Powder spilling after shell plate is lowered... XL 650

[the86d]

So i have been getting some ammo loaded for a range trip in the next month after a 9-month sebatical, and after (and as) I drop the press, powder spills slowly out all over the shell just raised, even when going slow and taking time to drop the shell plate.

i took the whole powder measure assembly apart to see if there was wax buuldup, or something holding the powder up, letting it stick together, and it was all clean as a whistle (w/out saliva).

i took every peice apart including the powder measure, and nothing visually appeard wrong at all. i did notic the funnel can be turned one of 2 ways, but it was happening before i messed with t, and have loadedc thousands of rounds and never touched it before. as i have a quck change for 9mm and this is .223/5.56.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

[the86d]

It is like it is stickng, and being held-up...

The powder has been sitting in the hopper for like 9 months, but I don't recall having a problem like this with idle powder in the past, and it HAS sat idle neat that lengh of time before with no ill effects.

I did dump the hopper and saw no stickieness in the powder, and it is IMR 4064 if that helps the diagnosis.

[bruce381]

Is it stuck in the powder drop tube? you are not real clear.

If so Stick powder can "stick" I find a nice sort of Bump at each end of the handle stroke helps to fully drop powder.

Also you may be just going to fast wait 5-10 seconds for all the powder to drop it is not like pistol powder that drops as fast as you can pull handle.

[Michael in California]

Static electricity? Polish the innards with a dryer sheet.

[liber]

So i have been getting some ammo loaded for a range trip in the next month after a 9-month sebatical, and after (and as) I drop the press, powder spills slowly out all over the shell just raised, even when going slow and taking time to drop the shell plate.

This is a fairly common problem on some 650XLs, and mine was certainly one of them.

Here's a thread on the Brian Enos forum.

http://forums.brianenos.com/index.php?/topic/86570-fix-for-the-snapping-shellplate-on-a-650/&page=1

I put a thrust bearing under mine, with 1 washer and it helped a lot.

[the86d]

Is it stuck in the powder drop tube? you are not real clear.

If so Stick powder can "stick" I find a nice sort of Bump at each end of the handle stroke helps to fully drop powder.

Also you may be just going to fast wait 5-10 seconds for all the powder to drop it is not like pistol powder that drops as fast as you can pull handle.

Yes, the powder drop tube is where it seems to be sticking/dragging it's feet on the drop.

The funny thing is that I have been using this press for years w/out this issue.

Static electricity? Polish the innards with a dryer sheet.

I have polished my powder-check-tray (I double check with manually) with a dryer sheet, so that might be the fix, as the issue was "similar" on clumping... I'll give this a try after work today.

This is a fairly common problem on some 650XLs, and mine was certainly one of them.

Here's a thread on the Brian Enos forum.

http://forums.brianenos.com/index.php?/topic/86570-fix-for-the-snapping-shellplate-on-a-650/&page=1

I put a thrust bearing under mine, with 1 washer and it helped a lot.

I have been using the press for years (since JAN of 2012 or, JAN 2013) without this issue, and I prevent the snapping of the shell-plate to it's next location by manually holding a shell as the plate goes to it's next index.

[the86d]

Static electricity? Polish the innards with a dryer sheet.

Yup. Static (and maybe some residual wax buildup at the base of the drop tube) had powder sticking. After polishing with a dryer sheet, it was like brand new!!!
It was dropping as fast as I could pull the handle, yet again.

Thanks!

[anyracoon]

FYI

I never leave any powder in any of my Dillon re-loaders. It can eat up/melt the plastic on the plastic powder tubes.

[ghideon]

FYI

I never leave any powder in any of my Dillon re-loaders. It can eat up/melt the plastic on the plastic powder tubes.

I agree. After every session you should put the powder from the hopper back into its container. Just in case 9 months goes by in between sessions.

Plus the container is going to be more sealed against moisture than the hopper.

[the86d]

FYI

I never leave any powder in any of my Dillon re-loaders. It can eat up/melt the plastic on the plastic powder tubes.

I agree. After every session you should put the powder from the hopper back into its container. Just in case 9 months goes by in between sessions.

Plus the container is going to be more sealed against moisture than the hopper.

https://www.dillonprecision.com/kb/article/32/powder-hopper-changing-colors

"If you can't see through them, contact us for a replacement hopper tube. "

[Pardini]

I put a Hornady LNL measure on my 650. The 650 is great, the powder measure not so much.