Hornady LNL AP - Shellplate problem solved

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Onagoth

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So...finally had a chance to spend some more time on this issue with a friend who has a flawless working shellplate.

Hornady has sent me replacement shellplates in the past, but none of them have solved my problem of cases locking up in the plate (when using the casefeeder. A lot of people have mentioned that it is likely the spring not being held down enough by the shellplate, and it seems it was (my cases were rocking when going over the spring and locking into the shellplate.

Here are side by side photos of a decent shellplate and the one I have. I'll be calling hornady on Monday about this issue to see what they say. The past couple times I've called, they didn't seem to believe me that it was a problem with the shellplates, they also states they are all tested before leaving the factory. :rolleyes:

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PROBLEM SOLVED

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Seems to be a common problem with smaller cases what caliber is that I am beting 9mm? reloading 380acp was a nightmare with this... I have had simmilar issues but its not as much of a problem with larger calibers like 45Acp and 44mag... I bet hornady has no problems loading with there line of brass because the extractor area on the shell case is probally enlarged...

You will run into this problem more often if you used mixed brass then lets say all winchester brass... some other brass like speer has a very thick area below the extractor groove too...
 
That's odd, none of my shellplates have the rounded lip on them. Is that none working shellplate one that you sent to hornady to have the ezject groove put in?
 
Hornady changed the pattern of the shell plates years ago. The first ones where "squared" and the new pattern had much more raduis to it. Both work, but the radiused ones are much better.

After changing my LNL over to the new ezject system i had repeated case tipping problems like you described earlier. I tweaked the timeing to advance a bit faster and the problem went away never to return.

Might be worth looking at. FWIW i have both patterns of shell plate, and my 9 is the older style. Once i had the ezject timing set, it was no issue.
 
Cocked&Locked said:
Hornady changed the pattern of the shell plates years ago. The first ones where "squared" and the new pattern had much more raduis to it. Both work, but the radiused ones are much better.

After changing my LNL over to the new ezject system i had repeated case tipping problems like you described earlier. I tweaked the timeing to advance a bit faster and the problem went away never to return.

Might be worth looking at. FWIW i have both patterns of shell plate, and my 9 is the older style. Once i had the ezject timing set, it was no issue.
Click to expand...

We adjusted the timing correctly with my shell plate and it worked flawless...We then installed both of his shell plates and used the same brass, every one tipped and needed help feeding, we then changed back to my shell plate and used the same brass again all works fine, I am pretty sure it is not a timing issue....:)

I had the same problem with mine and called Hornady, the shell plate I am using and we got to work for Onagoth is the one they sent me to replace mine that would tip almost every piece of brass fed...They told me they had a problem with heat treating and warped some of the plates, although they work fine for people with out case feeders...
 
LNL AP brass jam

You say that you think it is the spring rocking the case as it moves over it. Have you tried feeding in brass with the spring removed to see if they still rock and jam, just to eliminate any other cause for jamming? Is there a source for a thinner, yet same tension spring?
Your case feeder pushes the brass above the extraction groove. Is there a way you can lower the feed arm to push lower and closer to the rim to push the brass straight into the shellplate?
I also have the LNL AP but do not have an automatic brass feed yet and am interested in any problems that may be encountered.

270 totheend
 
JOJOPINTO said:
We adjusted the timing correctly with my shell plate and it worked flawless...We then installed both of his shell plates and used the same brass, every one tipped and needed help feeding, we then changed back to my shell plate and used the same brass again all works fine, I am pretty sure it is not a timing issue....:)

I had the same problem with mine and called Hornady, the shell plate I am using and we got to work for Onagoth is the one they sent me to replace mine that would tip almost every piece of brass fed...They told me they had a problem with heat treating and warped some of the plates, although they work fine for people with out case feeders...
Click to expand...

In my case, the plate worked fine BEFORE i converted to the ezject lower plate. After hornady modified it, it would tip every time. Once i tweaked the timing it ran fine again. Just what happened with my press, sounds like a different issue from yours.

And whoever noticed that mixed brass is a issue is right, some cases do not like to feed into the plate, though i find it not brand specific but rather how much they've been used and abused.
 
Brass cannot be the issue, its the shellplate. Mixed brass worked fine in the shellplate that was manufacturer properly.

Hornady takes the same stance...blaming everything else accept the shellplate...timing, mixed brass, bad spring...but all those went out the window when we saw that the press runs flawlessly with a working shellplate.

This unit was bought as an EZject system...so no conversion was required. Although, they did send me a new subplate thinking that might be the problem.

I didn't get a chance to cal lthem today, but will tomorrow.
 
i'm not suggesting brass was the issue. since a straight shell plate swap fixed it, that seems to be the issue. It would be interesting to have the manufacturing drawings for the two plates to see what was modified.
 
DOH! i just realized that your pic scolled sideways for a few more views. Are you showing that the outside "rail" on the bottom is rounded off/radiused? That would almost garrentee problems, it holds the shell holder spring down and in place. That would allow it to lift and kick your brass all over exactly like you where seeing. I'd have to think someone had crappy tooling the day they made that plate. I know that the guy who set up and milled my 9mm plate for the rework should have changed the milling cutter before he did it. (and deburred better after!)
 
Been having this issue with mine and couldn't figure out the problem.

Haven't had the chance to talk to Hornady about it yet, but now I know what to say.

Thank you
 
pauls said:
Been having this issue with mine and couldn't figure out the problem.

Haven't had the chance to talk to Hornady about it yet, but now I know what to say.

Thank you
Click to expand...

They were still a little reluctant when I called, so I offered to email them side by side pics of a working and non-working shellplate.

I also asked them to check the one they send me to ensure its the same as the working pic I emailed them.

The guy found one and sent it out that day.
 
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