problems with my Hornady progressive

[Davy Crockett]

I picked up a Hornady Lock & Load AP a while ago and I've been having problems getting it working properly. After five cycles of the handle the shell plate doesn't rotate far enough, it's off by about 1/4 - 1/2 inch. I can twist the shell plate slightly by hand and it will pop into place. If I cycle the handle again even without moving the shell plate it will index properly again. If I just keep running the handle every fifth one will be off.

I talked to someone at Hornady and they said it sounded like a timing issue and to adjust the right pawl on the press an 1/8 turn counterclockwise but it made no difference. I was hoping to finally have this thing working this weekend but I don't want to mess with the timing in case I make it worse. Anyone run into this and have a solution?

 

[jwstewart]

Is the shell plate tightened down too much? I had to back it off so there was a tiny amount of play or it dragged and sometimes didn't click into the next position.

 

[CeeZer]

Take the shell plate off and cycle the press to see if it's something else.
As mentioned above - check the plate's tension. I'd rather say something came loose rather than over-tightened.

 

[Davy Crockett]

Thanks, I'll give it a try although it happening exactly on every fifth cycle makes me think that's not the problem.

 

[blaser.306]

check the (star) shaped advance wheel @ the bottom of the ram for any visible difference in length or angle of cut , In the set up guide they give directions for slight adjutments to the advance mech. real easy to do with the two screws on the bottom toggle .

 

[albsch]

I had the same problem and had to adjust the prawls to get the advancment correct. Mine would be out of sync on every 5th pull of the handle. Go easy on the adustments as a little goes a long way.

 

[Canuck223]

While you are at it, take the shellplate off. Clean it, and the top of the press. Inspect the two staked ball detents for movement.

Once that's done, take a look as mentioned at the star and pawls. Are they clean, sharply cut, and intact?

Since the press cycles the shellplate forward 1/10th a turn with the up and downstroke of the handle, you need to watch the operation of both pawls.

 

[acrashb]

Is the shell plate tightened down too much?

If you have to back it off, you have an incorrectly dimensioned spacer. You should have the bolt as tight as you can make it with a wrench on the bolt and your hand on the shellplate. If you back it off anyway, it will of course loosen as you use it - so keep it tight.

 

[acrashb]

I talked to someone at Hornady and they said it sounded like a timing issue and to adjust the right pawl on the press an 1/8 turn counterclockwise but it made no difference.

It does sound like a timing issue - Canuck233's advice is sound. Move the pawls (both) up a little bit, re-try, and do it again.

If you find that the issue is repeatable on a given arm of the star wheel and the pawl adjustments don't work (or introduce more problems, like over-travel) - then the star wheel is likely out of spec.

I set mine up (after getting it from a guy, used) once and haven't touched anything in many, many thousand rounds - so you'll be good to go once you've figured out the issue.

 

[HKMark23]

Davy, I had the very same situation and adjusting that right prawl did the trick for me.


It sounds to me like the Hornady rep has you on the right track, go figgure . There is a section in your manual that covers this adjustment. Read it carefully, then try adjusting that right prawl some more (1/8 increments and count em so you can reverse if necessary) . When the prawls are set correctly your press will work perfectly and as you cycle the press you won't discern the sound from two prawls clicking. They'll sound like one click, just the way the manual describes it.

Hope this helps.