[luddite20]

Hi All-

I had a Herculean session last night with the formidable PW900 last night. It's a new to me machine, and after readying the manual and researching, I attempted to start some reloading. I encountered a number of problems, most of which I was able to solve through persistency and cursing. However, I am still having primer feed issues. In short, I see two problems with my primer feed system:

1) Sometimes there is not enough force/pressure from gravity and additional primers to drive the primer into the primer feed and
2) (and this is the bit issue) when a primer is set into the primer feed, the spring loaded ram does not advance forward

Problem 2 seems to be caused by 2 issues. Issue A) the primer itself seems to encounter mild friction entering the primer feed and Issue B) even if the primer properly enters the primer feed, the ram often gets caught up at this point:

I have removed the primer assembly and have it with me at work today, so I'm hoping to tinker a bit given your suggestions.

I should also add that the primer feed wire came loose, and I believe I re-installed it correctly, with one end through the top of the primer ram and the other through the face that mates with the primer. I believe I installd it correctly but please somment if I did not.

I know PW makes a new brass assembly, but I'm curious as to commone failures/issue with the older units. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[luddite20]

I see this advice was offerred previously:

"
Pull the chute off the primer assembly, break a a small jewelers file, and your going to file the inside edges on the chute bottom edge to remove any burs, then going to file on the sides and bottom lip of the primer entry section to remove any burs there. Now when you go to put the chuck back on via the bottom bolt, look at both sides of the check to aligned it center of the primer assembly openning. Now before you call this part done, single primer in the chuck with handle lever pull all the way down, pull the primer up the chute about 3 inches and let if free drop. The primer should free drop, hit the side of the primer ram bar in the assembly and bounce back up the chute to about the bend.

Now with that set, move the handle all the way back up and check the amount that the primer bar in the assembly is coming back, and that the roller on the side of the primer bar is not being forced hard against the side of the assembly. To correct this, your going to loosen the two bolts on the primer feed ramp (wedge shape metal piece), so you can adjust it to stop side roller binding, as well as up and down lightly so the bar is coming back.
Now, before I do this adjustment, like to pull the primer assembly cover, bar and side roller, to clean up the track in the primer assembly, as well as the cut out for the side roller bolt so the primer bar moves cleanly, the primer can move cleanly in the track, and the bolt for the roller is not binding up as it moves in the track as well.

Next on the list is the tray and top of chute entry lips.
So start off by removing the primer cover, and break out the file to de-bur the tray where the primer fall out to the chute. Does not take much, but just slightly round that edge.

Now loosen the primer tray bolts on the back of the tool head, and using a level across the back of the tray edge to get it level,

We want the tray to be as high up on the back tool head (bolt to the bottom of the slots), and the back as level as possible, when you re-tighten the bolts.

Now last tweak as you are reloading, is the two top of chute pieces on the sides, that you want to slightly tweak outwards, do as the primer is dropping out of the tray to the chute, is that the primer does not wedge at all on the drop.

Now last one, is on the primer dray top surface, clean it off, add a drop of gun oil, then wipe that oil into the surfaces via cleaning patch each time you go to clean and lube the machine, so the tray surface it and the edge of the primer guides are slick, but no extra oil left behind.

With the above tweaks, will never have to hit the tray to clean a primer jam up top, and you can keep reloading on the machine until the primers are all the way down to the start of the bottom of the bend, without fear that the machine is not going to feed a primer.
Note, although you can dam near run the primer chute dry, it always a good idea to add more primers to the tray when the last primer is about to drop down the chute. And yes, not a problem leaving live primers in the machine when your not reloading with it. "

 

[luddite20]

Here is a photo of the disassembled feeder before any cleaning for reference:

 

[painter*]

I lube the primer feed on my 800 plus with dry graphite.

 

[luddite20]

I lube the primer feed on my 800 plus with dry graphite.

Thanks Painter. Out of curiosity, why is dry lube preferred over wet lube?

