Lee 6000 press

[LiveLife]

Those thinking about using zip ties, please consider this.

The primer chute/trough attachment for Pro 1000 was much more flexible and tolerated movement well. The primer chute/trough for SPP/Pro 6000 is very RIGID and won't flex like the one for Pro 1000 as they are very DIFFERENT and won't flex.

I too at first considered using zip ties but when I realized the stiffer and more rigid construction of primer chute/trough for SPP/Pro 6000, I decided against it and instead moved to more "gentler" solution of using sleeve roller for pin that was loose to spin around the pin and just apply slight more pressure. As to using zip ties inside the groove ring, it's the drop down of pin/roller that causes the shaking of tray and if you decrease the drop, the amount of agitation of tray will be less.

Of course, it's your press and you can do whatever you wish. YMMV.

BTW, Calvin emailed and said Lee Precision is testing thicker diameter pin for the primer chute/trough and will continue to work on the issue at hand. I will keep you posted of any further progress/updates - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-oal-consistency.911743/page-16#post-12485579

 

[curlysir]

Those thinking about using zip ties, please consider this.

The primer chute/trough attachment for Pro 1000 was much more flexible and tolerated movement well. The primer chute/trough for SPP/Pro 6000 is very RIGID and won't flex like the one for Pro 1000 as they are very DIFFERENT and won't flex.

I too at first considered using zip ties but when I realized the stiffer and more rigid construction of primer chute/trough for SPP/Pro 6000, I decided against it and instead moved to more "gentler" solution of using sleeve roller for pin that was loose to spin around the pin and just apply slight more pressure. As to using zip ties inside the groove ring, it's the drop down of pin/roller that causes the shaking of tray and if you decrease the drop, the amount of agitation of tray will be less.

Of course, it's your press and you can do whatever you wish. YMMV.

BTW, Calvin emailed and said Lee Precision is testing thicker diameter pin for the primer chute/trough and will continue to work on the issue at hand. I will keep you posted of any further progress/updates - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-oal-consistency.911743/page-16#post-12485579

I am glad to see that Lee is working on the problem. Thicker pins or slight redesign of the through to move the pin back slightly might be the solution. Right now the non feed of the primers from the tray is the biggest problem I am having with the SPP. I do have an interference with the Mr Bulletfeeder bullet feeder magazine and primer tray but a slight trim on the edge of the primer tray has helped that.

 

[Gillie Dog]

BTW, Calvin emailed and said Lee Precision is testing thicker diameter pin for the primer chute/trough and will continue to work on the issue at hand. I will keep you posted of any further progress/updates

I believe the larger diameter pin will have an inherent problem. That is the groove in the support is small and the larger the diameter the pin is the less it drops into the groove and thus the less the movement, it just rides over the groove with minor amount movement, if any movement.

GD

 

[LiveLife]

I believe the larger diameter pin will have an inherent problem

They are doing different testing and I am sure they will find out what works best. And I have already provided my findings and my testing information.

I will keep you posted as soon as I hear something back.

 

[xfader]

Has anyone run into the issue of the primer feed spring being smashed during normal use? I've attached a few photos from the reloading discord where some users experienced the issue. Also here is a video of how the spring gets smashed during normal use (skip to 1:09):

PXL_20221126_165521981

• xfader
• Dec 10, 2022

20221210_201651

• xfader
• Dec 10, 2022

20221126_101409

• xfader
• Dec 10, 2022

 

[GW Staar]

I believe the larger diameter pin will have an inherent problem. That is the groove in the support is small and the larger the diameter the pin is the less it drops into the groove and thus the less the movement, it just rides over the groove with minor amount movement, if any movement.
GD

I wonder if a better improvement might just be more grooves......constant vibration down the stroke rather than only 2 quick bumps....or instead of a plastic sleeve on the wire, what about a plastic sleeve on the main vertical support it rides against.... like this:

UPDATE: I printed one ... not a success ... not enough clearance between the plate and the support post. Might could make such a thing on the SIDE between the tray and the post, but not where I had thought it would go. A side version would have to do away with the wire rod and just make bumps to hit and jiggle the rectangular pocket where the primer tray drops in. Maybe it's worth trying....not sure... Maybe this weekend I'll have another look.

The only thing I'm not impressed with is priming.....better than before.....but could be better.

Has anyone run into the issue of the primer feed spring being smashed during normal use?

xfader: It appears to me that your primer shuttle gets dirty, makes friction, then it hangs. I use powdered graphite liberally in my shuttle support and on the plastic shuttle/primer carrier itself, and haven't seen that. I like to burnish it in with a cloth and/or Q-tip. Makes the shuttle slick.

 

[Tilos]

I believe the larger diameter pin will have an inherent problem. That is the groove in the support is small and the larger the diameter the pin is the less it drops into the groove and thus the less the movement, it just rides over the groove with minor amount movement, if any movement.

GD

PM sent.

.

