Lee Pro auto disk powder measure - no spring!

[kellyj00]

Just picked up a lee Pro Auto Disk powder measure for my lee 4 hole turret press this last weekend at a gun shop that was closed down on July 1.

Got it home, looked it over...seemed just fine. Then went to mount it on my turret press and found out that it was missing the return spring! So, we're just moving the disk back under the hopper by hand! Obviously, this is a bit of a nuisance.

Does anyone know if I can get a spring locally before I call the folks at Lee and have to wait for it? I don't think my hardware store carries springs, unfortunately....and if they did I wouldn't know exactly what the length of it is.

Also, I can see where this spring would attach to the lever, but where does it attach to the measure? I don't see any rings or anything...am I missing a part there too?

Thanks!

 

[kellyj00]

disregard... I called Lee.... "missing a spring, ehe?"
"correct."
"we'll send you one, no charge."
"wow. I bought this locally and it wasn't sealed or anything... you shouldn't eat the cost for this, it's my fault for not looking more thoroughly before buying it. For all I know someone else could have taken it out of the package"
"nah. It'll be in the mail."

Good customer service.

 

[alucard0822]

yup Lee probably has the best CS in the reloading industry. Im not sure if the turret press is set up a little different, but on all the other applications there is a bead chain that is attatched from the last hole in the arm through a small hole in the shell plate and just has a small spring to take up the slack when the plate is fully lowered, hence no "return spring", might want to double check the on-line directions at leeprecision.com

 

[Stinger]

yup Lee probably has the best CS in the reloading industry

This is the High Road, so I'll digress.

 

[alucard0822]

di·gressed , di·gress·ing , di·gress·es
To turn aside, especially from the main subject in writing or speaking; stray.

have you had better Customer service from another company? or possibly a bad experience with lee?, please elaborate stinger

 

[kellyj00]

from what I understood from the directions.... the pro auto disk measure only uses a chain for the progressive presses....

I'm not sure why anyone would want to use a chain to return the measure back to it's original position....and I don't really see a way to attach it as the only moving parts are the Ram, the handle and the turret. The only thing I could attach it to would be the turret, and it wouldn't return on the down stroke. Attaching to the ram or handle would just end up winding the chain around with every rotation.

 

[Hook686]

My Auto Disk came with both a spring and the chain componets. The chain has a spring slipped onto the chain, after passing through the hole at the back of the shell plate carrier. The other end of the chain attaches to the lever actuator of the powder measure. As the shell plate carrier mover up and down it allows the chain to relax, or tighten, thus allowing the disk to move forward, or back. Interesting affair. I find it effective on my Pro1000. However, I prefer the simplicity of the Classic Turret ... and no, the Classic Turret does not have the design that allows for the chain actuated configuration ... you have no missing parts there, though you ought have a small platic bag with the chain, spring, and bell shaped retainer in the full kit.

 

[Stinger]

The chain is designed to be used with progressive presses so that a double charge is impossible. It works well at preventing double charges because the only way the measure is reset is by lowering the ram all of the way down, which would index the press. I don't use it because I must have broken ten chains, at least.

re: Customer service, just run a search and use my username.

 

[alucard0822]

Look at the auto disk pro instructions on the lee website, under the double disk kit, it shows a grainy picture with a big spring running from the drop tube to the lever on the rear, probably for this very purpose, I havent ever seen one with a spring like that, but then again I have only used their single stage and progressives

 

[FieroCDSP]

I don't use it because I must have broken ten chains, at least.

Next time you're in a retail store, or bank, or anywhere else they have the counter pens on chains, if the pen is missing, ask them if you can have the chain. I get mine from work for nuthin when the pens disappear, and they're much stronger.

 

[jr81452]

+1 to that! get rid of the brass chain and get one in steel. much stronger

 

[benedict1]

Setting the chain return on the Pro Auto Disk Powder measure is the easiest setting of all! What are you guys doing? Just follow the directions in this video, set it and forget it. I have loaded over 6000 rounds with my Load Master and broken one chain, because I did something stupid.

http://www.leeprecision.com/html/HelpVideos/videos/Progressive chain attachment-1.wmv

Edited: The return spring is only to be used for turret press loading or single stage press loading. The chain is the only way to prevent, in a foolproof fashion, the possibility of double charge on the Load Master. Some people use the spring on the Load Master but that is a dangerous proposition in a short/stroke, oops I was interruputed situation!

 

[Hawk]

re: Customer service, just run a search and use my username.

Or just do a search on user name: leeprecision. It's easier as they're only two entries both in the same thread.

I respectfully request no thread necromancy on that three year old thing.

 

[benedict1]

Whatever problems others may have with Lee Customer Service I find it to be outstanding.

Anybody can screw up--we all hear how great Dillon is, for example, but I had a mess with them on a SDB press that I eventually just sent back.

Doesn't take away from Dillon being a good company or from Lee either.

I have also screwed up in the way I have presented a problem to a company once or twice--then upon reflection realized that their problem with me was created by me. I'm the idiot in charge.

 

[Stinger]

I respectfully request no thread necromancy on that three year old thing

I'll second that...

 

[kellyj00]

Update....
checked the mail on Saturday morning and got a padded envelope from Lee. Opened it up and found a brand new LEVER! For pete's sake, the lady said "you have both levers?" "yes, I do...just need a spring for the F shaped lever. It's operable now, but I need the spring to make it work safely."

So, if anyone needs another F shaped lever for their pro auto disk, let me know... I've got an extra.

 

[3rdpig]

Setting the chain return on the Pro Auto Disk Powder measure is the easiest setting of all! What are you guys doing?

Agreed, anyone who's breaking chains either has it adjusted improperly or something else is wrong. I've yet to break a chain on my Auto Disk measure after roughly 10,000 rounds.

However, my experience with Lee customer service has been mixed. On the phone they've been great, but via email it's been pretty bad. Oh, they try to help, they want to help, but some of the people responding to email tech support questions have no clue whatsoever about the product they sell.

 

[Cpl Nobbs]

I recently had the chain on my loadmaster go "POP" and the spring go "boiBOINBOING" off 3 walls and the cat. trip to local hardware store where I bought bag o 5 springs and 10 feet of the chain for less that $10.00.

Lee would have sent it to me free. but I wanted to finish the batch I was working on. a lot of the parts on Lee Press's are off the shelf items.

it was RCBS that recently sent me 3 wrong parts in a row for my RCBS hand primer, I can now almost build a new one from scratch, but even though I bought it used (and told them that) they insisted on free shipping and replacement.

if only all companies acted the way decent firearm and related companies do.