Lyman Latte trimmer

[kestak]

Greetings,

I have a Lyman lathe trimmer and I noticed while trimming my 223 LC that it appears it is losing its adjustment and I have to adjust it each 10 cases.

I changed the head and it looks like it loses its adjustment only every 30-40 cases now...:banghead:
I thought the ring was moving and I used 3 clamps behind the ring to put "more lock". But there is still the same.

I cleaned everywhere I could see, I lubed the shaft.

Anyone ever got that happen to them and found a solution?

Thank you

 

[qajaq59]

Give Lyman a call. If anyone knows what to do it'll be them. Especially if it has happened to others.

 

[orrwdd]

LOL! At first I thought you were trimming your coffee

 

[Maj Dad]

kestak,
This doesn't address your problem directly, but is my approach to the same issue I had with Lyman and other adjustable trimmers. I found I could not repeat settings for different cases without a lot of trial and error, not to mention losing settings in mid-stream, much of which caused excessive trimming and subsequent trashing of cases. I have a new Lyman trimmer with all the pilots etc sitting on a shelf because I finally made the switch to Lee trimmers for all my rifle cases (and a couple of pistol calibers). I find I can fine-tune the length (obviously not lengthening, though) with a hard Arkansas stone and set it for .001-.003 over minimum, and it will never change (at least for a long, long time). I also chuck the shell holder in a drill and, holding it in my lap with the vent holes unobstructed can trim quantities of brass, then debur & clean the flash hole in a 1-2-3 fashion. I don't deny that adjustable trimmers can be effective, but for me, I like guaranteed repeatability and Lee gives that. No doubt I'm a certified piddler and diddler, but I like the results...
Just my 2 cents,
Maj Dad

 

[ranger335v]

If your trim length is changing the stop collar is moving, there's nothing else to control length.

Of course we MUST make sure we keep turning until it quits cutting from the stop limit. That sometimes requires pulling the pilot out to turn the intermal burr and then reinserting it and cranking some more because it can clog itself at the cutter edges.

 

[FROGO207]

+1 to MAJOR DAD I will use the drill press on my bench and hold the brass against the table then run the pilot cutter down until it hits the table. Really fast and I like that when doing 1K or more. I do have to debur/chamfer at a later time but do it batch style also. I gave up on my Forester trimmer years ago as it was a pain to use.

 

[JimKirk]

If you will measure the rim diameter of ten random cases, I'll bet you come up with at least seven different measurements. If you are using a trimmer that use a collet that is drawn into a taper, which most trimmers use, you'll find that the trim length varies a lot too. This is because the different rim sizes are not letting the collet be drawn into the taper the same depth as the next case. This is what causes the varying case length. I solved this problem by turning a 1" long piece of steel to a diameter of .473 or the size of a 30/06 rim. On one end I turned a pilot .172 in diameter and .110 long, this is slightly under small primer diameter(.175) and slightly shorter than a primer pocket depth(.118-
.120). On the other end, I do the same except for large primer(pilot .207) and .110 length. I then chuck up the turned pilot into the trimmer collet, making sure it is seated all the way into the stepped section of the collet that fits that size rim and tighten it down good. Adjust your trim length and place the trimmer about waist high and screw it down good(or clamp).This provides a center to center lathe type cut that will not vary from case to case. Now place a sized case on the pilot, hold the case tight towards the collet and to keep the case from spinning, then place the cutter pilot into case mouth and turn the trimmer handle. Swap ends of the turned pilot for the other primer size. I guess gloves with rubber nubs would help hold the cases from turning and since your using hand power there is no chance of wrapping your hand around like with a power machine. It takes a lot less time to trim using this method, because you're not having to unscrew the collet on and off and you have the same length cases!

Jimmy K