Problem with my Hornady LNL AP

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Micksis

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Aug 13, 2009
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Hi,

I Just finished setting up my hornady LNL Auto press and i'm having a problem and need help.

The problem is that when the shell plate is indexing around the base plate it is fine until the case recess that lines up with the notch on the shell plate that goes over the centre of the mounting bolt gets to the priming point on the press.

When this particular recess on the shell plate gets to the recess where the case is primed it doesn't index all the way around to line up with the priming recess. Therefore the case doesn't get primed.
So i have to either move it manually or move the lever up slightly so that it will complete the cycle. This recess seems to work fine the rest of the way around the base plate except for the priming point.
I've tried the two shell plates that i have and they both do it.

I would ring Hornady but I live in Australia and bought the press on the internet. I've e-mailed Hornady but thought i'd ask here to see if i can get a quicker response.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can offer.
 
Did you put a litle lube on the indent balls on the bottom of the shell plate? Not over tighten the plate bolt. I use thread tape on mine so i dont have to over tighten it and it doesnt back out.
 
Yeah I did both those things i used a little gun grease on the ball detents and I only tightened the bolt until it indexed like the guy in the video did.
 
Somewhere in the instructions, it tells how to adjust the pawls. Thats what you're going to have to do. Sounds like its not indexing far enough. Did you get a manual with it? If not, i can look in mine and tell you how.
 
Yeah, I have instructions I dabbled with the right pawl thinking that might be the cause i adjusted it up and it made no difference so i returned it to it's origonal settings for fear of making the problem worse. But maybe i'll have another go. It seems to only do it when the right pawl hits one particular rotor at the base maybe it's defective i'm not sure.
 
Could be. I can tell you Hornady will take care of you. Very good customer service. I bought mine last year in Dec. Wasnt sure it was working right so i called them. They had me sent it to them and adjusted everything. No problems so far.
 
You might have a warped shell plate. I put a 1/2 in bolt in mine with a nut to hold it tight and then chucked it in a hand drill and then spin it slowly. Hold something up to the plate to see if it wobbles.
 
I'm glad they have good customer service it seem most of the reloading companies over there do. unfortunately customer service is somewhat a thing of the past over here in Australia it's in the museum next to the dinosaurs.

Anyway back to the point it cost me about US$180 to ship it over here so i'd really like to no have to ship it back. I'll check out the shellplate it might have something to do with it i don't know but i'll give it a try. Thanks alot for you help mate.
 
Mick, I responded to your post over on TFL. You need to adjust the left pawl for indexing on the down-stroke of the ram. Do it carefully and slowly, in 1/8 turn increments.
 
Micksis, I have another thought. We have assumed (and probably rightly) that the priming problem is due to the rotation of the shellplate (it probably is), but could it have something to do with the primer slide. I have noticed that the primer punch can be tightened so much that it actually protrudes through the sub-plate and creates a lip that the slide can catch on and not complete its travel forward. If you can see any of the slide at the rear of the tube bracket it has not travelled completely forward. Also, the punch assembly can get dirty and the punch will not completely retract, which also creates a lip for the slide to catch on. I actually peened a burr on my slide until I learned these things. Hornady was kind enough to send me a new slide and punch gratis.
 
I have had my new LNL for the past three months and what I have gone thru trying to get this POS to prime properly is beyond belief.
I don't even want to talk about it anymore and try to solve the problem on the web, I have exhausted all avenues and I am done with it. Including Hornady.
Good luck!!! I have been reloading for many, many years.
Floyd
 
It sounds like a timing issue to me. I had to adjust the pawls on mine when I got it. Be careful though, a small movement of the screw makes a big difference. I have heard of a lot of people have had to do that. You might just to have to call Hornady. They have a free toll number, but I don't know if it will work over seas. 1-800-338-3220. They are in Central Time zone in the U.S.. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. It may be in the middle of the night for you though.:D

The right pawl controls how much the shellplate moves when going up. The left controls how much it moves going down. To make the shellplate advance farther, screw the screw in farther. If it is going too far. uncrew it.

