Hornady case feeder tipping .357 cases - any ideas

[IMtheNRA]

Any idea what's causing the cases to tip like this? I'm using the #2 V-block. Tried #3, but it does not push about 10% the cases far enough into the shell plate.

My LNL was recently returned from Hornady with the new ejection system upgrade and this malfunction started. The malfunction occurs with all four headstamps of my .357 cases, but it happens less often with nickel-plated cases, so I suspect that the friction between the case and subplate may have something to do with this problem.

Edited to add: Just got off the phone with Hornady tech support and he has no idea what would cause this. I emailed the rep a photo and he'll show it around in an attempt to figure out the problem.

 

[Walkalong]

Post the pic here as well.

 

[IMtheNRA]

It is in the post already. Can you see it or did I screw up the photo post?

 

[Walkalong]

I don't see it.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Strange, I can see it in my original post. Here is another link to the photo:

 

[Dreaded]

It seems to me that the V-Block isn't centered with the shell holder opening. Is this right or am i not seeing this correct in the picture because the shell is tipped?

 

[Walkalong]

Hmmm. I still can't see the the pic.

 

[Seedtick]

Hey Walkalong, hit the 'Ctrl' key and 'F5' at the same time. Might help, if I remember right that bypasses/overrides cache memory?

ST

 

[Walkalong]

Here at home it shows just fine. I'll try that trick at work Tuesday if I still can't see it.

 

[Walkalong]

I would love to see a pic from the opposite angle that shows under the shell plate.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

If my 650 was doing it first thing I would check is that there are no burrs on the feeder, then see if the brass isn't out of speck. Also try some One Shot on it, to ease the sliding of the case.

 

[Walkalong]

IMtheNRA

I suspect that the friction between the case and subplate may have something to do with this problem.

Rollis R. Karvellis

I would check is that there are no burrs on the feeder

Excellent advise. I cut the leg for the case feeder off because I won't ever use one and it was just in the way, but I also used some 600 grit by hand and slicked the remainder of it up and the brass slides nice and smooth across it when I hand feed them in to the shell plate. I also used some 600 grit to knock off the sharp edges of the cutout the spring lays in that the the brass slides across.

Pic 1

Pic 2

Pic 3

Also make sure the spring is all the way down in the groove and not causing the brass to tip. As Dreaded pointed out, make sure the V block is lined up well.

 

[Fractal X]

Walkalong, I suspect your work is filtering image hosting from imageshack, I know mine does.

OP, sorry about the threadjacking.
</threadjack>

 

[Walkalong]

Could be. We just got the internet back after a Trojan caused them all kinds of problems. Photobucket is blocked now, where it wasn't before, so I guess images are as well. I just thought I would see something, even if the image was blocked. Guess not. I think you have the answer.


IMtheNRA

How it the problem solving going? Got it worked out?

 

[IMtheNRA]

Hornady's tech support rep told me to raise the feeder cam wire, which made the problem even worse. Based on that observation, I lowered it as far is it would go, and that helped a lot. The failure now occurs much less frequently, but it still is not working perfectly.

The problem is that I can't lower the wire any more, as I am already out of the threaded portion on which the top nut rides...

And to make matters worse, the PTX started crunching .357 case mouths again, which is indicative of mis-timing, high primers, or excessive drag as the shell plate goes around.

This plate just came back from Hornady after a retrofit for the new EZ ejection system, which by the way, seems to be working much, much better than the old wire ejection.

Can't wait to hear Hornady's cutesy telephone message again in the morning!

 

[Borg]

It's the timing of the shellplate.
You can change that by adjusting the left pawl, I belive, VERY little at a time.
Borg

 

[IMtheNRA]

Just got an email from the tech support rep at Hornady.

He said that they were able to duplicate this failure in their tests and they believe that my shellplate is at fault following the plate's EZ Ject retrofit. It appears that the shellplate does not do a good job of holding down the retainer spring in it's channel in the sub plate assembly.

They sent me the replacement shellplate today.

 

[Roccobro]

I think I'll be holding off on the retrofit a while longer. Got my wire shell pooper adjusted juuuust right for now....

Justin