
02-13-2010, 21:32
My 550 is from 1988 and did not have lube holes. As I had to remove the link arms to install the new design greaseable Crank Shaft, I drilled holes for lubrication in the link arms.
This is what the new shaft looks like and it is a larger diameter than my old one which was held in with E Clips; (Crank-Shaft) Dillon supplied me with a modified ground spike to use as a punch to drive out the shafts for disassembly.
The second picture (Installed Crank) shows the new Crank installed and the additional holes I drilled in the links.
The Third picture (Alignment) shows the alignment tool in place to align the shell base. The Tool fits in a powder die placed in station #1 and uses the primer hole for locating.
The Fourth picture (Cracked Crank)shows the crack in my old crank. This allows the pess handle to flex when seating primers.
The result is a high primer,which for me in my striker fired guns,causes a miss-fire. Between my two 550's this is the 4th crank I have replaced in 22 years of use. I inspect the crank for this defect when ever I have primer seating problems. If cracked, seating primers will feel spongy.
Wow! that new crank looks awesome! My 550 is less then a year old and it doesn't have it.
I hope the lifetime warranty is still around for me in 22 years!
Just a quick question, about how many rounds do you figure you averaged between each crank failure? I assume you must load a metric ****-ton to go through FOUR!
Sigma40sw
02-13-2010, 22:02
I have slowed down in recent years but once upon a time my average was 15 thou a year. IPSC/IDPA/GSSF practice and shooting chew up a lot of ammo.
I know people who used to shoot 30 thou and up a year,but they used 1050's.
I have two 550's. One is for small primers and one is for large primers. I had to settle for this because die setups do not interchange between my two machines. The ram lengths are different between my 1988 machine and my 1992 machine. Once my dies are set I hate to change them.
Considering the number of calibers I shoot and load on my two machines, they get a lot of use.
I am setup to load .380,9mm,38 spl.,357 Mag,40 S&W,10mm,44 Mag,45 ACP,& 45 LC.
Then there are the rifle calibers, 223,30 Carbine,308,30-06,& 300 Win Mag.
I just like the versitility of the 550 press,They are great machines,I can change calibers in 5 min easy.
I used some Shooters Choice All Weather Grease, same stuff that a lot of folks use on the slide rails of their pistols. Comes in a plunger tube, makes the press runs rather slick. Wonder if my RPH will increase?
I tried forcing grease into those little holes with a tiny syringe type grease applicator. Working the handle up and down, it's just doesn't seem like that grease is going anywhere even putting it in with some pressure. Just seems to me you would get more lubrication putting oil in there because it would circulate better.
Colorado4Wheel
02-14-2010, 17:32
You need a pressurized grease gun.
http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1030948_-1_400042_400005_400149
As you push on the back it forces the cone into the hole, sealing the hole, pushing harder forces the grease.
Colorado4Wheel
02-14-2010, 21:20
Also, be aware. It's the upper links that normally freeze up first.
Colorado4Wheel
08-30-2010, 07:25
I got home yesterday and loaded a couple rounds and noticed it doesn't return to zero like it used to. Same thing that Jacks press was doing, just not nearly as bad. I had one of my lower right link started to act funny. I took it apart yesterday. It had a little galling. It still ran smooth when not installed on the press. I also found it is much easier to push a good amount of grease into the bushings if you loosen the bottom bolts a little.
Harley08
09-01-2010, 18:26
I have an older 550 - no lube holes
I use whatever WD40 - or oil bt not grease should I try to put on grease?
been working fine for more then 10 years
GioaJack
09-01-2010, 18:36
Harley:
10 years really isn't an old machine... my 550 and SD are around 16-18 years old and the 550 has tiny holes over each side of the linkage. (I think it's 4 holes total.) Granted they are very hard to see and until Little Stevie pointed them out to me I didn't even know they were there.
Jack
MinervaDoe
09-01-2010, 18:48
Thanks guys. I have a syringe of Shooters Choice All Weather High Tech Grease and the nozzle fit into the holes quite nicely.
My Dillon thanks you.
http://media.midwayusa.com/ProductImages/Medium/320634.jpg
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=320634
I have been using Gun Butter in those little holes and it seems to work OK...
MinervaDoe
09-01-2010, 18:49
I used some Shooters Choice All Weather Grease, same stuff that a lot of folks use on the slide rails of their pistols. Comes in a plunger tube, makes the press runs rather slick. Wonder if my RPH will increase?
Oh man. You beat me to it.
Colorado4Wheel
09-01-2010, 20:24
I have an older 550 - no lube holes
I use whatever WD40 - or oil bt not grease should I try to put on grease?
been working fine for more then 10 years
I had a Dillon Tech guy tell me all he uses is Kroil. Its a very thin penentrating lube. He says it works into all the areas and lubes well.
The biggest issue with the lubing a 550 is that some of the lube points have very tight bearing behind them. So it's difficult (even with a good gun) to get the lube to work it's way into the bearing surfaces. On my machine the upper right is giving me fits with my grease gun.
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2013, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.