Lee Pro Auto Disk Problem

[keroseneburner]

Okay, folks. I wrote about my short try at using the Lee adjustable charge bar in this thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=612245 . After trying the disks for a little bit, I noticed that my charges started creeping up as I cycled the turret. It turns out that I can not get the auto disk powder dispenser to tighten onto my expanding die riser. After one trip around the turret it is loose and swinging around. If I tighten it up enough to stop that, it pushes the drop tube into the expander die insert and causes the dispenser to pull the charge bar or disk forward. This in turn moves the hole out from under the hopper. I am in contact with Lee about this but I thought that someone may have dealt with it and may be able to give me some input. Thanks.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Make sure the O-ring is in the expander die under the adapter swivel. The knurled thumb nuts holding the hopper onto the measure need to be finger-snug to prevent them from loosening up. I've never had problems with them, however....

Without the O-ring, it will loosen up as you described. I've used the Lee disc measures for years with excellent results.

One useful mod is to place a nylon lock-tie (very small one) around the upper bridge of the swivel adapter where cam lever the tip goes through the swivel adapter. This prevents the steel arm from wearing on the Zamac swivel adapter and shortens the distance the arm has to move to actuate the measure.

The reason your charge weights are increasing is that the powder is "settling" in the measure. You might try twirling a screwdriver against the measure hopper for several seconds before starting to load.

 

[Red Cent]

"The reason your charge weights are increasing is that the powder is "settling" in the measure. "

Tape a fish aerator to the powder tube, plug it in and it will always be "settled".

 

[dickttx]

My ONLY problem with the Pro Auto Disk is it swinging around as the turret cycles. As noted above, be sure the O-ring is on the adapter.
I have not had a problem with it loosening, but just it swinging around. I started with one riser, then went to two. Two made it swing more.
For the last several times I have not used a riser at all, and I think that works best. It does kiss the primer magazine as it goes around, but not any more than with one riser, just lower. The attached photo shows how it touches with no riser.
It does work better with .45ACP and .45 Colt, than with 9mm. Those are all I have loaded since I started trying this.

 

[Hondo 60]

I used to load 5 different calibers with a setup similar to the OP.
I've never heard of the hopper coming loose.

A missing rubber O-ring would certainly be a cause of this issue.

Good LUCK!

 

[keroseneburner]

Sorry it took a while to get back. The o-ring is in the expander. Lee is sending me a new riser. They think that the drop tube extender in the riser portion may be out of spec. I attached the powder dispenser directly to the expander die (no riser) and it did not push the drop tube up when I tightened it down. After looking at everything, I agree that the charge weight increasing is not related to this. It finally sunk into my thick skull that the vibration of operating the press settles the powder and thus knowing that, you have to work with that and not against it. I did notice that there was about 1/8 inch of play where the F-arm slips into the slot on the disk/charge bar. This caused the disk/charge bar to return to different positions under the powder hopper. I cut a small piece of Tygon tubing and trimmed it to act as a shim in the slot and now the disk or charge bar returns to the same place every time. Whether this makes a difference or not I don't know. I think that having consistency in the cycle can't hurt. Thanks