Help on cleaning Hornady LNL Progessive

[Vartarg]

I've bought a Hornady LNL AP progressive press, am assembling it, and watching the Hornady Youtube videos as I go along.

After disassembly of the powder system, they recommend Hornady's "One Shot" gun cleaner and dry lube product to degrease and lube the various parts.

I may be able to pick that up locally, but if not...is there another comparable product that will do the job?

Thanks

 

[HK SD9 Tactical]

I read that brake cleaner would also work but I would not apply the brake cleaner to the plastic hopper. Seperate the plastic hopper from the dispenser and clean. Make sure you do it in a well ventilated area. I suspect that carb cleaner would work as well with the same caveat on the hopper.

 

[dbarnhart]

I was able to easily find it locally, right alongside the other gun cleaning chemicals.

 

[Walkalong]

Any good cleaner along with any good lube will work. We all have our favorites there I'm sure.

 

[rsrocket1]

Brake cleaner works well for degreasing (I just used a can for degreasing a new set of rotors), but it smells nasty and must be used outdoors. Hornady's Gun Cleaner/Dry Lube costs several times more, ($8 compared to $3) but doesn't stink, works fine inside the garage and also leaves a dry lube film which helps protect the steel parts which seem to rust just by looking at it.

If you can't find the Hornady stuff, you can probably get by with something like Liquid Wrench Dry Lube at Walmart. Just make sure it doesn't leave a petroleum residue because that will attack the powder/primer in your LnL, not by much, but you never know by how much.

 

[Walkalong]

All I do is wipe off the oily mess and re-lube. The old oil breaks down dirt and crud pretty well, so it comes pretty clean that way.

 

[noylj]

You can use brake cleaner, but it must not come in contact with any plastic (see hopper and items on the work bench).
Hornady Cleaner/Dry Lube is excellent. Be very careful with the drum when removing it and reinstalling it, as you can easily damage it as it is a very exacting fit.
When clean, run a hopper of powder (one that is black/gray with graphite) through it to lube the measure.
Note: if you find a specific load you like, take the stem out, label it with the cartridge, powder, and charge weight, and buy another stem for the measure for about $11. Much better than buying a micrometer stem.

 

[Master Blaster]

A few years ago when I recieved my LNL I was surprised that the powder measure was swimming in oil. I disassmbled it completely washed it in the kitchen sink with dawn dish detergent, and then boiled it in a small sized soup pot (except the plastic tube hopper). Put the parts out on a couple paper towels, it dried fast and completely because the metal was hot. Then I sprayed the metal parts with remington teflon dry lube which has no oil.

Hornady one **** has a nasty smell, and its the only lube I have ever used that caused me to stick two .223 cases in my sizing dies.

 

[Shmackey]

Hornady One-Shot Case Lube and One-Shot Cleaner/Dry Lube are two different things. The former is evil and hates you. The latter is great stuff and what you need to clean a press.

 

[longdayjake]

DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEANER OR CARB CLEANER ON YOUR HORNADY LNL!!!!!!!!!

Unless you want to peel off all that pretty red paint.

 

[Vartarg]

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback. I went to the largest outlet in the area for reloading equipment and supplies, and they didn't have the Hornady Gun Cleaner and Dry Lube product. I bought an aerosol can of the Hoppe gun cleaner and an aerosol can of Remington's Dry Lube: 2 shots instead of One Shot.

I cleaned everything, reassembled the powder measure and installed it and the dies. I've been using these dies on a single stage, so they weren't difficult to properly set up on the progressive. I'm using Lee sizer, seater and crimp dies and a Hornady expander die.

Next I'll get the powder adjusted for the correct measure....I use Accurate's Solo 1000 for my .45ACP.....drop some primers in, and hopefully be good to go.

I found the the Hornady instructional videos to be EXTREMELY helpful.....head and shoulders over using a booklet. I've been reloading for about 15 years using single stage and turret presses, so I wasn't starting from scratch, but the videos really made things clear.

I appreciate the input.....

George

 

[Blue68f100]

When you grease the Ram, it needs to be in the UP position. This allow the grease to get in the grove on the ram. I just wipe off the old grease with a paper towel before greasing. I only grease mine about every 1k or so. It stay on pretty good so it's not needed a lot.

Enjoy your new press, it will make you wonder why you took so long to get it.