 

[painter*]

I just don't want any smut from inside a shell sticking to a wet lube on my primer seat, or hook. It gets in and mungs up the sliding piece.

 

[Scott in TX]

definitely a good cleaning is in order and glad to see you took it fully apart,

one thing I notices was the ramp seemed like it had a bigger gap meeting the ram, look at this picture I found

 

[luddite20]

definitely a good cleaning is in order and glad to see you took it fully apart,

one thing I notices was the ramp seemed like it had a bigger gap meeting the ram, look at this picture I found
View attachment 75995

Thanks Scott. Good catch. Yest, there did appear to be a bigger gap. I also think I'm going to machine a new ram, which the hook as opposed to the wire gate. Just need to figure out the dimensions.

 

[Scott in TX]

when you say "with hook instead of the wire gate" are you talking about the metal wire that goes out, over the top of the primer ?

on the new machines (and new rams) that wire is no longer there, not exactly sure what it's intended purpose was, the ram on my 800B machine is like that also,

 

[painter*]

Do either of you use the new Wave primer tray?

 

[Scott in TX]

Do either of you use the new Wave primer tray?

I have two 800+ and a 800B, I don't use the wave unit, I've never really had any primer issues, either from the tray to the ramp to the ram,

The 800B was old and abused, it took a little attention to get it right but after that, no issues on a basis, maybe once in a while I'll get a tilted primer on the post or maybe one that doesn't want to feed to the ram but they are rare,

it seems the movement of the handle is enough vibration to keep them falling into the ramp and as long as the ramp is at least 1/4 full, it's enough to push them in the ram,

 

[BCarmon1]

From the looks of the primer in your picture you are using Cheddite primers. All 4 of my machines have feeding issues with Cheddite's. If I use any other brand of primer the feeding issues go away. I think they have a sharp edge on them or something that the others do not.

 

[painter*]

I have no issues with primers in the chute. I use the tray extension, and the primers jam at the plastic ramps. It happened with the standard tray, as well.

I switched because I have 4 tool heads and the wave tray lets you swap tool heads without removing the primer tray. I'm using Win primers.

 

[Scott in TX]

I would say I exclusively use cheddite's, almost 18k so far, ( the blue/pink box, not the old yellow ones )

 

[John H]

Thanks Scott. Good catch. Yest, there did appear to be a bigger gap. I also think I'm going to machine a new ram, which the hook as opposed to the wire gate. Just need to figure out the dimensions.

Jim 'whiz' White at s&w supply used to be a gold mine for ponsness parts and help. He's since had a bit of a falling out with ponsness but he still carries some parts - including the primer ram made from hardened steel and primer seating posts (They sometimes bend and get stuck or sticky in the housing.) He also has a thumb drive with instructions and tips for sale.

www.swsupply.com

 

[shovelon]

I too have gravity feeding problems with my PW900. Seems the primers don't want to flow and drop into the rail. Only lube that prevents stiction is silicon spray. And the primers only partially enter the window to get to the primer ram. Seems like it gets hung up on the alum. Sometimes the primer catches the wire on the ram. I check this every time I place a wad and nudge the primers through the window. My primer slide looks less elaborate than yours though as maybe you got the second generation PW900. Mine is first generation.

 

[luddite20]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I ended up machining a new solid piece ram today. Curious to take it home and see how it works.

 

[dogdstr69]

If you have the old one out I would replace it with the new style. I run 2 of the 900's with one of each and the newer version seems to work much smoother.Just got the new style for the other machine.Bobby

 

[John H]

The ram and slide need to be very smooth. That aluminum head looks scratched, gouged, and generally rough.

 

[luddite20]

The ram and slide need to be very smooth. That aluminum head looks scratched, gouged, and generally rough.

Thanks John, agreed. I used some 440 grit on the head yesterday, and now the ram I machined is working well. I just tried to copy the new version on the PW website by looking at the photos.