Question about my Lee Classic Turret Press

[dsv424]

I have noticed what may be a problem with my press. When I lower the arm to charge the case I noticed that the hopper does not appear to move fully over the drop hole. When I take the hopper off the powder measure and just place a disc on the powder measure I noticed when I lower the arm that the hole of the disc is only a little more than half way over the drop hole. Is this normal? If not I can't see any way to adjust it align the holes. Can someone who has one of these presses check to see if yours moves completely over the drop hole. I have noticed when I finish loading and remove the hopper and disc that there is a small pile of powder on the powder measure where the disc was.

 

[rondog]

You may not be putting the disc on correctly. There's a little lever that fits into a slot on the bottom of the disc, and that pushes the disc over the drop hole then pulls it back. On top of the disc, there's the number of the hole, like .43 for example, and that number is directly over the slot that the lever needs to fit in. When you place the disc, make sure the number is right over the lever, so the lever fits into the slot correctly. If you don't, then the lever will miss the slot and it won't drop right.

I hope that makes sense, it's something I figured out by trial and error. Not in the instructions.

 

[dsv424]

Thanks for the suggestion but that's not the problem. After study this a bit more I have discovered where the problem is.After I lower the arm I can pull the hopper an additional 1/4 inch so it aligns with the hole. I will need to post some pics to describe what is happening. Unfortunately, I won't have my camera until tomorrow.

 

[RandyP]

You have probably already checked of course, but just in case has your expanding die adjustment been set per factory guidelines?

There is a video on Lee's website:

http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/catalog/browse.cgi?1275133679.1400=/html/HelpVideos/video.html

 

[stubbicatt]

Screw the die into the press with an empty case under it until the hole lines up. Works for me.

 

[Jeff H]

same discussion in this thread as well as solutions for how I fixed this problem in mine and how others did.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506086

 

[The Bushmaster]

stubbicatt answered your question...Quite well I might add.

 

[dsv424]

Here are some pics of my dilema. No matter where I set the expanding die the disc only moves to about half way over the drop hole. There seems to be a problem with the device because there is "slop" in the bushing where swivel adapter screws into the expanding die. I went to Cabela's today and purchased a new Auto-Disc Powder Measure and it works just fine. Unfortunately, I don't know how long this has been occuring so all my recipes since the problem started will have to be redone. If you look close at the last pic you can see a gap where the swivel adapter thumb screw attaches to the Auto Riser. There should be no gap there.

[/IMG]

 

[Jeff H]

You did read the thread I linked didn't you?

There is a cheaper way to fix this w/o buying a new measure. Additionally, I don't think these pieces are wearing, I think they are stretching. Probably due to incorrect die setup. If the measure is fully open before the press handle is all the way down, you are likely to stretch this little piece.

 

[dsv424]

Unfortunately Jeff I didn't check for new posts before I went to Cabela's this morning. But that link you posted nailed my problem exactly. Oh well, now I got a back-up powder measure. Also, thanks for the tip on proper expander die set-up because this is probably what caused the problem in the first place. Thanks again for the info. Got a bit of work ahead of me now confirming all 15 die sets I have that the press arm range coincides with the full range of the powder measure. Certainly don't want to stretch this one too. Hopefully others will see this post and the one you sent me so they don't go through the trouble I did. Because this problem also affects all the recipes I made while this problem existed.