Lee LoadMaster Case Feeder Problem -> .38 Special

[WyrTwister]

" Brown " delivered my new LoadMaster late Wednesday PM .

I received the .357 Mag / .38 Special LoadMaster , ordered it from Graf and Sons .

I have been installing , bolting down and adjusting it .

After much work , I am still having problems with the case feeder .

Since the case slider is not as " tall " as the .38 Special brass I am working with , the case slider is shoving the brass , low , nearer to the base , than the top .

The top is influenced by friction from the case above it ( still in the tube ) .

This results in a clockwise rotational torque being applied to the case . With the brass tipping , as it slides toward station # 1 . At least until it has cleared the brass above it .

Tipping sometimes less , a little stagger / wobble . Sometimes enough to cause it to fall over . And everything in between .

It seems , if the case slider was taller , enough that the top edge of the case slider was at least above the center of mass of the brass , this would be minimized ? Preferably , close to the top of the case ?

I think I need a taller slider that could be used for .38/.357 , .45 LC & .44 Special & .44 Mag ? ( So far .38 Special is the only one I have tried . )

I do not know , have not tried it yet , but I think the slider is tall enough for 9mm ?

I have done the adjustment of putting the pencil between the horizontal part and the square part that is at 45 degrees . And the 2 little screws on the slider that rides the square part .

I have lightly lubed the under side of the horizontal part and the corresponding surfaces of the case slider .

I have adjusted the 2 little 1/4" nuts that set the height of the case feeder , until it is at its best performance , so far . To the point where the 2 little nuts and I are almost wore out . :-(

I have adjusted the position of the case feeder from barely not hitting the top of the press , to the point where it is so far to the right that another case will not drop down , and every where in between .

So far , to the right , so the next case will just barely drop down , seems to work better .

I am at the point where , with the turret out of the way so I can watch what is going on , it will feed about 90 % of four tubes of brass . Some pretty smoothly , some to the point of not quite , but almost falling over .

The remaining 10% fall over and mess up the whole operation .

I need to order the rod with the de-priming pin for the universal de-priming die . When I was setting up the dies , I some how got things out of alignment and broke the tip off the rod . But that is no big deal , I had a spare . And it is not affecting the case feeder . ( I have the universal de-priming die in station # 1 & the carbide sizer w/o the de-priming rod , in station # 2 . )

Also , I would be very open to suggestions as to other parts commonly broken by someone getting accustomed to a new press . I think it came with a spare primer slider ?

I hope you can help me , please ?


Thank you ,
Wyr
God bless

 

[FWest]

http://loadmastervideos.com/

That is a great site for setup and adjustment. Don't overlook the message boards on the site as well.
I have a Loadmaster set up for 9MM. I think the case drop tube is only to be 1/16" above the slider. The angled square stock was not at a flat enough angle when I first got it. Turned out the base 2 turns and it was working smoothly after. It's easy to get the case feed rod twisted when tightening the bolt that secures it to the press. Also only one of the screws on the feed rod slider is the used to set tention, your manual will tell you.
I have mine running very well after spending a couple of hours reading and watching the vids on that site.

 

[greyling22]

+1 on loadmaster videos. I've used every press lee has made and had lots of experience under my belt when I got the loadmster, and I never would have got it running right without those guys and their helpful videos. I especially like the one about modifying the case ejector so it doesn't loosen the shell plate nut.

but about your case slider questions, the large case slider for 38's 357's etc is 1" tall. the small slider for 9mm is 3/4" tall. I can't say I've ever really had problems setting up the case feeder. I have mine set so the case just barely drops free of the tubes. maybe 1.5mm clearance, and the tubes all clear the turret by 8mm or so. make sure your drop tube is centered over the case slider. I still have about 1 out of 100 357 cases fall off. 9's do better.

Order 2 or 3 primer sliders. I tend to trash mine every thousand rounds or so, and I don't really know how or why. I think it may be the occasional primped in primer pocket on the 9's. I don't have the same problems with 357.