It looks like the rod controls it.....but...not.
I don't use the failsafe at all. I do use a powder check and my eyes. And I use Dillon measures on other presses.
Not suggesting others delete it, just how I roll.
If your breaking it when removing it, use screwdriver or bench wrench to spread metal piece it snaps into
I landed here because I decided to do a little more research having broken my third one in 2020. Now I constantly am popping it (the bushing) out both emptying the measure when I'm done for the night and changing tool heads. I did research after breaking my first one, and started by "spreading" the bracket to make the bushing a little looser. but still broke one. Yes I have contacted dillon and received warranty ones and I bought a couple also but not the point.
Some people never need them. I have needed 3 in my first 10000 rounds with this press. So the white bushing retains the failsafe rod and also places some upward tension on the shell plate. Tighten the blue nut you can actually move the shell plate quite a bit. Why would you need to move that plate? I started fiddling with ideas like can I run the plate "smoother" if I have a little tension on it, because if I don't then the plate will drag over the primer position at times. Well how do you change that height? That height is also affected by the big center bolt pushing down through the shell plate. So going from memory here, I loosen the side screw with the brass tip to allow removal of the shell plate center bolt, then I change the shell plate, tension the center bolt to the point of slick as butter turning and as little "play" as possible, then snug the side bolt with the brass tip tight. I then need to have that whole plate assembly turn over the primer station (when the handle is up the primer bar and primer cup is in the shell plate holder platform) The powder measure failsafe rod blue nut is supposed to have a little tension on it, however nowhere is the operating instructions is there any mention of "how much" tension.
Failsafe rod spring tension is never discussed. Yet you can move the shell plate assembly (and operating handle) probably a good quarter inch or more just by tensioning this blue nut. Why is this not a "setup" I can change how my press operates with it, and some claim that if the failsafe rod spring compresses all the way it strains the failsafe rod bushing which causes breakage. Why, if that is the case, is there not a specified set up then? If dillon is replacing these bushings for some, why is it not discussed at that time with the client? "going to send you a warranty bushing and some set up instructions....make sure you follow them" There is definitely something causing my 10000 round press to break 3 and others do not. It could very well be ME.
I could certainly be overlooking something. However I can definitely tell you that the bracket that holds the bushing BARELY holds the bushing its that loose, and it requires next to zero effort to pop out when i'm removing my rod. My rod is not fixed in a position, its straight up and down and has side to side float as the collar on the powder die is not tightened to where nothing moves. So I'm perplexed and I'm sharing. To me the "fix" is simply a light aluminum bushing but yet no one has made one. Questions remain. I've resorted to simply placing a piece of tape across the opening on the bushing bracket so the rod cannot pop out and running it with a broken bushing. 1000 additional rounds later still running strong that way.
But its not how I want it. I want it perfect. I also put a new bushing in last night....lol I feel like putting a camera on the press to watch it.
On the 650 the failsafe bracket doesn't have anything to do with the shell plate. From looking at the manual for the 550 it shouldn't have anything to do with the shell plate either.
Shell plate tension is set by the bolt running through the shell plate and that bolt is tensioned by the set screw on the left side of the ram under the shell plate.
Can you provide some pics?
NRA Benefactor.
start twisting (tightening) the blue nut on the fail safe rod and watch the shell plate platform and handle move.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |