APS Priming Problem for RCBS 2000

[brettkeating]

Just had my first major hiccup with my RCBS 2000.

Was reloading 38 special, humming along just fine... then while pushing the rod to prime a round, it felt (only slightly) tougher than normal and the thing jammed up. The priming rod had apparently took a chunk of the APS strip with it, and the plastic had jammed the priming rod in the hole beneath the shell plate. So I tried to unscrew the priming rod from below and pull it out, but it broke! The spring mechanism that is used for it had broken free from the rod. I had to hammer what remained of the rod out with a mallet and allen wrench. I already asked RCBS for a replacement, but now I can't get the APS strip out. Every other minor hiccup I've had with APS, I was able to work the strip free without removing the shell plate... but this time it just won't budge. It just slides back and forth when I try to activate the mechanism that advances the strip.

Any advice how to remove it? Before I start disassembling the press, I'd like to know if there's a tip or trick from RCBS 2000 vets out there.

[too-tall]

I had the same problem and removing the bottom plate makes getting the aps strip out very easy. I was back up in 20-30 min, it will also allow you to remove any small plastic debris from the channel that guides the priming strip. The manual has a good exploded view of the bottom plate and primer channel. Note, my 2000 has manual index not auto index.

[brettkeating]

I ended up disassembling the whole thing after I got replacement parts, particularly the priming rod assembly. Even the auto indexing parts of the APS system down to the metal rods. Dry lubed everything, replaced the broken or bent parts, and put it all back together.

Didn't work. Started having the same problem that caused the jam up in the first place.

So I disassembled it all again, and looked more carefully at it... and then it dawned on me what the problem was. The big metal thing (not sure what it's called) that the APS pushes against in order to auto-index wasn't on tight. I don't recall ever tightening it... so it probably was loose from the very beginning. It got pushed out a tiny bit and this was enough to prevent a full auto-index... it would only go about halfway... and that's why the priming rod pushed straight through the plastic middle between two primers on the strip... which caused the plastic and priming rod to get stuck the first time.

So I tightened that big metal thing in the correct position.

Now everything works ****ing great.

Awesome, back in business. Too bad it took over two weeks to finally get everything resolved.

[stevec223]

Thanks for following up on the parts and repair journey !!!... I have had the same thing happen to a lesser degree ,,, no broken parts though... I also second the above that taking out the shell-plate assembly makes the press easier to fix APS strip issues.... I use computer canned air to clean it all out under the plate... I do think i will order up a couple priming rods just to have close by... Cheers...

[stilly]

What happened?

You short stroke?

[brettkeating]

The metal piece that indexes the APS system was loose and got pushed forward. It probably came that way. After tightening it the thing works like a charm. Did another 225 rounds of 38 special today, took under an hour including filling the strips and checking powder levels occasionally.

[stilly]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.