Lee press/safety feed primer setup

[gnbrotz]

I've had my press set up for a little while, and tonight finally got around to putting on the primer feed system and trying it out (or so I thought).

The primer feed system must mount on the right side of the press, but my press, as it came from the factory, is set up with the gap/primer plunger on the left. I didn't see an obvious way to correct this, and figured I should ask before I do something to screw up a brand new press.

Photo attached.

[Flash]

I've had my press set up for a little while, and tonight finally got around to putting on the primer feed system and trying it out (or so I thought).

The primer feed system must mount on the right side of the press, but my press, as it came from the factory, is set up with the gap/primer plunger on the left. I didn't see an obvious way to correct this, and figured I should ask before I do something to screw up a brand new press.

Photo attached.

I'm not the guru on THAT press, but from the looks of it, I would think that to disconnect the ram from the linkage and rotate it 180 degrees in the frame, then reconnect the linkage would do the job.

Flash

[gnbrotz]

I'm not the guru on THAT press, but from the looks of it, I would think that to disconnect the ram from the linkage and rotate it 180 degrees in the frame, then reconnect the linkage would do the job.

Flash

Upon closer inspection, I found that the ram is connected to the linkage via a pin through a sleeve. The pin is flush on both ends, and doesn't look like something that is meant to be removed and reinserted (see photo).

I dug out the directions that came with the press. It pictures the press exactly as mine is. Then, it has a section on installing the safety feed primer system. Imagine that!

Those instructions say to "rotate shellholder insert so that primer arm is on the right side." I removed the primer arm, inserted a sturdy screwdriver, and saw that it would indeed rotate without applying excessive pressure. There is enough resistance that you can't simply twist it around with your bare hands (at least *I* couldn't).

Anyway, some duct tape applied to my vice grips, and a gentle grasp on tube quickly resolved my dilemma. To top it off, despite a scattering of complaints about getting things calibrated just right for smooth operation, the feeder system works like a charm on my press. I may get some rounds reloaded before retirement yet!

[kimbershooter]

The pin in the pic has a shoulder on it. Larger diameter thru the ram and slightly small thru the linkage. Only know since I updated an older press with the newer style linkage. Older style was pot metal that was very brittle.