 

[Tilos]

I wonder if a better improvement might just be more grooves......constant vibration down the stroke rather than only 2 quick bumps....or instead of a plastic sleeve on the wire, what about a plastic sleeve on the main vertical support it rides against.... like this:
View attachment 1120251



xfader: It appears to me that your primer shuttle gets dirty, makes friction, then it hangs. I use powdered graphite liberally in my shuttle support and on the plastic shuttle/primer carrier itself, and haven't seen that. I like to burnish it in with a cloth and/or Q-tip. Makes the shuttle slick

Nice design, solves 2 problems, 1-negates the pin-too-far from the column design flaw, 2-adds serrations for added shake.
I like it a lot, and you get to fuss with your printer too, a win-win.

Although I don't have a 6000 (yet) I have been working on this problem as it affects the (my) Pro 1000 too.
I substituted a filed down finish nail for the pin in the primer chute and wrapped a spring from the pin around the post back to the pin to hold it tight.
Here's a pic:

It works a treat,

.
.

 

[GW Staar]

Nice design, solves 2 problems, 1-negates the pin-too-far from the column design flaw, 2-adds serrations for added shake.
I like it a lot, and you get to fuss with your printer too, a win-win.

Although I don't have a 6000 (yet) I have been working on this problem as it affects the (my) Pro 1000 too.
I substituted a filed down finish nail for the pin in the primer chute and wrapped a spring from the pin around the post back to the pin to hold it tight.
Here's a pic:
View attachment 1120255
It works a treat,

.

Simple is good! That cures the iffy "close enough" issue. Obviously, the spring has to be loose enough to slide up and down. Works....is good.

 

[Tilos]

Simple is good! That cures the iffy "close enough" issue. Obviously, the spring has to be loose enough to slide up and down. Works....is good.

Actually, there's a lot more tension on the spring than one would expect because I used the only spring, I had that was close to fitting.
That, and the 0.270" diameter spring bridges over the narrow grooves in the column, as it passes over them smoothly.
It's an extension spring that is 0.270" dia. x 0.410" long x 0.027" wire with 2 90-degree closed loops on each end.
It really snaps the tray when the pin passes over the grooves in the column, probably somewhat less on the 6000 as the primer chute is stiffer but would be a big improvement over lightly contacting the column.

.

 

[Gillie Dog]

I wonder if a better improvement might just be more grooves......constant vibration down the stroke rather than only 2 quick bumps....or instead of a plastic sleeve on the wire, what about a plastic sleeve on the main vertical support it rides against.... like this:

I substituted a filed down finish nail for the pin in the primer chute and wrapped a spring from the pin around the post back to the pin to hold it tight.

Both those look nice, one I can make now, one possibly later.

GD

 

[LiveLife]

Has anyone run into the issue of the primer feed spring being smashed during normal use?

That looks like pre-production red color hold down and primer slider spring end could snag on the primer channel tabs.

Narrowing the spring end with pliers will prevent snagging on the tabs which could cause binding of the spring.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-oal-consistency.911743/page-16#post-12485579

 

[PapaG]

Biggest problem with any Lee has been their priming system. I grew up spoiled with Starr and much later, Dillon.

 

[xfader]

xfader: It appears to me that your primer shuttle gets dirty, makes friction, then it hangs. I use powdered graphite liberally in my shuttle support and on the plastic shuttle/primer carrier itself, and haven't seen that. I like to burnish it in with a cloth and/or Q-tip. Makes the shuttle slick

Thanks, I will give this a try.

That looks like pre-production red color hold down and primer slider spring end could snag on the primer channel tabs.

Narrowing the spring end with pliers will prevent snagging on the tabs which could cause binding of the spring.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-oal-consistency.911743/page-16#post-12485579

Good to know. I appreciate all the information provided here.

 

[trixter]

My primer shute agitation pin moves in and out slightly. I have pushed back into place a couple of times. What would happen if I put a little drop of super glue on it to keep it in place? I am hesitant to do this because of the proximity to the primers. I do not want to plug anything up.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I do not want to plug anything up.

A blob of Sugru?

 

[Gillie Dog]

My primer shute agitation pin moves in and out slightly. I have pushed back into place a couple of times. What would happen if I put a little drop of super glue on it to keep it in place? I am hesitant to do this because of the proximity to the primers. I do not want to plug anything up.

I did both sides and let dry overnight even though it was "Super Glue". Still working after several hundred loaded and god knows how many dry runs. Lots of folks seem to be having a loose primer trough pin issue. Spare pieces I ordered are same.

GD

 

[trixter]

I did both sides and let dry overnight even though it was "Super Glue". Still working after several hundred loaded and god knows how many dry runs. Lots of folks seem to be having a loose primer trough pin issue. Spare pieces I ordered are same.

GD

Thanks for the reply.

 

[trixter]

A blob of Sugru?

Thanks for the reply

 

[Tilos]

Nice design, solves 2 problems, 1-negates the pin-too-far from the column design flaw, 2-adds serrations for added shake.
I like it a lot, and you get to fuss with your printer too, a win-win.

