Lee Turret Press Primer Arm Problem

[rockable]

Anyone had problems with their Lee Turret press primer s hanging on the case holder as you index the press? I did with my new press. I came up with an easy fix. I cut a small piece of 1/8" aluminum stock about 3/16" X 3/8" and stuck it to the edge of the press with some thick 2 sided tape. Now, the primer arm turns in quicker and misses the case holder without fail.

Sorry, I didn't think to take pictures but you should be able to do it with my description. If not, let me know and I will take a picture.

 

[Rule3]

I need a picture I do not get where you taped it on? The press or the arm?

I just had problems with mine and we (Lee) finally figured it out. The primer cup arm (the spring shaft) was slightly bent. It was driving me crazy as it would only do it sometimes, I guess when it turned a certain way. They sent me a new one.

I was thinking of putting more weight on the primer arm.

 

[rockable]

I taped it to the cast iron base, so that the arm contacts the piece of aluminum. This will not help if your primer arm is failing to return after raising the ram.

 

[Clovishound]

I had that problem with mine. I adjusted the ram according to the instructions on Lee's help videos. Worked like a charm.

 

[carpriver]

I was having a similar problem, I made the adjustment to the ramp, I used the instructions and the Lee video. Every thing is working as it should.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I've found shell holders that were just a bit tight for the primer cup to fit through them and would hang up. But they were all older brands of shell holders from unknown brands. As soon as I bought new shell holders the problem went away.

 

[rockable]

You can see from these pictures that the slot in the ram is lined up with the two **** on the casting. The primers still dragged on the shell case. Adding the aluminum piece starts the primer arm earlier in the stroke and it adds plenty of clearance, as you can see from the pictures.

 

[Rule3]

Thanks for the pictures, I gather you do not prime on the press?

I had asked LEE a long time ago to devise a spring on the turret rod to raise the case above the primer rod at the end of the stroke so the case could be removed easier. I guess I am so used to pushing up a bit now I do not think of it.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Seems like some part has to be out of spec. At least it's an easy fix but I would still contact Lee to see if they would make it better.

I get it where the priming cup hangs up in the shell holder on a couple of them since they are just tight enough that the slightest bit of build up will grab hold of the primer cup. It's agrivating but it's nothing I couldn't fix in a few minutes with fine sanding paper. I'm just too lazy to jump on it because a tap of the finger corrects the problem the few times it happens.

 

[Clovishound]

My ram looked like it was properly adjusted. I played around with it just a little, and got it into the sweet spot. I doesn't look like it should be that picky, but it is. Once you get it into that spot, it works like a charm. I tried your solution with a small piece of wood, until I did some research and found the video on Lee's website.

I would think it would be easy for Lee to make a few minor changes that would eliminate this problem altogether.

 

[rockable]

Thanks for the pictures, I gather you do not prime on the press?

I had asked LEE a long time ago to devise a spring on the turret rod to raise the case above the primer rod at the end of the stroke so the case could be removed easier. I guess I am so used to pushing up a bit now I do not think of it.

I do prime on the press. That is why I made this mod.

 

[Rule3]

I do prime on the press. That is why I made this mod.

That doesn't prevent the primer arm from going up far enough to seat the primer?

I'll have to try it.

My problem (yes, I have many) is the primer arm sticking in the groove of the ram even with out a shell holder in there (testing) I cleaned, polished etc, Lee sent me a new arm, I still think it's bent.

The Lee video of the primer arm seating in between the two notches on the press base is not my issue. How do they move the press ram, mine dosen't move??

 

[mikld]

The primer arm is designed to fall back out of the way with it's own weight. I can't see where the aluminum pad would help that.. I took my primer arms and polished both sides with emery cloth (lay cloth/fine sandpaper on flat surface, place the arm on the paper, flat, and polish). I keep my press ram clean and the arms fall out of the way by themselves...

 

[rockable]

The primer arm is designed to fall back out of the way with it's own weight. I can't see where the aluminum pad would help that.. I took my primer arms and polished both sides with emery cloth (lay cloth/fine sandpaper on flat surface, place the arm on the paper, flat, and polish). I keep my press ram clean and the arms fall out of the way by themselves...

Mine fall out of the way just fine as long as they are clean. The problem was the primer catching on the case holder as I lowered the ram to feed the primer in. It would catch on the case holder. It no longer does. I can stroke it as quickly as I want to. Works for me.