Hope this helps.
 
I have had my LNL press for several months and have experienced the same problems as indicated in the above postings. The timing issue was supposed to be set at the factory but I needed to tweak mine to get everything lined up. I ruined more than a few 45 casings and destroyed the plastic fingers in the powder measure. Adjust the pawls slowly and all will be well.
Another issue was the "primer feed" slide and the punch which Hornady replaced and sent out for free.
I had burrs from the slide catching etc as others have and had to file these off. After studying the problem, I was able to correct the problem by placing a .015" shim under the spring counter balance, Part No. 27 on the exploded view. This is the one on the spent primer tube. I think Hornady needs a little stiffer spring for this.
It is not really a proper shim rather a washer that I cut and placed there. Hooray the press now works as it is supposed too.
After the "shim" fix I was able to laod over 300 rounds without any primer hang ups or problems. Now I just have to watch that I don't run out of primers as this can happen quickly when all is working well.
 
I was able to correct the problem by placing a .015" shim under the spring counter balance, Part No. 27 on the exploded view. This is the one on the spent primer tube. I think Hornady needs a little stiffer spring for this.
Click to expand...

I did the same thing when I was making the EZ-ject up grade. However I just used a 1/4" washer. Kjtrot is right , they need a stiffer spring there.
 
floydster said:
I have had my new LNL for the past three months and what I have gone thru trying to get this POS to prime properly is beyond belief.
I don't even want to talk about it anymore and try to solve the problem on the web, I have exhausted all avenues and I am done with it. Including Hornady.
Click to expand...

Thank you. The fact that the rest of us are pretty darn satisfied with our LnL's makes me wonder whether the problems you're having are really with the press.
 
Dodge,
You are funny!!!
One should not have to deburr, file, sand, polish and tweak here and tweak there to get a press to run. If I wanted to do that, I would have gone with the Loadmaster. Last time I checked, this is 2010.
There is always one bad apple in the barrel and I may have one.
Floyd
 
Last edited:
floydster said:
Dodge,
You are funny!!!
One should not have to deburr, file, sand, polish and tweak here and tweak there to get a press to run. If I wanted to do that, I would have gone with the Loadmaster. Last time I checked, this is 2010.
There is always one bad apple in the barrel and I may have one.
Floyd
Click to expand...
I've made 3 adjustments to my LnL since purchasing it. The left pawl, the primer feed cam wire and tightening a decapping pin (not strictly a problem with the press). Since then it's worked pretty much flawlessly, and my dealings with Hornady have all been examples of outstanding customer service.

If you're having problems, Hornady will fix them. And if they're not fixing them, the problems aren't with the press.
 
I agree no final fabrication work should be done to get a press to run, but I had no issues like that with mine. I had to adjust the pawls once after the first 1,000 rounds I ran. Since then it runs like a rolex. I just ran 1,000 rounds this weekend with no stoppage short of filling the primer tube, or a bad case that made it through. I also do not use any thing to assist the primer feed like others are.

If you are having that many issues floydster why has it not been replaced by Hornady yet? Sounds like you have had enough issues to warrant a new one.
 
Gosh Floydster

I'm a blue guy with 2 LNL's and while they are a bit persnickety to set-up they work great once they are.

Give Hornady a call and give mthem a chance to fix your press.

Scott
 
Well, just for everyones info my son is a mech. engineer and senior designer for a firm here in the Midwest and did a study on the LNL and came to the conclusion the design of the press and the priming system is worthy of a good product, it is in the manufacture of the components that is lacking, rough edges, inproper casting and machineing, and I totaly agree.
Hornady has to address this problem.
 
I would agree. Overall the Hornady press is not as nicely machined as the Dillon or RCBS progressive presses.

That said. I really like mine. If you have any problems Hornady will fix them. I like the ergonomics of the press.
 
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