Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

[memilanuk]

So I got this Hornady LnL AP a while back (year and a half, has it been that long?!?) because the price was right (barely used, about 1yr old at that time, pre EZ-ject) and at the time I had a couple semi-active Junior HP shooters and feeding my rifle and theirs just wasn't hacking it on a 550. Then they dropped out, and 99% of my motivation for getting it up and running pretty much evaporated.

Now I'm back at it. I have a large rifle case feed wheel and new .223/.308 shellplates on order - eventually when this thing is firing on all cylinders I want to convert it to the EZ-ject sub-plate, but I figure one iron in the fire at a time

The press itself works fine, and then I added the electric case feeder. I've been all over the map with this dang thing trying to get the case pusher sorted out. Tweaking the timing pawls, adjusting the case feeder wire, etc. Most recently a call to Hornady suggested using a different vee-block, a #6 instead of the #2 listed in the table in the manual. That and a little sanding around the lip of the groove for the case retainer spring just to make sure there weren't any burrs...

The new vee block made a noticeable improvement, but it's still kind of fussy about feeding. Basically I have to really milk it to get the case to cross over that groove for the retainer spring without tipping. Usually it dips down just a little, and then the vee-block pushes it the rest of the way forward but the case is visibly tipped. A quick tap with my finger and it snaps back vertical. Annoying, but workable. Other times it tips the case enough it just plain doesn't engage the shellplate groove, or only on one side. In those situations I have to pick up the case and re-set it in the shellplate before advancing the press to the sizing/decapping station.

It just feels like it's *so* close to working right that it's driving me nuts. If any of the LnL AP owners here could pitch in and help, I'd appreciate it greatly.

Thanks,

Monte

 

[Goin'Hot]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

I've got one and it works 100% on 45acp and then when I run 9mm's, it behaves as you describe. I've never tried rifle cases as I feel a progressive press throwing powder LnL or my 550 results in substandard loads.

I guess I have no answer for ya but you're not alone. I don't know if the LnL with case feed can ever be made to switch calibers and run them all 100%. Hornady doesn't seem to admit when a problem exists. My buddie modified our shell plates into "easy eject" plates before Hornady released theirs. He called Hornady & told them about the mod and they said the mod wasn't needed but thanks anyway.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

If the case is tipped forward, the Vblock may be driving the case too far into the shellplate. Try adjusting the timing wire a bit.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

The case is tipping as soon as it crosses the groove for the retaining spring. The case is getting tipped because the leading edge of the rim is hanging up in that groove or on the wire, and the vee-block continues driving it forward to where it should be.

That and there ain't no mo' adjustment to that wire. It's as far as its gonna go, unless I get out my tap-n-die set...

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

Here's a few videos (crappy cell phone vids, the good digi-cam had a dead battery) of it not working, then working a couple times, then not working again, then a little better photo of what it looks like when its 'hung up'. Like I said, the videos are pretty bad (sorry) but you can see how slow I have to 'milk' this thing to get it to work. Very slow, and very steady, and it works 'okay'.

My main desire for this thing is loading blaster ammo for the .223 Rem (ball powder) and 9mm/.45acp pistol ammo, and maybe using it as a progressive decapper for my .308 Win stuff. So it needs to work a little better/faster with the small case head stuff like .223 Rem/ 9mm.

 

[Rookie]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

Watched the vids. It appears that the case is just not being pushed far enough into the shellplate. I dont think the cases are being tripped by the retainer spring trough. I would first try to adjust the Vblock out just a bit. There is some room for adjustment there to push the case further. Second, try to adjust the timing wire to put more pressure on the case sooner. When mine was new, I spent alot of time adjusting that wire a half turn at a time. I always seemed to adjust it the wrong direction the first try. Remember, you want the wire to move the Vblock in towards the shellplate sooner.

Adjustment here is critical. However, once it was set, I could switch between calibers quickly with no adjustment.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

While I do appreciate the help... I have to respectfully disagree. The vids may not show it (it was more difficult to get good angle on the happenin's than I had expected); but the cases that 'hung up' are most definitely tipping exactly as they cross that groove. Every time it happens, thats where it starts going wrong.

I set the vee-block by leaving it a little loose, running it all the way in against a case in the shellplate to center it up and then tightening the allen head bolt for it... so I'm pretty sure that the vee block *is* going all the way in. In that last picture, the 'gap' between the shell plate and the case rim isn't because the vee-block isn't trying to push the case home. It's literally wedged. If I tap the case mouth back towards vertical (back towards the case feeder slide, and *away* from the shell plate, so I'm not 'helping' it), it will 'snap' fully home in the shell plate notch.

As for the adjuster wire... which way would you suggest I go with it? I'm already all the way down; as I mentioned before, it won't go any further unless I take a threading die to it...

 

[kombayotch]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

Hi Monte,

You are talking about this right?

The problem is that the V block is pushing the cases at web level. That is too high. It should be pushing the case down lower. Here is a simple little fix that should help:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=97423

I am going to make some new circular pushers that are case specific, that push the case at the rim instead of the web. I'm going to machine them, but it would also be simple to get some extra V blocks and create that feature using some epoxy putty.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

Hello Kris,

Interesting little fix!

Another person sent me a similar solution, but using a piece of foam glued to the bottom of the vee block and cut/shaped so that it engages the groove. I'm sure both would work equally well, I just need to give 'em a try here.

Thanks,

Monte

 

[kombayotch]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

I tired it tonight and it worked really well. The only cases that still had issues where the ones that wouldn't fit in single stage shell holder either (or fit tightly). This was 9mm range brass...

I fixed the problem of small pistol cases flipping off the sub-plate by putting a small "skirt" around the case drop tube made from a split piece of rubber hose and held on with a hose clamp.

If you want to get rid of the sticking on the case mouth expander with pistol cases, try one of these:
http://www.powderfunnels.com/products.html

I made one myself and it works fantastic. Minimal stick on the down stroke.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Hornady LnL AP casefeeder help

I haven't gotten around to even trying pistol cases yet... I just want to get .223 Rem working first, then .308 Win - this thing should make a lovely fully-progressive decapping machine for knocking the primers out before pitching them in the SS media...