LNL EZ-Ject Upgrade

[Walkalong]

In this earlier thread Wilburt discussed a problem with his EZ-Ject spring tipping (Canting) the case going up to station 5.

He figured that if Hornady had machined the sub plate to let the spring drop earlier it would solve the problem.

I posted a pic in that thread which clearly showed the earlier non EZ-Ject LNL sub plate did indeed let the spring drop down sooner, getting under the case, and it did not have the problem that Wilburts newer EZ-Ject sub plate did.

I ordered a EZ-Ject Upgrade (Sub Plate Assembly) and UPS dropped it off today. I immediately started comparing the old sub plate and the new one. Very obvious differences. (Shown in Pics)

I took it out to the shed and after eyeballing it vs the old one, making a couple of observations, setting a shell plate on it to get some measurements, I set out to make a couple of modifications.

First I cut off the part for the case loader. I will never use it and it just gets in the way.

Then I set out to remove some metal from the sub plate to let the spring drop down earlier. I used a Dremel with a course wheel to take off 90% of the metal, a fine wheel to get the next 9%, and 400 grit sandpaper to finish it up.

I think I got it in the right spot, far enough right to let the spring under the case when going up to station 5, but not so far right so it still keeps the spring up over the rim of the case when coming down from station 4.

EZ-Ject Sub Plate


Older Non EZ-Ject Sub Plate


EZ-Ject spring cut out close up


Older Non EZ-Ject spring cut out close up

 

[Walkalong]

EZ-Ject Sub Plate after surgery.

 

[Walkalong]

EZ-Ject Sub Plate on LNL


Works like a champ on .45 Colt. I'll have to try some smaller calibers. I have a .22 Hornet EZ-Ject shell plate. I also bought a new EZ-Ject .38/.357 shell plate. I'll try those. I still have 5 or 6 shellp plates that have not been modified yet.

 

[WV_Vizsla]

Well done!!
Let use know if the tune helps all plates.
How long did the kit take to get?
Did you need to reset the die height?

 

[Dreaded]

Interesting, I received my new LnL AP a week or so ago and have made 500 rounds of 9mm without a flaw. I wonder why the upgrade units have this problem. Nice work btw!

 

[Randy1911]

I installed my new EZ-ject subplate last night after UPS dropped it off (didn't get here till 9 pm). I loaded 200 rounds of 45 acp and had zero problems.

WV Vizsla I ordered my subplate on June 4 and got it yesterday on July 21.

 

[Walkalong]

How long did the kit take to get?

Don't have the original date, but 5 or 6 weeks.

have made 500 rounds of 9mm without a flaw

I am sure the calibers smaller in diameter don't suffer from the tipping problem, only the widest ones.

loaded 200 rounds of 45 acp and had zero problems.

That is good news. Wilburt's problem was with .45 ACP.

I believe I removed more material than needed, (moved point "A" a tad farther right than absolutely needed), but I also believe the spot where point "A" is from the factory is on the ragged edge of too far left.

I'll be fooling around with other calibers soon by running some cases through it, but it is not the quite the same as actually loading them. It ejected the .45 Colt cases very smoothly. I am anxious to try some others. I guess I need to get off my butt and send my other shell plates (.32 ACP, .32 L/M, .380/.223, 9MM/.38 Super, & .40 cal) to Hornady to get modified for the EZ-Ject.

 

[SteveW-II]

Looking at the pictures, it appears that as the round is lifted into station 5, nothing is holding the round tight in the shell plate. Correct ? I guess it doesn't matter as long as it was held in place as the round came out of station 4.

Walkalong, did you have the same problem as Wilbert, or was this a precautionary measure ?

 

[floydster]

Walkalong, great pic's, thanks for sharing.
Floyd

 

[pinkymingeo]

I'm pretty sure that only the #45 shellplate works with the EZ-Ject system. Using the #1 with 45acp will cause problems. I ordered my new base plate last week, and got it yesterday. Apparently they just got a shipment, so there's no wait. I am waiting for my shellplates to be modified, though.

 

[bobotech]

Awesome info.

I need to upgrade mine.

We need to have a sticky just for mods and fixes for the LnL series of presses.

 

[tommysempra]

I'm hoping my new upgrade is sitting on my desk and waiting for me to come get it . supposedly shipped sometime this week and im not in the office

 

[Walkalong]

Looking at the pictures, it appears that as the round is lifted into station 5, nothing is holding the round tight in the shell plate. Correct

Correct. Just like my LNL Non EZ-Ject sub plate before it and my Projector sub plate before that, which is cut almost identical for the spring as my Non EZ-Ject sub plate. No problems unless you really get to slinging it, and I mean really slinging it. Even then only if you have the shell plate opening polished like chrome.

Walkalong, did you have the same problem as Wilbert, or was this a precautionary measure ?

Precautionary, and I like to modify stuff.

Apparently they just got a shipment, so there's no wait.

When I talked to Hornady today they say they are mostly caught up on shell plates, modifying customers existing shell plates, and EZ-Ject sub plates upgrades. I sent some shell plates in to be modified as well. They said it should not take long.

I am going to take the sub plate back off tonight and do a little light 600 grit polishing as well as a little polishing here and there (Like where the spring rides over the hump) with a felt bob, polishing compound, and Dremel. I also have to install my lift plate on this sub plate. I need a new tap first though.

 

[Randy1911]

Quote: I'm pretty sure that only the #45 shellplate works with the EZ-Ject system. Using the #1 with 45acp will cause problems.


I am using the #45 shellplate. I have the #1 but didn't have it modified to the EZ-ject because I don't load rifle and I now have the #45.

