It has been about 2 years since I reloaded for 12 ga. During that time I was able to find factory shells for just about what it was costing me to reload, so I purchased factory ammo. Well I can no longer find cheep 12 gauge shells and I dragged out my MEC 9000H, dusted it off and lubed a few spots. When I plugged it in the motor and pump sounded louder then I remembered. Is it normal for it to sound loud. I ran two boxes of shells threw it and am going to test them Sunday to make sure they function good. I was just wondering about the noise. Any one with experience with the 9000H have any thoughts? I wish I could post a sound recording but I don’t have the equipment or the know how to do it.

You may want to check your oil level.

^^This. Probably a cavitating pump due to low level.

tp

Does it get louder when it cycles, moves the die head??
Does it get louder yet when it stalls out once the die head bottoms out??

Steve

The noise is the same all the time but the pitch will change when cycling.

Its either low on oil or what you are hearing is "normal". The pump is a simple gear pump and IMHO not the issue.

Steve

It has been years since I did anything with this press and pump. Can you tell me how to check the oil level and what kind of oil it needs?

Have you started wearing hearing aids?
Kidding
Having a new 9000H.....it is loud, but not unpleasant. The noise is smooth, steady. The pitch drops a little as the press drops, and some more when the press is held at bottom.
Sounds like a mini-turbine. The pump makes no mechanical clicking, tapping.
Are you operating the press in a different room, one smaller?
Speed of the press good?
Hope this helps....odds are you’re good.
Call me at 561-350-0034 and I’ll listen to it if you want to be sure.
After 3000 loads, I got the sound permanently embedded in my brain.

H

Also, go on MEC and download the manual. I‘d start from scratch and follow the setup procedure. It will re-familiarize you with your unit, verify things are correct.
H

The oil type is on page 32 of the manual, its 10W30.
Then scroll down to page 34 and remove part # 141 the breather cap to fill it.

https://www.mecoutdoors.com/Content/documents/9000.pdf

Steve

Actually yes, I did get my hearing aids about 2 years ago.

Bingo! Mystery solved!

^^^^^^LMAO^^^^^^

Since I have raced motocross, worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (a steady 85db plus), worked construction, worked on a race car team and continue to shoot, I do in fact have some hearing loss, BUT compared to the above my 9000H is only a whisper.

Two things about hydraulics they tend to be a bit noisy and at some point they will develop a leak.

Crank up some AC/DC, ZZ Top, Van Halen or Molly Hatchet and be glad you don't have a leak.

My PW hydraulic weeps a bit in the cold winter temps here in NH

RIP Eddie!

Does the oil level need to be to the top of the fill hole? There is no info on what the proper level is that I can find.

No, the capacity of the pump reservoir is exactly one quart. Which means the reservoir is not full to the top.

I have changed the oil several times in my unit and have always done this. Disconnected the lines to the cylinder and put the open ends in a closed container. Plug in the unit and push the pedal until there is no more oil being pumped. DO NOT continue to run the unit once the unit stops pumping oil because the oil also lubricates the pump and bearings.

Then reconnect the lines and fill it with a fresh quart of 10W-30. Then start the unit and cycle the machine (no shells) several times to be sure there is no air in the lines.

Done.

Unless the unit leaks oil there is no reason to worry about the oil level, it can't go anywhere.

Not sure if you really need to change the oil all that much because there is nothing to contaminate or break the oil down and I haven't ever seen any signs of parts wear as the oil has always come out clean. That has been my experience at least.

I have the same reloader and I think mine is very loud also. What can make it worse, is if the hydraulic hose is leaning/resting against the bench. In my reloading room, this causes the bench to vibrate and resonate at the same pitch as the motor, which almost doubles the volume of the noise created by the pump. I have pulled the hose away from the bench and this helps, but I agree that the pump is very loud. Mine always has been. Oil level is correct too.