MEC'S AUTO-MATE.

1262 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by 100STR8, Nov 22, 2007

LJUTIC

Discussion Starter · Nov 20, 2007

What's the story on the
MEC AUTO-MATE ?
Positive and negative comments appreciated. Thanks in advance. Ray

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

chipking

· #2 · Nov 20, 2007

I can only comment on the origional Auto-Mate II. I have one for my P/W 900 and now have over 25 thousand trouble free reloads on it. Setup took about 20 minutes. They are quiet and smooth operating and there is no fluid to leak. The real benifit is they save your shoulder from all that handle pulling. I switched to P/W because they were , for me, much easier on the shoulder than a MEC because of the handle position and motion needed. If I switched back to a MEC loader I would buy their Auto-Mate to run it.
--- Chip King ---

D L Marcum

· #3 · Nov 20, 2007

Duckshack,
I've been using an Auto-Mate, (Original manufacturer), for going on 4 years. Couldn't be happier. Totally dependable and will really crank out the shells.

I would recommend them to anyone, and would buy another if I ever wear this one out, which doesn't seem likely.

DLM

Curly N

· #4 · Nov 20, 2007

duckshack said:
What's the story on the
MEC AUTO-MATE ?
Positive and negative comments appreciated. Thanks in advance. Ray

I also have the ATS Automate II, which is prior to the MEC acquisition. It is a great product that can help you knock out a huge pile of shells. I have a chute that dumps the loaded shells into a bucket on the floor. The buckets that your friends get pool chlorine in, are a real handy size. Recycle them for your friends.

cow boy beans

· #5 · Nov 20, 2007

I love my automate. I have 2 12's a 20, 28, and 410 hooked up.
Mine is a second generation Jim Binn model. I would guess the mec. style would work as well as it is Mr. Binns design except for a change in the button usage. 500 rounds per hour plus if speed is what you want. I like not having the sore shoulder and back I used to get with loading session. Set up was easy, if you followed
the directions, don't know about mec's. It's quite, clean and easy to use.

Steve Y

· #6 · Nov 21, 2007

The greatest thing since the reloader itself.Run 4 machines on a 2nd. generation model purchased about 4 years ago from Jim.Wouldn't be without one now.

Steve

100STR8

· #7 · Nov 21, 2007

I hate to be a party-pooper at this love-fest for the Auto-mate but I'd hesitate to recommend it. I will say is that when it's working OK, it does take all the work out of reloading and will make good looking loads. Having said that, when I change loaders there is just too much fiddling to do to get it making good loads. I've marked the position of the overtravel stop and even though I've got it set in the same place each time, at the start, I always have to make minute adjustments. Of course, the pull rod has to be adjusted for length between each loader. And, the claim that 99% of all MEC loaders need no adjustment for them to work with an automate is pure rubbish. I've got three rigged up and ALL of them took extensive adjusting. As far as I'm concerned, I converted three perfectly good MEC 9000G's into something far less desirable. The fact that I can eventually get good loads at a fairly brisk clip is the only reason that I keep it.

Russ

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Curly N

· #8 · Nov 21, 2007

100STR8 said:
I hate to be a party-pooper at this love-fest for the Auto-mate but I'd hesitate to recommend it. I will say is that when it's working OK, it does take all the work out of reloading and will make good looking loads. Having said that, when I change loaders there is just too much fiddling to do to get it making good loads. I've marked the position of the overtravel stop and even though I've got it set in the same place each time, at the start, I always have to make minute adjustments. Of course, the pull rod has to be adjusted for length between each loader. And, the claim that 99% of all MEC loaders need no adjustment for them to work with an automate is pure rubbish. I've got three rigged up and ALL of them took extensive adjusting. As far as I'm concerned, I converted three perfectly good MEC 9000G's into something far less desirable. The fact that I can eventually get good loads at a fairly brisk clip is the only reason that I keep it.

Russ

Sorry about your luck, sounds like the MEC changes were not improvements. I never have to change the pullrod adjustment for any of my 4 presses. The presses span about 4 years so any variability between them must be minor.

