Lee LM lp primer problem

[Sudden Impact]

Just looking for suggestions on solving a problem with my Loadmaster.

It worked fine, admittedly after some debugging, for loading 9mm. Then I switched over to 45acp. Out of 45 cases, 14 failed to prime, 4 seated the primers sideways and twice the primer pin wdged in the up position requiring me to remove the shellplate to remediate. Also, when the primer pin wedged in the up position the rocker arm below it was also wedged in the up position and was very difficult to retract.

I contacted Lee's tech support (3 times to date) who sent me a newer version of priming trough but it is exactly like the one I already have...red,lg primer ass'y.

I have been working on this thing for days on end and nothing seems consistant other than the fact it is not functioning reliably.

Please no Blue koolaid or LnL recommendations. I seriously want to figure this out.

Thanks for all input.

SI

 

[kingmt]

There isn't quite enough info yet for me to help you. Look at the pin to see if you can you can tell where it got bound. You are using the right primer ram for LP right?

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I would try the new primer trough Lee sent you. I don't own a load master but I have been using a pro1000 for over 20 years. If anything happens to the trough, even squeezed together to tight, they won't primers won't feed. They also need full weight of a full chute to make them slide into position. With no shells in press I would trip the primer release, raise it pull that primer out, and watch when lowering ram to see if the primers slide freely into position. Try spreading your shoot just a little with a small tool that won't bur up the plastic. I've had to do this with mine from time to time.

And something else. Bend the spring finger that holds the case in closer to the shell plate. It may have accidently gotten bent from changing calibers. If it is bent away from the plate the case won't be lined up to the priming pin on the up stroke. It will tend to move away from the shell plate on rotation.

 

[kingmt]

You can't spread the primer shoot on this press. There is no spring finger ether.

Are you sizing & priming at the same time? You will need a universal depriming die to do this. I size in station2.

 

[Nate1778]

May have to adjust the index a bit, its what I had to do. Loosen the nut at the bottom of the ram and adjust the head ever so slightly till the index smooths out. The roughness of the index is what is screwing up the primers. Now that mine is adjusted I can switch between callibers no problem. I also noticed my primer feeder had a higher fail rate when all the positions were not filled, I just did away with the auto shell loader for that very reason.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Gentlemen,

My wife came in with the mail yesterday and I later found a box from Lee containing the new primer feed assembly.

I originally posted this because I didn't want to lose an entire weekend of reloading if I could fix he problem otherwise.

The new ass'y greatly improved the priming but did not totally eliminate the problem.

I did notice I am using CCI primers instead of Winchester as used in the 9mm but I have no reason to think they would be the culprit. The CCI though are much softer than the Winchesters which surprises me.

I will try to see if aligning the press has any benefits though I'll mark it before moving so I don't totally screw-up here.

Thanks for your help, SI

ETA: kingmt, Not enough info for me to figure it out either! I am sizing in #2 and FCD in #5.

tiger, tray is full and "fingers" are tight against the cases.

Still can't trust the priming and am checking each case at station #3 before adding powder because I
found about seven of one hundred w/o primers and avg. five crushed, sideways primers but primer pin isn't sticking!

Am using correct Lg. primer pin.

Once again, thanks for the help. I fully intend to check alignment and continue till I find the trouble and I will post my findings.