550 came loose

A bit more specific would help, otherwise, buy a single stage press,.

Mostly ment as a joke. Center lug come lose, stated crushing shells, screws holding the plate where you slide in the shell into the first stage was lose, had primer seating issues. I got it al back tight and oporating right and then had to go back and re calibrate my dies just to be certain they were doing what I needed. Very frustrating evening last night. But it's fixed.

Tim:H11 wrote:Mostly ment as a joke. Center lug come lose, stated crushing shells, screws holding the plate where you slide in the shell into the first stage was lose, had primer seating issues. I got it al back tight and oporating right and then had to go back and re calibrate my dies just to be certain they were doing what I needed. Very frustrating evening last night. But it's fixed.

Tim that plate has come loose on my 550B several times in the last two years.  The two screws are not east to get to.  Never had the center bolt come loose the set screw seams to hold it petty well.  Most of my frustrations comes from the primer feed.  I keep wanting to but a 550 just for 45 ACP so I don't need to switch.  For a long time I used WSP and small primer brass.  Don

I upgraded the primer feed on my 550 to the roller-bearing guide and polished all mating surfaces and it is a whole different press now! Highly reccommend.

SmokinNJokin wrote:I upgraded the primer feed on my 550 to the roller-bearing guide and polished all mating surfaces and it is a whole different press now! Highly reccommend.

Plus one 


One of the best things you can do for the 550 is to smooth the whole unit's operation out

Am I the only one who has disabled the failsafe powder arm and gone back to using the old springs?  Much smoother powder bar operation

"Am I the only one who has disabled the failsafe powder arm and gone back to using the old springs?  Much smoother powder bar operation"


Me too.  The so-called newer way was terrible

Jack H wrote:"Am I the only one who has disabled the failsafe powder arm and gone back to using the old springs?  Much smoother powder bar operation"


Me too.  The so-called newer way was terrible

Tell me about this old powder system is there a link?  Don

i tried the springs but after my powder measure got stuck i went back to the failsafe rod...

while the older powder measures had a failsafe device they used a spring placed around the powder hopper and the pin used to hold the slid in place.. I actually use two springs which keeps  the slide from sticking..YMMV

Here is a fail safe converted back to spring type.  There is a pop rivet half hidden by the rod end.