Lee Pro Auto Disk help

[CMV]

I've had one for a while & have the double disk kit for it. It has always worked well once I got it figured out. Up until recently, I tightened the thumbscrews that hold the hopper on very tight. As tight as I could possibly get them by hand. It worked smoothly that way & leaked very, very little if those thumbscrews were good & tight.

It wasn't working well a while back so I took it apart to clean it. Launched & lost the return spring in the process & Lee was kind enough to send a free replacement. I also bought a 2nd one at that time. So I put the original one back together and used the new one as a reference to make sure it was assembled the exact same way. It works wonderfully with one disk, but if I stack 2 disks, it doesn't work right. I now have to leave the thumbscrews barely snug or disks won't return at all or will 'pop' back home. While it does work & throw accurately that way, it also leaks & makes a mess. This is the same behavior I took it apart & cleaned it in the first place to try & correct. I don't see anything obviously worn, missing, or damaged.

I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Setting up the 2nd one the exact same way, it works like this one used to. Not a big deal - I can still just use it where a single disk is sufficient - but what really bothers me is I can't figure out why it's doing this. It's been completely apart & reassembled several times now. Can't figure out why it works perfectly with 1 disk and horribly with 2. I tried using new disks, taping the disks together, & silicone lube (applied with q-tip & wiped over, not dripping wet). I can take a phillips head & torque the screws down very tight on a single disk & it slides smoothly, leaks maybe a spec or two of powder in a session, and works very well. As soon as I add the 2nd disk, I can only tighten the thumbscrews enough to make contact with the hopper base. Barley touching. Not nearly tight enough to keep it form being very messy or the thumbscrews backing themselves off & falling off during operation.

 

[1SOW]

Withour being able to touchy-feely I'm just guessing, but something to do with the new spring PRESSURE icould be raising or pushing on the disk where it rides on that metal arm. When you tighten the screws something is binding.
Tripple check that the spring tangs are connected like they were before it launched.
If you have the PRO-Disk system, make sure the plastic seal at the bottom of the hopper isn't out of place and causing increased friction against the disk.

Hope this at least steers you in a new direction to check out.
Good luck.

 

[docsleepy]

Sounds like checking that rubber part might be the trick.

I lubed moving parts of mine by rubbing them with a pencil to put graphite on moving parts.

 

[Potatohead]

disks won't return at all or will 'pop' back home

That's actually a good way to describe that IMO. The one time mine started doing that, I sprayed a tad of OneShot onto the chrome looking shaft that goes down into the belling/charging die. Then a put a case into it and worked it a few times to make sure the lube worked it's way up and down that little area there, with the black part that pushes everything up. Sorry I dont know the technical names of the parts but it seemed to be hanging up there.

Hadn't had that problem since, so maybe the problem is with that area, friction with the part that engages the measure to move the discs and drop ?

I think over tightening the screws can actually bind it up worse. YMMV

 

[maxxhavoc]

First off, do you have the "Pro Auto-Disk" which is round and uses a pullback chain, or the "Auto-disk" which is square and uses a return spring? I am asking for my own information mostly, because the "Auto-Disk" I had did not have thumbscrews, only philips screws.

I think Potatohead is on the right track. Sounds like the actuator inside the expanding die may be sticking. The added friction of a tight disk doesn't allow it to move.

Take the hopper off, take the spring off, and cycle a case in it like you would normally do it while you are reloading. Cycle the powder actuator with your finger to mimic the action of the spring. Does it hang? If it does, take apart your belling die and clean it out well and look for dings or excessive wear on parts.

 

[CMV]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/348753/lee-pro-auto-disk-powder-measure?cm_vc=ProductFinding

It's this one. Pro Auto Disk, uses a spring, no chain (using on a LCT).

 

[Potatohead]

In the picture at the link you provided, the black part at the farthest point down is what I tried to get some lube under. I guess "actuator" actuator is the term. it cant hurt and like said Ive had no problems since.

 

[dickttx]

My Pro Auto Disk works best when the brass nuts are tightened FIRMLY, but not overly tight. When I change disks or have it apart for some reason I puff a little graphite on the base, lay the disk on and puff a little more graphite on top of it.
The rubber piece in the bottom of the hopper is what keeps it from leaking, not how tight it is.
I would also check the drop, as mentioned above. A little graphite puffed there and worked in and out would insure it is free to move.

 

[LiveLife]

If the Pro Auto Disk has difficulty sliding back fully, the disk edge maybe catching on the bottom of the wiper. Inspect the wiper for damage and if damaged, flip the wiper or replace the wiper (if already flipped previously). They are $1 from Lee Precision - http://leeprecision.com/wiper.html

With a new Pro Auto Disk unit, it helps to lubricate the wiper surface with number 2 pencil lead shaving (shave some lead on paper and rub wiper until evenly coated). Use of coated powders like Winchester/Hodgdon flattened ball powders (like W231/HP-38, WSF, AutoComp, etc.) will continue to coat and lubricate the contact surfaces but many flake powders lack this coating.

So take out the wiper and flip it and coat/lubricate the surface with pencil lead shaving until black and see if the problem continues. I wouldn't initially tighten the brass nuts until the disk is difficult to slide but start on the loose side and gradually tighten until I experience smooth cycling of the disk.

 

[higgite]

Are you using the 2 hopper risers (plastic spacers) that should have been included in the double disk kit? Someone on here a while back had a similar problem to yours and it was because they weren't using the spacers.

http://leeprecision.com/hopper-riser-ea-2req.html

You shouldn't have to tighten the brass nuts as much as you describe. I snug them up firmly, but nowhere close to as tight as I can.

 

[Gadawg88]

I use the pro auto disk also, with single disk and double disk kit. For what it is worth, I have never had to tighten the brass nuts as you describe. Just a little snug is all.

 

[Potatohead]

Good point Higgite, I actually forgot those once, figured it out quickly but it does cause a work stoppage.

 

[CMV]

Are you using the 2 hopper risers (plastic spacers) that should have been included in the double disk kit? Someone on here a while back had a similar problem to yours and it was because they weren't using the spacers.

http://leeprecision.com/hopper-riser-ea-2req.html

You shouldn't have to tighten the brass nuts as much as you describe. I snug them up firmly, but nowhere close to as tight as I can.

There's the problem!!!!!!!

Found them in the box the double disk kit came in. Wonder why it worked just fine & for so long (1,000's of rounds) without them? Problem solved - thanks guys!

 

[Potatohead]

Good work Higgite, you nailed it!

 

[rondog]

The risers/spacers was my immediate thought too, as I've done that before and had exactly the same problems!

 

[Potatohead]

Yup, that'll grind you to a halt. Like said above, Ive managed to pull that one off myself before too.