Although I don't have a 6000 (yet) I have been working on this problem as it affects the (my) Pro 1000 too.
I substituted a filed down finish nail for the pin in the primer chute and wrapped a spring from the pin around the post back to the pin to hold it tight.
Here's a pic:
View attachment 1120255
It works a treat,

.
.

OK, quoted myself to advise:
After consulting with Gillie Dog and reviewing posted pics it seems the SPP does not have enough clearance between the column and carrier for this spring to fit.
Yet another difference is the Pro1000 pin is: 0.091" diameter, the SPP pin is 0.062" diameter.
I will be working on another prototype to address this issue and post it up, soon.
Having a press would certainly speed up the process though.

.

 

[GW Staar]

My support rod cover had to be redesigned too.....because of the clearance problems. Now I'm printing one, as we speak, that will just work on the square part of the primer downtube. wire will be cut short just to hold the downtube together. Here's a preview shot of the print. We will see...... prototypes don't always work the way you think! No it won't be red....black doesn't show up here very well. (actually, I don't want it to show up on the press.)

 

[RashQuestion]

prototypes don't always work the way you think!

Isn't that the truth!!! Plastic, Steel, Wood or Lee Press! We're all working to make our presses and loading processes more productive for each of us. Thanks to all who help here!!! Can't say THANKS enough!!!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!!!

 

[Tilos]

My support rod cover had to be redesigned too.....because of the clearance problems. Now I'm printing one, as we speak, that will just work on the square part of the primer downtube. wire will be cut short just to hold the downtube together. Here's a preview shot of the print. We will see...... prototypes don't always work the way you think! No it won't be red....black doesn't show up here very well.

View attachment 1120581

Yes, I was thinking clearance would be a problem with your previous design too.
What I had envisioned was putting those notches on the left-hand edge of the C shape and rotate it around counterclockwise (CCW) so the open part of the C was near the carriage/shell plate, where there is little to no clearance.

I called my prototype shaker done today as what I was leaning towards would have been too complex to fabricate by the average reloader.
It really was a shot in the dark as I was using the Pro1000 platform in development, and I would need to send it to someone to test.

Finding out the pin in the SPP is 0.062", and knowing the pin in the Pro1000 is 0.093", I believe Lee missed the mark on that one and the SPP pin should also be 0.093".
I went as far as asking Gillie Dog if there is enough material around the 0.062" hole in the chute to drill it out to 0.093" (actually 0.091").

I'll stop the boring commentary to add some pics of the former Idea I had about wrapping wire around/in the column grooves to create a bump.

That is 2 different diameter wires around 0.050".
If that size wire makes the shake too violent smaller diameter wires could be tried.
Here's the twists on the back:

It proved way too much on the Pro !000 but may work well on the SPP.
I ask someone/anyone give it a try...or just tell you did and it didn't work.

Here's where the final prototype ended up, might give someone else some ideas.
It hooks over the shake wire only in one place, between the chute and the column:

I have put a fork in this one, and will leave it to the experts at Lee, unless I get a SPP.
.

 

[curlysir]

Yes, I was thinking clearance would be a problem with your previous design too.
What I had envisioned was putting those notches on the left-hand edge of the C shape and rotate it around counterclockwise (CCW) so the open part of the C was near the carriage/shell plate, where there is little to no clearance.

I called my prototype shaker done today as what I was leaning towards would have been too complex to fabricate by the average reloader.
It really was a shot in the dark as I was using the Pro1000 platform in development, and I would need to send to someone to test.

Finding out the pin in the SPP is 0.062", and knowing the pin in the Pro1000 is 0.093", I believe Lee missed the mark on that one and the SPP pin should also be 0.093".
I went as far as asking Gillie Dog if there is enough material around the 0.062" hole in the chute to drill it out to 0.093" (actually 0.091").

I'll stop the boring commentary to add some pics of the former Idea I had about wrapping wire around/in the column grooves to create a bump.
View attachment 1120613
That is 2 different diameter wires around 0.050".
If that size wire makes the shake too violent smaller diameter wires could be tried.
Here's the twists on the back:
View attachment 1120614
It proved way too much on the Pro !000 but may work well on the SPP.
I ask someone/anyone give it a try...or just tell you did and it didn't work.

Here's where the final prototype ended up, might give someone else some ideas.
It hooks over the shake wire only one place, between the chute and the column:
View attachment 1120620
I have put a fork in this one, and leave it to the experts at Lee, unless I get a SPP.
.

I tried the wire like you and also like your results, it did not work. The bigger pin may work, but for now I am semi successfully using the plastic roller, it works most of the time but I have to watch the primer tray and trough and make sure that they are actually feeding because at times they do jam and not feed, and I have to give the tray a good thump.

 

[Tilos]

I tried the wire like you and also like your results, it did not work. The bigger pin may work, but for now I am semi successfully using the plastic roller, it works most of the time but I have to watch the primer tray and trough and make sure that they are actually feeding because at times they do jam and not feed, and I have to give the tray a good thump.

Thump on...for now.
Hoping Lee will step-up here (or maybe GW Staar. )
If his works he may have to produce and sell them too.

.