Very stiff single stage

[Luke2236]

Question from a noob to reloading. Hornady LnL, single stage, probably only 500 rounds total so far through the press.

When you cycle the loader it has gotten progressively more stiff, I think if you hung a 10 pound weight on it the arm it would hold it up. I cant find any grease fittings to inject grease so kind of at a loss

I cleaned it very well, applied some light grease to the shaft, didn't help. I cleaned it again, applied light weight oil, still no help. Tried to call Hornady, closed already.


Suggestions?

 

[Ultraman550]

Look at the bottom right of the press and see if there is a bolt that goes through the cantilever and the press sticking out. If there is, take a hammer and knock it back in.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

Try to work some light oil in to any and all linkage.

 

[Luke2236]

checked the bolt on the bottom, as well as the rest to be safe, they were fairly flush.

Would it matter that much that its in my basement which is about 50 degrees right now?

 

[Luke2236]

and I worked a little oil in on the shaft and all the connections, doesn't seem to help

 

[Ultraman550]

Take some pictures and post them so its easier to diagnose. You either have metal shavings wedged down into where the cylinder goes up and down or you have a problem with the arm being off center.

 

[Luke2236]

pics

 

[2ndamendfan]

take the linkage off the ram and see if the ram slides up and down freely, if not ram is bent or maybe debris, but I doubt that. if it does move freely, check all the pivot points on the linkage one has got to be binding.

 

[Luke2236]

will do all of that.

 

[Luke2236]

ok, found the problem, now what to do...

I pulled the retainer clip and the bottom mount with the ram attached and also the arm came out. The ram slid out like a greased pig. I then tried to move the ram back and forth on the pin that connects the bottom of the ram to the mount(cantilever)? it is TOUGH to make it move on that pin.

It appears that may be a press in deal as I whacked it pretty good with a hammer/pin combo and it never moved, not sure its really sure its supposed to come out?

Next step? Oh, and THANKS!

 

[2ndamendfan]

ok, found the problem, now what to do...

I pulled the retainer clip and the bottom mount with the ram attached and also the arm came out. The ram slid out like a greased pig. I then tried to move the ram back and forth on the pin that connects the bottom of the ram to the mount(cantilever)? it is TOUGH to make it move on that pin.

It appears that may be a press in deal as I whacked it pretty good with a hammer/pin combo and it never moved, not sure its really sure its supposed to come out?

Next step? Oh, and THANKS!

Well at least the ram and press body are good. Each pin has to be able to rotate ( pin can be fixed in place with the linkage rotating) either way shit has to move. On the lower pin it could be bent, or it pressed into the red cast part with the hole in the bottom of the ram being bigger (just by .002 or so) so the pin can rotate in the bottom of the ram. look on the very bottom and see if the pin has a hidden allen set screw holding it in. Press fit would work (in one piece not both) but normally not used in production unless you don't want something to spin for a specific reason. Look at the bottom of the ram also, pin could be fixed in ram and rotate in red part. I don't own a hornady, but all my presses (4) all pins rotate freely.

 

[Luke2236]

regrettably, no set screw, so, I knocked the pin out about .10 and the ram dropped freely. It wasn't touching the sides of the cantilever so I'm guessing it's bent

I put it back together, hopefully that will be the last of it


Gracias!