Going to need some help fixing the LNL AP wheel index

[the count]

During a reload session today the wheel index on my Hornady LNL AP just broke in two. Its that 5 pronged thing that makes the shell plate go round. Hornady CS is sending me replacement parts but said there are no instructions. And he kept saying that I will have to apply considerable 'upward' pressure. Anybody done this? Could not find a youtube video on this.

 

[Blue68f100]

1st time I have heard of this part breaking. Normally the paws get broken when the adj is way off. Without pulling the manual you will have to pull the pin to remove the lower linkage and it should come out through the bottom.

 

[the count]

"without pulling the manual"....what does that mean? If you mean the instructions, it does not say anything about replacing this part.

 

[stu1ritter]

It sounds like you will have to play "mechanic". You take it apart, remember the position of everything you removed, and reassemble with the new parts. The exploded parts diagram in the manual is your best help to visualize the relationships between parts. That's what we do in the car repair business. Page 4 of the instruction manual shows the press blow up and it looks like your part is either held on with a C clip or a drift pin (might be a roll pin).
Stu

 

[david bachelder]

If you are uncomfortable making the repair call Hornady back and ask if you can send your press in.

I'd guess they would be willing to make the repair for you.

 

[longdayjake]

I bought a used hornady lnl ap with the primer shuttle broken off for $250. I just called Hornady and told that them that I bought it used and broken and needed to replace the whole top plate portion. They sent me one for free. It was quite easy to put on there. It only takes about five minutes.

Video on how to take it down. This is a conversion which is a little more involved than just replacing. Just ignore the parts that your press doesn't have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr4Ans_bpU4

Here is the video of putting the new one back on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pE2u3TkNig

 

[the count]

I bought a used hornady lnl ap with the primer shuttle broken off for $250. I just called Hornady and told that them that I bought it used and broken and needed to replace the whole top plate portion. They sent me one for free. It was quite easy to put on there. It only takes about five minutes.

Video on how to take it down. This is a conversion which is a little more involved than just replacing. Just ignore the parts that your press doesn't have.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr4Ans_bpU4

Here is the video of putting the new one back on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pE2u3TkNig

Longdayjake....those videos have nothing to do with replacing the wheel index which is below the ram and is rotated by the pawls!

In any case, I got the spare parts from Hornady today and was able to replace the parts after fiddling with it for about an hour. In my case I just had to remove the clip as the old wheel index had broken clean in half and was lying on the floor. Unless you can or want to remove the press from the bench and lay it on its side you have a problem. The new wheel just wants to fall straight down and in order to secure it with the clip upwards pressure need to be applied while you are trying to slip on that rather tight clip. Good luck unless you have 4 hands. So what I did in the end was to use two vise grip pliers I had to kind of latch on the parts (no idea what the name is) left and right next to the wheel (be sure to put it on correctly, there is a little notch) and thus keep it snugly upwards. Then I could use my fingers to hold the clip in place while tapping it on with a smaller hammer. Make sure you secure the handle somehow because if the ram comes down on your fingers that will hurt real good. Sound like fun? No its not, and then I had to adjust the pawls as the shell holder was slightly out of sync. Of course once you master a task like this one it does feel good.