 

[Walkalong]

I had my very old #1 .45 ACP/.308/30.06 etc shell plate modded for the EZ-Ject. I never tried it on the Non EZ-Ject LNL, but figure the worst I will have to do is mod it to resemble the Generation 3 & 4 Shell Plate contour where the case goes in. I'll know soon if it works on the EZ-Ject. I put my lift plate on the EZ-Ject Sub Plate and only need to wait for the Loctite to set up on the screws holding it. I modded it to swing out when I do not want to dump powder on the upstroke.

Lift Plate in position to lift operating rod for powder measure.



Lift Plate swung out of position to not lift operating rod... It actually does not have to move nearly this far.



Polishing

 

[Trakker]

How about a mod for the primer punch.
I think if they drill it out and put in a hardened bolt they can make the primer seating depth adjustable.

I have a hard time seating CCI primers.

 

[bhawkeye]

Walkalong,
Very nice work (and great pics ). I'm intrigued by your "Lift Plate". I understand from your post that it operates a non-LnL powder measure setup, but I did some searches (OK, I'm not very proficient with the searches) here & couldn't find anything. Could you 'splain a little more (maybe even with some more of your great pics), or point me to a thread where you've already described this? I'm not totally satisfied with the current operation of my powder measures.

I have 2 LnL Ap's that I just got the EZ-ject upgrade for & intend to try to copy your mod - thanks. It seems funny that Hornady didn't bevel the edge that you mod'ed, since they did bevel the other end - where the spring goes back up after case insertion.

Thanks again for the great posts & valuable info.

 

[Walkalong]

Part of what I made to use my Redding 10X measure on the LNL was copied from the old Projector powder measure system, and some parts are completely different since it operates outside of instead of through the center of the press. (Gets the linkage etc away from the dies)

Thread

With the EZ-Ject Sub Plate I no longer have to mod crimp dies to work in the 5th station either. No wire to get in the way.

 

[Walkalong]

The swing out Lift Plate mod is done and installed on the EZ-Ject Sub Plate, the Sub Plate is finished modding and has been installed. I have run .22 Hornet, .38 Spl, and .45 Colt through it and the EZ-Ject is a big improvement over the wire eject. Glad I did it. Should have waited and gotten the EZ-Jext to begin with.

Set to operate Powder Measure



Set not to operate Powder measure



.22 Hornet Shell Plate....See the reflection of the spring in the Sub Plate?

 

[Walkalong]

I also changed the way my spring was set up. It is attached to the arm on the measure now which gets it out further from the center of the drum for a tad more leverage pulling it back down. It also pulls from closer to the center line of the rotation of the drum now which will be smoother.

 

[Wilburt]

Looks great!! I've been so busy latly I have been here in a while. i'm in the processof moving so all my reloading gear is packed up. When it gets here I'll go to work

I installed my new EZ-ject subplate last night after UPS dropped it off (didn't get here till 9 pm). I loaded 200 rounds of 45 acp and had zero problems.

That's good. It definitly depends on the bullet profile. The rounder the nose, the better. I ddnn't have problems until I started to load 200 gr LSWC.

I'm pretty sure that only the #45 shellplate works with the EZ-Ject system. Using the #1 with 45acp will cause problems.

That is deffinitly true for me since I tried both.

Look here for the thread I started:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=455039

 

[Wilburt]

Well now that I've had time to sit down and really look at the pictures, they really look good. I'm not sure whay hornady decided to all of a suddon change the design of the canal the spring runs in. I'm just surprised I thought up a solution that works.

How long did it take you to do the shellplate mod? Was the plate easy forthe dremel to handle?

EDIT: It was really early when I made my first post and didn't realize walkalong already posted the link to my old thread.

 

[Walkalong]

It did not take long at all, although I am never in a hurry to do these sort of things and don't look at the time. The Dremel cut it pretty easily. Drilling it for the lift plate was easy enough, and tapping it wasn't bad either, but use good drill bits and a quality tap if you try that.

The EZ_Ject Sub Plate was a few thousandths taller in a critical dimension I could hardly define in words, so I did a little polishing I did not show. It made up 3 or 4 thousandths, as well as making the two surfaces where the sub plate meets the "hub" that shell plate bolts very smooth. It solved part of that problem which had made it tight with one shell plate and tighter than Dicks hatband with another. The two offending shell plates were my newest ones that came with the EZ-Ject cut out. They were both warped a little. My old ones that Hornady recently cut for the EZ-Ject system for me were dead flat (all my old ones are), but these new ones were not. I wonder if the EZ-Ject cut makes them warp a bit when heat treating, or did Hornady just get sloppy with those two.

The .22 Hornet plate was still binding a little after my primary fix, so I took a 1/2" bolt, bolted it in the plate, chucked it up in my Emco 5 hobby lathe, and used sand paper to thin it a bit on the outer edges. The outer part of the plate was warped down. That fixed it and it runs smooth as silk now.

 

[bobotech]

I love all the little mods and tricks you have done to your LnL. Very impressive work.

Would it be possible to cut the EZ Eject slot in the plates using a lathe?

 

[Walkalong]

The plates are hardened, but yes, if one had a good lathe and proper turning tool. Carbide might do it. I don't know. The chuck on my little hobby lathe isn't big enough to try. Hornady did my first five free. I am paying $10 each for the rest. They are caught up at the moment, so turn around should be quick this time. It was 4 weeks last time when things were so backed up. Not bad.

You could actually grind out the slot if you have a steady hand and didn't care if it looks pretty. As long as it was wide enough and deep enough, it would work.