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Posted: 12/31/2009 7:18:14 AM EDT
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Well after 20 years and changing back and for between 5 different calibers on my Square Deal, I finally lost the little detent ball under the shell plate that's so famous for disappearing into thin air.
Yes, for many years I would chuckle at the unfortunate souls who lamented the loss of this little part and in my smug confidence would think to myself "that would never happen to me, I'm too careful" 
Thankfully I have a spare parts kit, (that I put off purchasing for many years because, well "I won't need that, I'm too careful"), so I wasn't inconvenienced that much. Guess I'll be makin a call to Dillon. 
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Sometimes I take the platform off my 550 or 650 and clean it and the detent ball will go down the main bolt hole. Then hilarity ensues trying to fish it out. I actually unbolted my press once and turned it upside down. My magnetic pick up tool's head was too big to fit in the hole. Then I discovered a easy way to fish it out. Bend the out leg of a paper clip 180 degrees so it becomes a handle, the rest of the paper clip is like a spoon, you can scoop out that little ball with ease! |
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Quoted:
Sometimes I take the platform off my 550 or 650 and clean it and the detent ball will go down the main bolt hole. Then hilarity ensues trying to fish it out. I actually unbolted my press once and turned it upside down. My magnetic pick up tool's head was too big to fit in the hole. Then I discovered a easy way to fish it out. Bend the out leg of a paper clip 180 degrees so it becomes a handle, the rest of the paper clip is like a spoon, you can scoop out that little ball with ease! Never thought of that, great idea! Thanks! Oh, and Happy New Year!! |
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Whenever I change a shell plate, I keep a close eye on the little ball.
It will jump out and go searching for the Kool-aid. 
Only happened to me once, I was lucky, the ball landed on the floor at my feet. The spare parts kit is very comforting to have in reserve for just this thing. The SD is a great press, I'm looking for another used one. Good tip on the ball scoop AssaultRifler. |
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