New Lee Pro 1000 and case mouth damage?

[cottersay]

Hi All,

I am setting up my new Lee Pro 1000 for .45ACP, and one of the last (hopefully) problems I am finding with this press is that the shell plate is pushing the brass into the de-capper/resizer die off-center; so much so that the case mouth hits the outer rim of the die and won't go in any further without severe case damage. Is there a cure for this misalignment issue?

EDIT: I mean that the case's rim hits the front of the decapper/resizer die, not on any of the die's sides (which could be adjusted to center the brass), and thus cannot enter the die at all. I can find no adjustment for this shell carrier front to back misalignment so far...

Thanks!!

-Cotter

 

[LiveLife]

Sounds like your shell plate index timing is off.

Move the shell plate carrier up and down with the ram lever and check to see if the shell plate clicks into station before the shell plate reaches bottom. I put a drop of oil (any oil, even motor oil) on the tip of my finger and lube the center hex rod above and below the shell plate carrier and cycle the ram lever until the index action is smooth.

If it doesn't, use a phillips screwdriver and turn the adjustment bolt clockwise until the index timing is correct (shell plate clicks into station before the shell plate reaches bottom).

You might want to check out the THR Pro 1000 support thread for more tips and mods to make your press run smooth - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=507454

 

[Potatohead]

Stand on one leg and hop 3 times. No, my bad, that's to fix the priming unit.





Sorry, just poking a little fun at all the mods our Lee stuff requires.

 

[LiveLife]

Make sure you hop on the "left" leg. Hopping on "right" leg doesn't do anything ...

 

[Potatohead]

Ha! Rotflmbo!

 

[cottersay]

So sorry BDS, but I did not make myself clear at all . I meant the case's rim hits the front of the decapper/resizer die, not on any of the die's sides, and thus cannot enter the die at all. I can find no adjustment for this so far...

 

[LiveLife]

You are using the correct #2 shell plate and 45ACP dies?

Is your shell plate installed right side up? Stamped "2" should be on top ...

Could you provide us with a picture?

 

[cottersay]

Hi BDS,

Yes, the shell plate is marked number "2", and it is right side up.

Here is a pic of my problem:

 

[LiveLife]

Looks like the shell plate is tilted outward in relation to the die.

I would loosen the shell plate carrier allen bolt (blue arrow in the picture below) and make sure the shell plate carrier is FULLY SEATED on the ram. I even use an empty primer tray and brace it against the top press frame and push the shell plate/carrier against it with the ram lever to make sure the carrier is seated fully on the ram.

Then tighten the allen bolt and see if that resolves the problem.

 

[cottersay]

No joy with any of the above. Darn, they all sounded like a done deal. Now I think I'll try and shim the front interface between the piston and the shell plate carrier so that the shell carrier cants a bit backward, giving the case mouth about 15 mils of backward tilt. I'm hoping that works...

 

[ljnowell]

I have long had the same issue with my classic turret but only with long cases like 357 mag or 38 special.

 

[LiveLife]

If you did all that, something doesn't sound right.

You probably need to call Lee customer service as you may have out of spec something.

I would try removing the shell plate and reinstall but if that doesn't change anything, I would definitely call Lee customer service before I "modify" anything.

 

[cottersay]

Thanks BDS; will do.

 

[joustin]

The pic looks odd, almost like the threads for the decapper aren't squared up with the hole. I am sure it is an illusion though.

 

[LiveLife]

The center hex rod in the picture sure does look like it's not centered.

That's why I asked the OP to remove and reinstall the shell plate carrier.

If the carrier is fully seated on the ram and the center hex rod is still not centered, it would explain why the shell plate may be at an angle and not allow the case mouth to enter the die opening.

If that's the case, something is out of spec and Lee customer service needs to be contacted.

 

[Elkins45]

I have the same thing with mine. I just stick my finger in there and tilt the case back a bit so it enters freely. They don't look unevenly sized when they come out of the sizer, and there isn't an alignment problem at the other two stations.

 

[Mrgun]

I would try placing a empty brass in each position of the shell holder then raise the ram until they start into the dies. Then loosen the three bolts on top just a little. Raise the the ram all the way and re tighten.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Check and make sure you don't have any brass dust, tumbling media, bullet lube or other build up inside the shell plate recess.
Looks like you may have something inside the shell plate carrier recess keeping the case from fully seating in the carrier.

 

[cottersay]

Thanks Goose, but everything is as clean as a whistle.

This has taken days of my time banghead, and I haven't come up with any fix that is 100% reliable, but it seems that if I work the ram exactly the same way and with the same rhythm each time, I can get through five or six cases.

And Lee technical support hasn't bothered to get back to me on any of this, and I had sent in a request on Friday.

 

[LiveLife]

Did you email or call?

 

[cottersay]

BDS, I emailed. Lee finally got back to me a few hours ago, but with nothing you guys hadn't already recomended. However, after taking apart every nut and bolt, and reassembling the press with a "bias" away from where the damage occurs on the case mouth, so far it now seems to be working. (I'm even in the process of installing the Lee bullet feeder, which is a whole nother experience in itself!)

Thanks again!

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

I think I know your problem

It appears to me your case slider is not pushing the case far enough forward. Make sure the slider bar is bent as instructed and especially that the bar is in the correct hole so it pushes the slider far enough forward. Are you using the correct slider? Some graphite powder on the metal that the slider slides on may slick it up a bit.

 

[LiveLife]

after taking apart every nut and bolt, and reassembling the press ... now seems to be working.

I am glad you got your problem resolved.

Be sure to lube the center hex rod with a drop of oil on your finger tip at the start of your reloading session and reapply another drop of oil if the index action of the shell plate becomes less than smooth. This will extend the life of the nylon hex gear inside the botton of the shell plate carrier which is a consumable item (about the only part on Pro 1000 that needs to be changed regularly). They typically last 10,000 - 15,000+ cycles and I replace when the index adjustment simply won't advance the shell plate properly.

 

[cottersay]

Thanks BDS -- will do! BTW, the bullet feeder is working like a champ, even with the "too long" 230g .45ACPs lead bullets I had bought from the great Missouri Bullet Co. (I Dremeled a small slot in the Lee bullet die carrier so that the last 30 thou or so of the tip of the lead bullet safely cleared the feeder. And I have yet to crush the feed fingers yet either. Yay! ).

The only problem I have now is -- and I think you may have already guessed it -- is the primer feed. It's very intermittent, to say the least. I try to keep it clean with compressed air, but powder being a "powder" it falls into the primer mechanism constantly.

I have also slightly radiused and polished the primer pin, which is said to help a bit. My next step is to attach a phone/pager vibrator* to the tray, and see how that goes. If not, Ill have to hook up one of my uber small secondary air compressors that continually shoots air into the Lee's primer holes to keep 'em clear.

*$3 for 5pc 10mm Diameter Flat Button Type 3V-4.5V CellPhone Micro Vibrator Motor 0.06A:

 

[cottersay]

HeavyMetal, your idea makes a lot of sense, but I have already looked into that aspect and fully adjusted the shell slider for maximum travel. I have also greased all moving parts with a special plastic-to-plastic and metal-to-plastic grease that works wonders (Sil Glyde). Thanks for the pointers!