V3 Auto Trickler issue

[lrankine]

I recently purchased the full package(scale & AT) including Area 419 Accessories. The problem I have is using VH N550 powder. It's long kernels consistently jam up the auto drop mechanism. I contacted Adam and he advised that he was aware of the issue and I should manually work the drop device instead of letting it run on automatic. Unfortunately the powder still gets hung up somewhere in powder funnel and must be manually cleared before powder will drop again.

Anyone else have this issue and have you found a solution?

 

[OneMoreNoMore]

Not much of a solution for the autothrower itself but you can find a scoop that will throw the bulk charge and put the pan on the scale and the trickler will work as usual and trickle to the set weight.

 

[6MT]

I know of two fellows up here in Canada that have eliminated the Auto throw unit. They replaced it with the Lee manual unit. They drop the bulk of the powder with the Lee unit and then use the auto trickler to complete the charge.

 

[Steel head]

The Lee is pretty well known for being able to handle Lincoln logs powders.

 

[bax]

I know of two fellows up here in Canada that have eliminated the Auto throw unit. They replaced it with the Lee manual unit. They drop the bulk of the powder with the Lee unit and then use the auto trickler to complete the charge.

I had trouble with the autothrower not working correctly. It would start to throw, get stuck, make a sort of grinding noise, and throw less than a full charge - sometimes a lot less. There is a phillips screw on the thrower pivot point. I got that close then made tiny adjustments - maybe 1/16 or 1/32 of a circle - with a screwdriver until I found the sweet spot. Now it cycles every time, never gets caught or "grinds" - and is almost perfectly reliable.

"almost" ... At one point last summer, I disassembled a bunch of ammo - maybe 1,000 rounds. Some of the powder was stuck together in clumps. When I squeezed a clump in my fingers it would resist then fall apart into its constituent kernels. When left in clumps it would not reliably throw. I had dumped all of that powder into a 8 lb jug then shook the heck out of that jug. This broke up the clumps and the powder metered well.

When I first encountered the problem and before I fixed it, I decided that the thrower wasn't my friend so I was throwing charges with a Culver then setting on the scale pan and letting the trickler finish the throw. It worked but there was a lot of hand motion - not what I spent all that money for. So I did my part and adjusted until it was reliable.

 

[lrankine]

Thanks for the information guys! I was able to break out the Dremel and do a few modifications. Things are working much better now that I've enlarged the valve hole and funnel hole.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Thanks for the information guys! I was able to break out the Dremel and do a few modifications. Things are working much better now that I've enlarged the valve hole and funnel hole.

Post some pics of what you did

 

[lrankine]

Here you go guys! One of the pics shows the side panel where the trickler straw comes into the powder cup. I had to Dremel out a little bit so the straw wouldn't touch the top of the windscreen hole. I've been advised by Area 419 that they've corrected this issue. The rest are pretty much self explanatory. And while the valve, when closed, doesn't completely seal off the hopper it hasn't been a problem with the large kernels that VH N550 has. Since these mods it's been running like a champ! I've suggested to Area 419 that they may want to consider making another valve that can accomodate these larger powders. Haven't heard back yet.

 

[Steel head]

My stock V3 hasn’t had any issues with retumbo, H1000, H4831, H4350, R26 and N565/165/170.
I’m probably going to have to use my Hornandy to throw charges for N570 as that stuff is supposedly pretty big.

 

[parshal]

...N570 as that stuff is supposedly pretty big.

Like little carrots. It jams up my autothrow in short order.

 

[Steel head]

Like little carrots. It jams up my autothrow in short order.

Yea
I’m glad I kept my Hornandy now
Throw charges with it and trickle up on the V3