Hornady LNL AP Broke Before First Use :(

[john16443]

Received my new LNL AP from Cabela's yesterday and set it up. Spent the last week reviewing all the information available on-line, the Hornady videos, all the tips and tricks from various forums, etc. I was pleased with the press, and the set up was easy since I had all the information in front of me.

Got it set up for 45 ACP and cycled a few dummy rounds through it. All was well. Then started setting up the dies for 9mm with the #8 shell plate. Had the sizing die in station 1, Lyman M expander die in station 2. Was just cycling a case between these stations when the spring case retainer came off for some reason. There was no unusual resistance in the press movement at any time. Looked closer and saw that the shell plate was not cycling, but the index wheel was moving just fine and was clicking as it should be when the handle was raised and lowered. Removed the shell plate and to my utter amazement found that the drive shaft was broken at the interface with the drive hub. Needless to say I was dissappointed, and I've never seen any post about the drive shaft breaking (part 30) on any forum. The part is cast aluminum, the insert with the keyway is steel.

Called Cabela's, and a replacement is on the way to me at no additional cost. Down side is I'll have to wait a week to start all over again. I guess I just a bad one and I don't hold it against Hornady or think their stuff is junk. Chalk it up to stuff happens sometime. Guess I'll have to set up the Lee turret again for the next week. Photos below

 

[Walkalong]

That's a bummer. Great pics. Hopefully the replacement is A-OK. At least it is an easy part to replace.

I made an Excel sheet that shows the relationship between the parts that drive the shell plate.

 

[dnmccoy]

I've heard Dillon next day airs their stuff....

 

[Walkalong]

Defend yourself!
View attachment 585199

 

[CHALK22]

For what they charge up front for Dillon stuff, I would hope so!

I got your back!

 

[solman]

Dillon is good but they don't next day mail replacement parts. At least not for me in my experience.

 

[john16443]

I really didn't want this to degenerate into a "Dillon's better" thread. I just happened to get a bad one, and it is being replaced by Cabela's. Once I get it running and if there are any future issues, the Hornady lifetime warranty will get it back in working order, just as the Dillon no BS warranty would.

Walkalong, thanks for the file.

 

[redbullitt]

I am sure they will take care of you. I had an indexing piece break on me a while back. I emailed them and told them what had happened and they were very helpful. Sent the piece out to get it running again right away.

 

[thorn-]

That's pretty bizarre - I've broken the shaft insert (that you screw the plate to), but that was completely my own fault... but you've got a really interesting case there.

Glad to hear they're taking care of it.

thorn

 

[DCoke]

I had the same thing happen (almost)...in my case, the nippled insert into the shaft sheared off. I called Hornady and had a new piece in 2 days, no questions. It was an easy fix overall. It's an issue when it comes to castings. If there is a issue or fault in the casting then there will be an issue when force is applied which may cause failure of the part. The same goes for an extruded shell casing, cast uppers or lowers, etc. Best of luck and happy reloading.

 

[Blue68f100]

That odd for that part to fail. Hornady normally sends things 1st class mail, which means you will get it in 2 to 3 days

 

[john16443]

That odd for that part to fail. Hornady normally sends things 1st class mail, which means you will get it in 2 to 3 days

Yes, but since it just arrived from Cabela's I thought it better to send it bac to them. Also, taking the internals of the ram apart the first day of ownership wasn't a pleasing thought.

 

[rsrocket1]

Did you tighten the Allen head hex bolt down to the drive hub with the washer installed? How tight did you tighten it?

 

[Blue68f100]

There appears to be a flaw in the casting, about 7:00 if you have the key up. I learned years ago most anything mechanical will fail in do time. There are exceptions and that's equipment designed and built 40+ years ago. Most of that stuff was over engineered not like today. Don't get me wrong there is still some very good hardware made today.

 

[Master Blaster]

Hornady has very poor quality control, most of the issues folks have with the LNL are tollerence issues, meaning the parts have a lot of slop in them and too wide a range of dimensions that meet specifications, this leads to the priming, and indexing issues we see here. Some folks get lucky and the press works fine, others not so much.

 

[amlevin]

Now let's see how many more of these stories start popping up.

 

[Striker Fired]

I heard from a friends cousin that his exgirlfriends fatherinlaw's son had a nieghbor that told him about his uncles sons best friend had that same thing happen to his.

 

[rsrocket1]

... and someone told him he should have bought a Dillon in the first place right?

 

[john16443]

Did you tighten the Allen head hex bolt down to the drive hub with the washer installed? How tight did you tighten it?

Yes, I tightened the allen head bolt down to secure the shell plate. I snugged up the bolt while holding the shell plate with my hands so it doesn't rotate. Can't imagine that this was overtight as that's how the Hornady video shows how to do it.

@Blue68f100 - Yes, I also believe there was a casting flaw, that wouldn't have been found unless some serious NDE was performed on the part. I'm sure it will work its way back to Hornady for their analysis.

This was my first purchase of Hornady reloading equipment of any kind, and I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Master Blaster. The overall quality of the mating and sliding components was excellent, the fit an finish was first rate, and everything ran through my dry runs (including primer feeding) without an issue. A bad casting can and does happen at times, even on a blue press. At least each of them have a lifetime or no BS warranty to take care of these sorts of things.

 

[medalguy]

Obviously the casting was made by Lee.

 

[morrow]

Dang dude I hate to say it, but yet another LNL AP breaks suddenly due to poor Q/C. All too common

Again sorry for your misshaps

 

[rfwobbly]

John -
That's a shame. Sorry to hear your reloading will be delayed.

I want to emphasis that you did the right thing.... you picked up the phone.

 

[john16443]

John -
That's a shame. Sorry to hear your reloading will be delayed.

I want to emphasis that you did the right thing.... you picked up the phone.

Reloading delayed? NO WAY! Ran 300 rounds of 45ACP and 100 rounds of 9mm through the Lee turret this afternoon. That'll take care of Monday's needs, will be loading more on Sunday for the rest of the week.

So far as picking up the phone, yea, I was ready to call Hornady if Cabela's wasn't going to take it all back. They did waive the $7.50 fee they would normally take for refunds, and will credit me for the press. The fastest way to get a replacement was to order another over the phone right away. I'll be repeating the set up some time next week.

 

[Striker Fired]

Did one of your 9mm dies hit the shellplate when you brought the ram up just before you noticed it was broke.That may break that part because it would put a lot of offcenter force on the part.With the leverage you have on the ram you might not notice it doing that. I'm just saying this for you to make sure something like that didn't happen and the new part breaks also.
Or something rolling underneith the shellplate when it advances and puts upward force on one side.Looking at mine it is possible,but not really likely,just a thought.

 

[twohightech]

I had the same thing happen to me this past week. I got it from Cabela's too. Mine broke the first time i ran the ram after putting the shell plate on. I spoke with Hornady today was told that the shell plate bolt should only be hand tight. They are sending parts to fix it. Could have sent it back to either Cabela's or Hornady for a new one but I have had a loadmaster for a few years so i'm good at replacing parts/working on a press. It was a toss up Hornday or a Dillion still happy with the LnL for now.