Manual Capsule Filler Troubleshooting: Upside-Down Capsules and Empty Holes
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If capsule halves land upside down or some positions stay empty when you load a manual capsule filler, pause before adding powder. Check the capsule size, the half you are loading and its direction first. A quick visual check at this stage is easier than finding a loading problem after filling.
This guide covers loading checks for our manual boards. Keep the instructions for your particular model beside you and follow their plate order.
Quick loading checks
| What you see | What to check before continuing |
|---|---|
| A capsule body is upside down | The longer body belongs in the body plate with its open end facing up. Correct its direction before adding powder. |
| A position is empty | Inspect the rows and fill the intended position with a correctly oriented, matching capsule body. |
| One half sits higher than the others | Check that it is the same capsule half and size as the surrounding pieces, and that it is seated as the model instructions show. |
1. Start with the size printed on the capsule pack
Use the number on the empty capsule package, rather than estimating the size from a photograph. Size 00 and size 0 are different. Each board in our range fits one capsule size; changing the color does not change its fit.
If a capsule will not sit in its position without force, stop and confirm the size of both the board and the capsule pack. Our capsule filler size guide links the matching 000, 00, 0 and 1 models.
2. Check the longer bodies and shorter caps separately
A two-piece empty capsule has a longer body and a shorter cap. The body is the part that receives the filling. Keep the two halves separate during loading, as shown in your model's instructions.
On our blue board's loading sequence, the longer bodies go into the lower plate before the powder guard is fitted. Look across the rows before moving on: the openings of those bodies should face up. If one is reversed, gently correct it using the method shown in the instructions. Do not try to solve a reversed shell by pushing harder on it.
3. Look for empty positions before you add powder
After loading, scan each row instead of assuming every position contains a capsule. Recheck any position you have just corrected. A board's stated capacity is the number of positions it can hold, not confirmation that every position has loaded correctly.
Our boards hold up to 100 matching capsules per batch. Before filling a full batch, make sure the intended positions contain bodies that are facing the right way. Follow the model instructions for the loading tray and powder guard before proceeding.
4. Stop if a capsule half does not sit like its neighbors
If a piece stands at a different height or will not seat naturally, check its size and whether it is a body or a cap. Look for a visibly damaged shell. Correct the loading issue before continuing; extra pressure is not a substitute for a matching, correctly positioned capsule.
If you cannot identify the problem from the model instructions, contact the store with the board size and a clear photo of the affected position.
Ready to continue?
Once the loading checks are complete, return to the instructions for your board to add the guard, fill and close the capsules in the correct sequence. For an overview of fit and batch capacity, see our 100-hole manual capsule filling board guide.
Choosing a board for size 00 empty capsules? See the blue size 00 manual capsule filler. It holds up to 100 size 00 capsules per batch; empty capsules are not included. For a different capsule size, start with the size guide or browse the available blue fillers.
