Lee Auto Drum headaches

[RiskyBusiness]

Started experimenting with ramshot tac and I'm getting spills of about a 2-3 gr coming out from under the cup holder that pivots to dump charges. If i tighten the drum too much it won't function. For now i just place a large piece of shipping paper to catch what hits the floor.

Also I removed the safety feature for double charges because it was causing a grind on a small black lever that rides up during the dump. This grind was causing deformed case mouths. Can someone explain why the lever in the pic swings to the left and rams into the left edge instead of staying aligned to the right and just moving up and down.

One more thing, the turret won't spin and line up with the shell holder anymore. Looked this up and found there's a plastic square holder behind the shell holder that is worn out. A fifty cent replacement part.

At the end of it all, when it's working it's great but it's a very delicate machine to operate.

[someoneeasy]

take a look at the two surfaces of where the drum meets up with the body and make sure there isn't powder there creating a gap.

As for the turret not spinning and lining up, is it not rotating at all or is it not stopping where the die doesn't line up with the shell holder?

If it skips a rotation, then the plastic square needs to be replaced, but if its rotating and not stopping lined up, you need to adjust the square nut on the indexing rod.

[stilly]

Started experimenting with ramshot tac and I'm getting spills of about a 2-3 gr coming out from under the cup holder that pivots to dump charges. If i tighten the drum too much it won't function. For now i just place a large piece of shipping paper to catch what hits the floor.

Also I removed the safety feature for double charges because it was causing a grind on a small black lever that rides up during the dump. This grind was causing deformed case mouths. Can someone explain why the lever in the pic swings to the left and rams into the left edge instead of staying aligned to the right and just moving up and down.

One more thing, the turret won't spin and line up with the shell holder anymore. Looked this up and found there's a plastic square holder behind the shell holder that is worn out. A fifty cent replacement part.

At the end of it all, when it's working it's great but it's a very delicate machine to operate.

1. Dunno much about that drum but what you are describing does NOT sound good or right. I would go over the assembly of it all and see if anything has been reversed or is out of what somewhere.

2. Define not spinning and lining up. Do you just mean that it does not line up like it used to? You might have done something to affect the timing. The instructions tell you what to do if you have that issue. I had it ONCE a long time ago and I twisted the top of the auto index shaft I think, but I never had that problem afterwards.

If it is all jacked up inside where that little black plastic square is- then you need to stop SHORT STROKING your press. Lee ONLY engineers their machines to be 3 times stronger than a normal reloader needs them to be. One thing to keep in mind is to NOT change directions (up or down) until that black plastic piece has cleared the curved park of the index rod and is in the straight section.

I have had my press for 5 years now and put over 30k rounds through it and never had that issue. I am still using my original black plastic square.

[RiskyBusiness]

1. Dunno much about that drum but what you are describing does NOT sound good or right. I would go over the assembly of it all and see if anything has been reversed or is out of what somewhere.

2. Define not spinning and lining up. Do you just mean that it does not line up like it used to? You might have done something to affect the timing. The instructions tell you what to do if you have that issue. I had it ONCE a long time ago and I twisted the top of the auto index shaft I think, but I never had that problem afterwards.

If it is all jacked up inside where that little black plastic square is- then you need to stop SHORT STROKING your press. Lee ONLY engineers their machines to be 3 times stronger than a normal reloader needs them to be. One thing to keep in mind is to NOT change directions (up or down) until that black plastic piece has cleared the curved park of the index rod and is in the straight section.

I have had my press for 5 years now and put over 30k rounds through it and never had that issue. I am still using my original black plastic square.

Stilly thanks i didnt realize short stroking was bad for that plastic square. They only cost 50 cents a piece but im glad that will fix it and for future wear i'll give it the full range of motion.

regarding the drum, im going to call them and ask if they can send out a replacement if not ill buy the 4pack. It might be that the mold is just not the perfect fit for grains of that size. Varget doesnt spill from the drum as it is 8x the size of ramshot tac powder per grain.

[RiskyBusiness]

take a look at the two surfaces of where the drum meets up with the body and make sure there isn't powder there creating a gap.

As for the turret not spinning and lining up, is it not rotating at all or is it not stopping where the die doesn't line up with the shell holder?

If it skips a rotation, then the plastic square needs to be replaced, but if its rotating and not stopping lined up, you need to adjust the square nut on the indexing rod.

i blew compressed air all through out the body and wiped down the internals with alcohol. i think its just a bad mold and i'll see about getting a replacement from Lee. i dont remember having this problem with h110 and its just as small.

[wbunning]

There have been lots of YouTube discussions regarding the AD. You may find a piece of usable info in this one ( perhaps you've already seen it) from FortuneCookie: https://youtu.be/ojTC6gyNH_A

[Metal God]

I had some similar issues with mine . Once powder gets in between the rotor and the housing it will leak more and more . When I'd clean it then make it a little tighter the rotor would not fully rotate giving short charges like 2gr less on a 5gr charge , NOT good . My solution was to clean the whole thing and then spray graphite dry lube in the housing and a little on the rotor . This allowed me to tighten the rotor a little more stopping the leak while keeping the housing and rotor lubed enough to fully rotate even though the rotor was a little tighter .

FWIW I marked the outside of the rotor and housing to line up when the rotor has fully rotated properly . This allows me to visually see every time if I get full rotation of the rotor . So far so good .

[RiskyBusiness]

I had some similar issues with mine . Once powder gets in between the rotor and the housing it will leak more and more . When I'd clean it then make it a little tighter the rotor would not fully rotate giving short charges like 2gr less on a 5gr charge , NOT good . My solution was to clean the whole thing and then spray graphite dry lube in the housing and a little on the rotor . This allowed me to tighten the rotor a little more stopping the leak while keeping the housing and rotor lubed enough to fully rotate even though the rotor was a little tighter .

FWIW I marked the outside of the rotor and housing to line up when the rotor has fully rotated properly . This allows me to visually see every time if I get full rotation of the rotor . So far so good .

That's really clever. It was pretty frustrating last night as I used to get perfect charges but now it doesn't fully rotate on the return so it's off 2gr or less. I'll go pick some of that up asap. Thanks man.

[tonyjr]

I foind graphite dry lube dirty / messy . I silicone spray - I spray on paper towel and wipe down parts .

[Metal God]

The graphite is in deed messy and or hard to apply with out getting it on other things . I've not used much silocone lube but thought they stay tacky ??? That would not be good in this application because the powder will contact areas that you lube . The lube must be completely dry or you will be in a world of hurt . The good thing about using graphite is that the powders them selves use graphite so it's not going to effect your burn rate or if the powder will burn at all

[tonyjr]

The stuff I use drys .
Both graphite and silicone are dust magnets
I have tried different case lubes [ mostly on the older disk Lee powder droppers .

[Metal God]

I have to be honest, I've never heard anyone say graphite atracts dust/dirt . At least not in the way I use that term . If graphite attracts dirt like a magnet. What does oil attract dirt like ?