LnL Powder Measure Comes Loose

[pinkymingeo]

On my LnL AP, unless I very snugly wrench-tighten the powder measure in it's bushing, it'll work it's way loose and pop out of place at the worst time. I changed to a bushing with a better fit, but it'll still come out unless I get it really tight. Is this typical, and is there a fix?

 

[20nickels]

Not typical, call Hornaday tech support.

 

[20nickels]

Not typical, call Hornaday tech support.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I called Hornady about this very issue on Tuesday. The tech support representative said that it is common and is to be expected. He recommended that I keep checking every once in a while to make sure it is tight. I did not like his answer, but that was it. :banghead:

 

[Idano]

Gentlemen:

That's BS, you need to call them back and complain. It sounds like you got hold of someone that didn't know how to deal with the problem and didn't want to ask so they went with the BS. I have run thousands and thousands of rounds through my AP and never had my powder measure or die pop out. Good help is hard to find this day this is a classic example. When you call back if you get same person or the same answer ask to speak with a manager. If you still don't get a satisfactory response let them know you will be posting their response here where other reloaders use this forum to decide what equipment to buy. Besides that let us other Hornady owners know and I for one will call in complaint too.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I don't like that answer, either. Quality control on those female bushings is miserable, anyway. Every one fits differently. When I got the press, two of them wouldn't hold anything reliably. Hornady sent me two new ones, but one was so tight none of my male bushings would fit in it, period.

 

[Idano]

Wow, sounds like Hornady may be experiencing some production growing pains from their new found success with the AP. I bought my press two years ago and quality was outstanding then, but I have heard lately that the AP's have been hard to come by so maybe their not scrutinizing them like they should be. I also seen where Dillon was have a few issues too; unfortunately it does happen especially when they rushing to keep up with the demand.

 

[jenrob]

Mine has never come loose.

I did find that if you set everything up with the lock ring screw loose, tighten down the lock ring then tighten the lock ring screw.

As you tighten the lock ring scew it as it closes on the threads it pulls tighter on the bushing.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I agree, that is total BS, but that is what the support tech at Hornady told me. I got this LNL AP in December and I think their QC had gone downhill by then.

Four of the five press bushings (female) were very loose. Hornady sent me four replacements, two of which are good and two are still loose, just not as bad as the originals. My powder measure pops out if I don't constantly tighten it down and the die in station 2 comes loose on a regular basis.

These problems, combined with a bunch of other problems such as high primers are driving me nuts. I'm tired of calling and performing warranty work for Hornady. I'm not sure what I'm going to do, but this is not fun anymore.

I would have called them again today, but if I hear that stupid cutsey message on their phone system one more time, I'm going to throw this Hornady press out the window.

Jenrob: The dies are not coming out of the die bushings. The die bushings themselves are coming out of the press bushings. Tightenting rings and screws will have no effect on this type of problem.

 

[pinkymingeo]

My press works flawlessly except for this one problem. The only other issue I've had is kinking case retainer springs. That was caused by a rough spot in the subplate cutout, where the spring moves out of the way at station 5. A dremel wirebush took care of that. I tried two O-rings on the male bushing, but that's too thick. I believe a thicker ring would add enough preload to keep the things in place, but haven't been able to find a thicker one the correct size.

 

[Master Blaster]

The die bushings themselves are coming out of the press bushings. Tightenting rings and screws will have no effect on this type of problem.

I have the same problem with my powder measure, its just too much mass boogie woogieing up and down and it unlocks itself.

I seem to have solved it though by wraping some teflon tape around the outside of the bushing, it tightens the fit enough that it stays put, I used oatley brand becuase it was what I had and its thicker than most. This is the same teflon tape you use on threaded pipes. Wrap it tightly one or two winds around the lugs on the bushing.

 

[pinkymingeo]

I found my solution this AM. An O-ring 1x1-1/8x1/16 over the stock ring tightens the bushing up like gangbusters. I don't believe it's coming loose.

 

[Otto]

I had this problem too.
I replaced the stock o-ring with a larger one. The size I used was 1/8 wide, 3/4 I.D and 1 O.D. (also referred as a #210)
It solved the problem.

Horrible Freight's o-ring kit comes in handy.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2901

 

[Wayne02]

When you guys say bushing, are you talking about the lock n load bushing that gets cammed/twisted into the female holes in the top of the press?

 

[IMtheNRA]

Wayne02, there are two types of bushings: press bushings (female) that are the "holes in the press" and the die bushings (male) that hold the die and are twisted into the press bushings.

 

[PsychoKnight]

I tried a thicker o-ring but the ones I have are too thick and require me to use my entire body weight to twist the bushing in place, and being too lazy to search the stores for a better fit . . .

I figured the real problem was the tendency for the heavy powder measure assembly to rotate as the press slightly rocks back and forth during the loading process (I now understand why someone mounted their's on a industrial strength steel post, and cemented it 2ft deep into his basement floor). So I just took a lightweight rubber band and connected a part of the measure with the case feeder drop mechanism (can attach to one of the dies instead of you don't have a feeder) to prevent the measure from rotating. Don't have the rubber band stretched much, just enough so the measure doesn't rotate enough to pop out.

 

[pinkymingeo]

When I tried Otto's solution, it didn't work for me. That 1/8 O-ring was too thick. Adding the 1/16 worked perfectly, though. I think it's a matter of how much play you're starting out with.