Messed up my Hornady LNL AP

[phaed]

Howdy folks. I'm new to reloading. I just got a Hornady LNL AP, and set her up.

I was testing out the first case in station 1 (size/decap) with .308 (#1 plate). I made sure it was set up to spec (decap 3/16" below bottom of die, die just barely hitting shellplate). I lubed the case with hotshot after it had been tumbled. ran the ram up, then about halfway down i noticed resistance, and then it went all the way down. here's the result...



the only thing i can figure out is that a decapped primer got stuck under the shellplate. i just want to make sure i don't make the same mistake again.

anyone have any ideas on this one? thanks.

 

[mscott]

Lower your de-capping pin and call Hornady.

 

[SDefender]

Yep. Decapping pin not quite low enough. My guess is you got it about 1/3 of the way out. As as you have just learned, whenever you feel resistance, stop and check it out. There is a lot of leverage involved with that handle.

 

[phaed]

thanks for the advice...will do.

 

[Master Blaster]

The shell plate and shell is still hanging from the die and the bolt that holds the subplate on broke off or ripped out of the threaded insert in the ram taking a piece of the thread with it???

That is a serious problem and a defect in your press, it has nothing to do with the decapping pin which is the least of your problems here.

I would say you need to call hornady and either get a replacement part if its user repairable or get a shipping label from them, box the press up and send it back, there is no way that should have broken like that unless there is a problem with the manufacturing of that part.

The case head of the round should have ripped off first before that broke.

 

[1911user]

It is a cast part. If the primer did not get pushed all the way out of a case (likely problem) then I'm not at all surprised it broke. It's not that hard to replace. Just remove 2 allen screws (one on each side of the ram) and lift the carrier plate assembly off the ram shaft. Swap the cast rotation piece with a new one and put it back together.

 

[phaed]

The shell plate and shell is still hanging from the die and the bolt that holds the subplate on broke off or ripped out of the threaded insert in the ram taking a piece of the thread with it???

no, i took the shell plate off so i could see the damage. the shell came down in a normal fashion.

 

[PsychoKnight]

The turn key broke off. Its the weakest part in the rotation driveline, other than maybe the pawls.

Edited: as I missed a step . .

Did the instructions say to adjust the decap pin to 3/16" below the die body? That doesn't seem nearly enough to me. I use a reverse process to set the decap at maximum extension. I loosen the pin so that it moves with a gentle push with my fingers. With the shellplate caseless and the ram all the way up, I screw down the die body fingertight, the die gently pressing against the shellplate. I then place a new or previously decapped case into that station, run the ram all the way up, then push the decap pin into the die body until the pin holder bottoms out at the flashhole, and tighten the decap pin set-nut. I then unscrew the die body only a a degree or two to prevent binding and tighten the die lock nut at that depth. This method of setting the die and decap depth works on single stage and turrents as well.

The LnL AP is a very smooth machine, you should never feel sudden resistance. If you do, you must stop immediately and try to rotate the shellplate backwards by hand, or else remove the shellplate and investigate. I think you should arrange with Hornady to send the whole unit back because if you applied enough pressure to break off the turn key, the pawl settings & rotation timing will be misaligned, and needs to be re-adjusted, which you can do yourself, but being completely new to the machine, better just let them take care of it to ensure everything is functioning correctly after the broken part is replaced.

 

[phaed]

thanks. good sounding advice.

 

[phaed]

just to wrap up, i called Hornady on Monday...had the part in hand on wednesday, no questions asked. they were friendly and helpful on the phone (their phone menu is funny btw).

part is back in, and press is workin fine now after i adjusted the decap die.

 

[Roccobro]

Congrats. Have yet to hear Hornady CS not taking care of their customers.

Justin