Problem with my Lee Pro Auto Disk Measure

[Markus]

So I was just in the garage reloading .40 S&W on my Lee Classic Turret when I heard a funny noise that came from my press I thought I had popped a primer but that wasnt the case. I checked the round fully and saw no discernible damage or inconsistencies and so continued to finish that round. As I started the next round and got to the powder stage I noticed that the powder measure wasnt dropping any powder into the brass. It seems that my auto disk is somewhat stuck. It will move a bit forward but will not go back far enough in order to fill with more powder. I took off the powder measure and then put it back on but that did not seem to help at all. Anybody have any ideas on what could have caused this?

This is the press with the arm fully depressed.



Closeup of the disk when the lever is down.



Closeup of the disk when the lever is up.

[Don the savage]

Is the disk installed with the tab in the groove on the bottom of the disk? Are the screws too tight?

[Markus]

I loaded 50 rounds yesterday with no problem. I loaded fifteen today before this problem happened. Perhaps there's something wrong with the spring?

[dstiltner]

I had the same problem. Lee recommends using the brass chain for positive pull back of the powder cavity. I pulled off my spring and installed the chain. The cavity is pulled back everytime now.

EDIT: Just noticed you are using a turret press. I am using a Lee 1000 progressive, which the chain is intended to be used with. I am guessing your symptoms are the same as mine just not as easy of a solution as putting on the pull chain.

[Bill Steele]

I loaded many, many thousands of rounds using my LCT and Auto Disk Pro and with the Pro model (like the one you have) never had a single jam of any kind. When I used the standard Auto Disk (with the square hopper and no seal) I had some leakage of powder and an occasional jam of the disk if the powder I using was a hard kernal powder like AA#7, etc.

I wish I could help but I am stumped.

[pisarski]

take the hopper off and check the disk to see if the slot that the arm goes into did not brake . from what i can see the arm goes back but the disk stays so check the disk

[Markus]

I noticed that when the arm comes up the spring only moves a little bit before stopping. I'm stuck at work for the moment but I'll see if I can't fiddle with it tomorrow. If I can't fix this should I call le customer service?

[ap1040]

Thanks for posting this . . . . I've been having the exact same issue you have. I also have the same setup. The first 2k rounds I did my my lee worked fine with no issues. Now I check every case to make sure the powder has dropped, this has slowed down my reloading speed.

[pisarski]

yes if you cant get it fixed call lee for help

[Fishslayer]

Did you turn off your powder hopper to troubleshoot? That would explain no powder.
Also noticed the brass nuts aren't installed.



I've had my LCT w/Auto Disc for 3 years now. I would occasionally get some funky operation from the Auto Disc. It's meant to have a bit of a "dink" when the disc retracts but occasionally it would get to be more of a "CLANG!" and sometimes would hang up that last little bit, stopping just short of full retraction.

I found that the spring was hanging up on the metal web underneath. It's a close fit and when the spring would shift it would hang up one coil short of retracting.

I took a Dremel with sanding drum and took just a hair of metal off the web. More of a rounding & smoothing so the spring would slide more smoothly & not hang up.

Supposedly the "dink" is to help settle the powder for more consistent charges but I monitored closely & am getting no measurable variation.

[Markus]

So I'm still not sure how this problem happened however I have found a solution. I simply loosened the screw on the spring mechanism and that solved it.

[jonzer77]

So I'm still not sure how this problem happened however I have found a solution. I simply loosened the screw on the spring mechanism and that solved it.

Yeah that is what helped mine when I had the same issue.

[Markus]

Go figure it's something I haven't touched in the entire time I've reloaded with this press.