650 case feed jams

[AusPPC]

I have a Hornady LNL with case feeder (in .38 Special), and studied it for hours to learn how jams (like that in the OP's photo) occur.

What I learned was that if a loose case can ride ontop of a case in one of the slots, when it's turn comes to drop, it drops more slowly than usual because the case riding on it slows down it's descent. The result is that the case is only halfway down when it collides with left side of the window, sandwiching it and causing the clutch to slip and the machine to jam.

So essentially, loose cases riding ontop of valid cases are the culprit.

The solution - create a series of wipers mounted on the inside of the bowl that 'wipe off' any loose cases, such that only cases correctly sitting in a slot are allowed to pass up to the drop window. The concept is the same as the wipers used in a bullet feeder. Studying the case feeders operation with it in your lap will indicate where the wipers need to be positioned. I used plastic sheeting and double sided tape to make mine.

Since performing this mod I cannot get my case feeder to jam.