Help: Lee Progressive (Loadmaster) Question

[taprackbang]

I am setting up my Loadmaster and have installed the turret with the dies in their respective stations. When I lower the lever to bring the case into the decapping die, it is not lining up exactly right. The decapping pin hits the side of the case, instead of going down the center of the case to remove the primer.

How do you align the turret with the shellplate? I am new to reloading so any help would be appreciated.

 

[bullseye308]

http://loadmastervideos.com/ is the best source for the loadmonster, or someone will be along shortly that could explain it.

 

[ATAShooter]

I tell you what, Thank Goodness for those videos. They have pulled my can out of the fire more times than I can count...

 

[pilot teacher]

Four possible problems.

1. The turret is not aligned correctly in the frame.

2. The indexing key is not inserted correctly. Take note in the instruction to make sure the bevel on the key is facing in the proper direction and that the cam is pointed upward.

3. The spring plate on top of the shell plate is pointing to right and the point on the left side is touching into the round hole in the shell plate.

4. The alignment of the ram needs to be checked and adjusted per the instructions.

If items 3 or 4 or both are incorrect the shell plate can and does rotate backward. This can be checked by the instructions but watch your fingers.

Hope this solves the problem.

The Lee website has video instructions on proper alignment.

 

[bullseye308]

See, I told you someone would be by.

 

[taprackbang]

You guys are great. Hey pilot teacher, sounds like numbers 2 - 4 are the possible culprits. I will check it out after work and give you a report.

 

[pilot teacher]

Hey Taprackbang. If you also encounter primers flipping or jamming, I have the solution for that also.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Primers flipping...

Pilot Teacher says....

If you also encounter primers flipping or jamming, I have the solution for that also.

Inquiring minds want to know! I'm a new Loadmaster user and have this problem at least once per loading session.

Thanks!

 

[Claude Clay]

+1 on Pilot
if all that still leaves you malaligned.....the machine works best with smooth consistent movements of the handle. too slow or jerky motions are the worst.

 

[pilot teacher]

Inquiring minds want to know! I'm a new Loadmaster user and have this problem at least once per loading session.

If that's all you had that's not too bad. But what happens after a few jams is the slider gets chewed up causing even more problems. Damage to the hole in the guide also can occur. I bought spares just in case and are cheap enough.

Answered on someone elses post, here's what I discovered:

Had a similar problem with the Load Master. It jammed primers and even flipped them down side up. A call to Lee resulted in nothing but a lot of maybe this and maybe that.

So, pushing the slider with my finger and looking very closely at the motion of the slider without a case in the plate, it seemed the slider was hitting the priming pin when the ram is in the full down position. When I raised the ram just slightly it cleary dropped down tiny bit. Measured about .009" with a depth micrometer.

The primers were hitting the side of the primer pin. .010 inch was carefully ground off flat before the the slider just cleared the pin surface by about .002". After that no more flipped, canted or upside down primer seating problems. Called Lee and spoke to someone about the issue together with my suggestion as a fix for it. I was told they "would look into it." With the complaints I read from many other reloaders with the identical problem, I would think a solution would be tendered. To my knowledge It never was.

They never could admit it's a problem. The primer pin extends over the sides of the priming arm and touches the bottom part of the frame forcing the pin up about .009"

Even a spec of gunpowder in the primer pin well would cause problems because it prevents the pin from dropping all the way down spring pressure.

Other than these issues I love the LoadMaster and reload at least 500 45ACP at a time. In between that, .243 and 30-06 are reloaded for my bench rest fun.

Just a note! If you intended to grind down the primer pin, I used a medium then a finer stone in a drill press. The primer pin was held in a drill press vise.
It's also necessary to make certain the pin ground flat. I did that by rorating the bench vise slightly while NOT applying to much pressure but just enough to hear it cut. Take your time.

Claude is correct to use an even motion. With practice one can speed up but do not slam it into the die.

Hope this is help.