First Loads Done But Saftey Prime is Giving Me Fits!

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Jhlewis10

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Completed my first batch of handloads. The only real problem I had was the Lee Safety Prime. I was using the small one for 9mm loads.

The problem I am having it that:

1. primers are dropping out and on the floor.
2. It seems that the trigger is not retracting and picking up a new primer. I have to take it off and manually jig it back and forth.

Any tips to make this work better?

Tested my first loads, the feed well and show no signs of pressure problems.
 
Take it apart and make sure there aren't any "fins" on the cast parts that are restricting movement in the trigger and linkage. Also make sure you have the spring installed. Also check the black plastic tray in the seater ram area. Make sure it is not gummed up with excess plastic.

I have one of these that is over 25 years old and it works as good today as when it was new. Thousands of rounds have been primed.
 
Thanks I will do this. It seems kinda of flimsy, I was afraid to take it apart last night.

Once I get this issue fixed, I should be ready to roll.
 
Make sure the "cup" on the primer arm attached to the press is free of dirt and debris. Make sure you have plenty of primers in the device. I load it with 100 and I notice that it gets temperamental when there's none left it tray/trough part, just in the neck.
 
Take it apart and make sure there aren't any "fins" on the cast parts that are restricting movement in the trigger and linkage. Also make sure you have the spring installed. Also check the black plastic tray in the seater ram area. Make sure it is not gummed up with excess plastic.

I have one of these that is over 25 years old and it works as good today as when it was new. Thousands of rounds have been primed.
Click to expand...

Amlevin, he's asking about the "new" lee safety prime for the turret press. You are talking about the lee "auto prime", which hasn't been around for 25 years.

I have no experience with one, so I'll call on others on this forum to help Lewis out.
 
mine works best when the "track" is filled up......so I ignore the turbo conservative guidlines that limit you to only put 20 (?) primers in at a time.

I also use my left hand to hold the safety prime in alignment and push the buttom with my right thumb.

I've tweeked it several times to get the aignment better and two hands aren't a must....but dropping a primer on my basement floor is just to much of a pain in the but to retreve....so I use two hands and make sure it cycles correctly.

but what do I know....I'm still a newb
 
Ok,

I loaded another box of 50, and had about 15 primers drop.

I think I am going to have to call Lee. The trigger will not reset after I push the button. I have to use 2 hands to pull it back. I took it apart and did not see any obstructions.
 
Two things to watch out for with the safety prime...

1) make sure you are using the right sized cup!
2) the spring in the primer mechanism can slip and cause the prime to not work. Call Lee to get them to send you a new, longer, spring that will no longer slip out of its catch and stop working. This was a recent (last year or so) problem that appears on new presses.
 
Probably an alignment problem. The primer head needs to to move straight over the cup, or you'll drop lots. Move the plastic bracket as far as possible to the left.
 
It seems to work ok, when I can manually pull back the trigger causing a new primer to drop, then I use two fingers to drop the primer. It will not reset after that it stays locked forward.

Primers are dropping cause I am messing around with the trigger moving it back and forth trying to get it to reset.

I will try moving it farther to the left to see if that helps.

I am pretty sure I have the correct size cup installed.

We will see what lee says.

Thanks for the tips.
 
pinkymingeo's got it right, AFAICT.

The first few hundred uses, the Safety Prime Update gave me fits. If I didn't drop a primer, it wouldn't put one out--that sort of thing.

Then I 1) blew the head out with compressed air, and 2) cleaned the trough. Then I reinstalled it and got the head precisely aligned over the primer seater cup, and that solved the rest of my problems. It's worked fine ever since, with intermittents cleanups. I probably drop about 1-2 primers in 100.

However, I do run it with 100-plus primers in it--when the level drops far enough to remove the tray from the trough without primers falling back, I put in another trayfull. I even tried it completely full, (180 primers plus trough?) but that upsets the balance in the movement that keeps it feeding nicely.

The other thing I've had to learn to use it effectively is just the right touch to the dispenser button. My procedure now has me dispensing with the left hand, and one hand only--and it works well.

Jim H.
 
Everybody insisted I was nutz, but mine has worked great since I raised it up a bit by mounting the odd shaped metal washer under the plastic holder arm instead of on top like the instructions show.

Make sure the top of your bench in not hindering movement and preventing the ram from comming all the way up. If the ram doesn't come up all the way you'll never make it work as you can't lower the autoprimer relative to the ram, I was able to effevtively raise it a bit to solve my issue.

I find the LP works better than the SP, which is a bit more critical that you push it straight enough.

--wally.
 
Did you watch the Help Video from Lee to make sure your Safety Primer System is installed correctly? If not it's right Here

There are many Help Videos available from Lee. Take a look at them and see if they help. Several show the Safety Primer in use. (the first 2 videos under Turret Press)
 
I'm watching this thread- I have "issues" with mine dropping primers on the floor. Large drops wonderfully, small gives me fits.
 
I will tinker around with it a little more.

I have seen all the videos.

When I took the head apart it did not look dirty.

I think I have 2 separate issues.

1. I must not be aligned correctly. hence dropping primers.
2. the head spring is not working because after I successfully drop a primer it will not reset and automatically load another. I have to manually pull the trigger to the rear, with both hands.
 
Even though I am having problems, it is still really cool to hand load. Feel like a proud father with 50 of my little kids staring at me.
 
I'll bet both GPSKurt and Jhlewis10 have some minor junk in the head. Try blowing it out with compressed air, or disassembling the head and wiping it down.

Jim H.
 
wally - Everybody insisted I was nutz, but mine has worked great since I raised it up a bit by mounting the odd shaped metal washer under the plastic holder arm instead of on top like the instructions show.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem. The primer assembly was sitting too low and causing the primer arm to pivot back enough that the primer would miss the cup and drop on the floor. I added a washer underneath the holder but kept the odd shaped washer on top. That made it about 98% reliable. Sometimes I am a bit off and have to push the trigger again. It does take a small amount of dexterity. - Phil
 
Prompt reply from Lee on this matter. They are sending me a new trigger and told me to be sure to push firmly on it.

Once I get it I will update ya.
 
They are sending me a new trigger and told me to be sure to push firmly on it.
Click to expand...
Jhlewis10,
If you place your thumb on the front part of the trigger where you are meant to push it, the trigger will end up in the proper position to release the primer. (it will dip slightly forward) Don't push too hard or it will break. (again)
 
The problem I had initially with the Safety Prime system (used on a Classic Cast Turret) was that the halves of the feed trough between the tray and the "head" unit were not fully snapped together. Primers would skew or flip, leading to primers seated sideways or upside-down(!). Snapping the halves together fixed it, and I've not had any problems since.
 
You are right, I noticed that too. I had a stuck one and had to pull it apart to get one out.
 
Update

Well I got my new safety prime head and it started out well but now has the same problem.

I took it apart and found that the spring is coming out of its hole, on the front side of the head. The hole is just barely deep enough to keep in in place. The spring drags out and scratches the plastic to the rear.

I put it back in, cleaned up the gouges and tried again.

All is working, if I am really light on the trigger.
 
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