D L Marcum

· #9 · Nov 21, 2007

Russ,

Your experience is not the norm, in fact it's the first I've heard that was negative.

Mine is a second version Jim Binn and has worked flawlessly for going on 4 years. I have NEVER, I repeat, NEVER had to adjust the linkage between different loaders, for any reason. Just swap loaders and start turning out ammo.

Don't know, (from here) what the problem is, but Ill have to assume something isn't assembled correctly, or there is operator error there, because that simply isn't normal, and I'm sure it can be remedied.

DLM

Curly N

· #10 · Nov 21, 2007

D L Marcum said:
Russ,

Your experience is not the norm, in fact it's the first I've heard that was negative.

Mine is a second version Jim Binn and has worked flawlessly for going on 4 years. I have NEVER, I repeat, NEVER had to adjust the linkage between different loaders, for any reason. Just swap loaders and start turning out ammo.

Don't know, (from here) what the problem is, but Ill have to assume something isn't assembled correctly, or there is operator error there, because that simply isn't normal, and I'm sure it can be remedied.

DLM

If he was close by, I would love to get look at it and see what was going wrong.

cow boy beans

· #11 · Nov 21, 2007

1000srt8....I will guess your machines are not adjusted right. Every one I know who has the automate just loves them. When I was setting my units up I found going to the 28ga was a bit of a pain. Making the loader correct fixed the problem. Don't know if it will help you but adding the back braces takes the racking out of.... ANY.... 9000G loader and I think keeps them in adjustment. Give us more of the problems you are having, maybe we can help. Also try calling mec. They have a great first aid unit.

Tal/IL

· #12 · Nov 21, 2007

I also have an original Auto-Mate After several years and many thousands of rounds, I remain absolutely pleased with it.

I have seen and used the MEC version at a MEC demo booth. MEC did make some minor changes to the design. Some folks feel they violated the "if it aint broke, don't fix it" rule. But, I think the changes can best be described as some minor refinements to an excellent product. I would not hesitate to buy the new one.

Steve Y

· #13 · Nov 21, 2007

100STR8

Of the 4 machines I run 2 of them are 650's that I built a base for so they are now the same height as a 9000 and once the loaders where set up to run on the Auto-Mate I never have had any of the problems you have stated.I would look elsewhere for your problems.

Steve

100STR8

· #14 · Nov 22, 2007

Dave,
When you were in Kansas this summer, Mike was going to bring you up to look at the set up and I waved him off, thinking I had it solved. Now, I wish I hadn't.

To the gentleman who said the loaders weren't adjusted right before I put them on the Auto mate........all I can say is that they were producing perfect shells before mounting to the Automate. The bar locks worked perfectly, the indexing was timed correctly, the shell lifter came up flush with the shell plate, shells were crimped exactly the way I wanted. Only the indexing was still right after setting the loaders on the Automate. I have finally gotten these pretty well worked out.

Here's a head-scratcher that I've had to deal with. I keep the heat off in my loading room until I'm ready to load and I've learned not to change loaders or make any adjustments until the room is nice and toasty. If not, then the longer the Automate runs the shorter the stroke is. It's like it needs temperature compensation.

By the way, this Automate was purchased prior to the MEC involvment. And, I've had at least 6 looooooong conversations with Jim Binn. Make no mistake, I can get it loading good shells. It's just not consistent loader-to-loader.

Russ

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101VooDoo

· #15 · Nov 22, 2007

I've got one of the MEC versions, and couldn't be happier.

As with all things involving a 9000G it was and is a little fiddly to set up and keep in tune, but once dialed in it just cranks out the shells.

I was a little concerned over the MEC version as it requires the operator to hold the buttons down until the bottom of the stroke, and thought it might slow the process. It doesn't; I end up with a wad in one hand and an empty in the other, waiting for the press to get back to the top and index.

D L Marcum

· #16 · Nov 22, 2007

Russ,
Check for the PM I sent you.

DLM

100STR8

· #17 · Nov 22, 2007

Replied to your PM with one.

Russ

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