Sticking Mec Collet? Press binds on the upstroke? Primers pop out of their hole in the plate? Worse, your primers flip upside down?
Here is a list of possible causes, direct from MEC. You will notice that they suggest Anti-Seize. I disagree with that, but the facts are still important.
The press may catch on the upstroke for the following reasons;
1- The collet may need to be relubed with a non-migrating grease.
Factory lube works its way out of the friction zone.
Suggested lube hang in there much better, see pictures below.
2- The collet closure may be set too high and resizing too tight/small.
This should then be lowered slightly.
Usually indicated by a Ka-lunk as the handle is raised
3- The main center column may be dry and needs to be lubed with a light
coat of oil.
4- The linkage on the back side of the press may be too tight. All the
link bolts on the top of the press should be loose enough to turn by
hand.
Here is a little photo help for you. If you have the old style collet closer, it makes little difference on this info. It just looks a bit different.
All of this requires no change in the collet adjustment nor removal of the collet!
Links below pictures are big versions of the picture!
Next step remove primer post stuff
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/340 ... 9226_o.jpg
Remove the Chain link and the E ring that retains the pin through the Collet closer Rocker arm
Remove/slide out the Rocker Arm retaining pin enough to slip the rocker arm from the press.
This will allow the collet closer to drop.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/340 ... c809_o.jpg
Now clean and lube the collet and the closer.
On the newer models, avoid causing the collet closer nut to turn, thus altering the sizer setting.
White-Out is your friend!
Good lubes to use!
My New favorite is the Rock and Roll Super Web Grease, get it from Amazon.
This is the Clickable link for that grease from Amazon, a seller that I trust.
http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Super-W ... web+grease
I also Like The CMD , but their website has been down for some time. The company is still ticking along though.
#2 in my thoughts is Tri-Flow Synthetic grease, suggested by Winders, some time ago.
This is a Clickable Amazon link for the Tri-Flow, but I prefer that you use the Super-Web
This a clickable link for the Tri-Flow grease from Amazon.Com also
Mec sold lube Not so good
This is a link to get the MEC lube from Gamaliel
Now put it all back together without losing the hardened bushing or the parts to the chain link.
Takes about as much time as you invested in reading this.
Hope this is an assist to those with a sticking collet, hopping primers and primers flipping over after they are dropped.
Install the chain link clip with pliers
Another trick for stopping hopping primers!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/340 ... c98a_o.jpg
Another view:
If you are absolutely determined that you must remove the collet, this tool that is sold by:
Ebay Seller
bumstead8269 (MEC Collet Removal Tool)
is a worthy purchase. Here is his photo of that tool.
Here is how to use that tool:
I guess I should have explained how that tool works.
As to the EZ-out, I don't have the right one so I bought the tool. Here is how it is used.
Remove the shell lifter.
You remove the nut from the bottom of the collet.
Then you remove the nut from the threaded part of that tool.
Drop the threaded part into the collet.
Start the nut back onto the tool that is now protruding out of the bottom of the collet.
Place a wrench on the top part of the tool that is hex shaped.
Tighten the nut on the bottom of the tool tightly against the collet bottom with your other wrench.
Turn the tool and the collet with the top wrench and crank the whole mess up and out of the press through that hole that seems too small to allow the collet to pass.
After the collet is unscrewed and out of the press, you move the tool to the new collet.
But before installing the new collet you clean and lubricate the collet closer while you can do it easily.
Install the collet with the tool and adjust for proper sizing, not according to the Mec Hull checker tool but 0.005" greater than a new hull or some minimal size that works in all your guns that gauge.
Easier done than typed.
Any comments for improvement, drop a line or put a note in the thread.
Thanks
Thanks to Kosmo for this addendum to this post.
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 2&start=20
Here is a list of possible causes, direct from MEC. You will notice that they suggest Anti-Seize. I disagree with that, but the facts are still important.
The press may catch on the upstroke for the following reasons;
1- The collet may need to be relubed with a non-migrating grease.
Factory lube works its way out of the friction zone.
Suggested lube hang in there much better, see pictures below.
2- The collet closure may be set too high and resizing too tight/small.
This should then be lowered slightly.
Usually indicated by a Ka-lunk as the handle is raised
3- The main center column may be dry and needs to be lubed with a light
coat of oil.
4- The linkage on the back side of the press may be too tight. All the
link bolts on the top of the press should be loose enough to turn by
hand.
Here is a little photo help for you. If you have the old style collet closer, it makes little difference on this info. It just looks a bit different.
All of this requires no change in the collet adjustment nor removal of the collet!
Links below pictures are big versions of the picture!

Next step remove primer post stuff

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3437/340 ... 9226_o.jpg
Remove the Chain link and the E ring that retains the pin through the Collet closer Rocker arm








Remove/slide out the Rocker Arm retaining pin enough to slip the rocker arm from the press.




This will allow the collet closer to drop.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/340 ... c809_o.jpg



Now clean and lube the collet and the closer.




On the newer models, avoid causing the collet closer nut to turn, thus altering the sizer setting.
White-Out is your friend!

Good lubes to use!
My New favorite is the Rock and Roll Super Web Grease, get it from Amazon.

This is the Clickable link for that grease from Amazon, a seller that I trust.
http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Super-W ... web+grease
I also Like The CMD , but their website has been down for some time. The company is still ticking along though.
#2 in my thoughts is Tri-Flow Synthetic grease, suggested by Winders, some time ago.

This is a Clickable Amazon link for the Tri-Flow, but I prefer that you use the Super-Web
This a clickable link for the Tri-Flow grease from Amazon.Com also
Mec sold lube Not so good
This is a link to get the MEC lube from Gamaliel
Now put it all back together without losing the hardened bushing or the parts to the chain link.
Takes about as much time as you invested in reading this.
Hope this is an assist to those with a sticking collet, hopping primers and primers flipping over after they are dropped.
Install the chain link clip with pliers


Another trick for stopping hopping primers!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/340 ... c98a_o.jpg
Another view:

If you are absolutely determined that you must remove the collet, this tool that is sold by:
Ebay Seller
bumstead8269 (MEC Collet Removal Tool)
is a worthy purchase. Here is his photo of that tool.

Here is how to use that tool:
I guess I should have explained how that tool works.
As to the EZ-out, I don't have the right one so I bought the tool. Here is how it is used.
Remove the shell lifter.
You remove the nut from the bottom of the collet.
Then you remove the nut from the threaded part of that tool.
Drop the threaded part into the collet.
Start the nut back onto the tool that is now protruding out of the bottom of the collet.
Place a wrench on the top part of the tool that is hex shaped.
Tighten the nut on the bottom of the tool tightly against the collet bottom with your other wrench.
Turn the tool and the collet with the top wrench and crank the whole mess up and out of the press through that hole that seems too small to allow the collet to pass.
After the collet is unscrewed and out of the press, you move the tool to the new collet.
But before installing the new collet you clean and lubricate the collet closer while you can do it easily.
Install the collet with the tool and adjust for proper sizing, not according to the Mec Hull checker tool but 0.005" greater than a new hull or some minimal size that works in all your guns that gauge.
Easier done than typed.
Any comments for improvement, drop a line or put a note in the thread.
Thanks
Thanks to Kosmo for this addendum to this post.
Here is an addition that was posted further down the thread but should be here so here it is.kosmo said:
Here is another possible problem to look for that was posted by SongDog in this thread.railroad said:
https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewto ... 2&start=20
song dog said: