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Bullet feeder assembly for
Lee Loadmaster with Lee
bullet feed option.
Parts required to complete: 1. Bullet feed kit for Lee Loadmaster and Pro1000 (this kit is adaptable easily to other presses)
2. Double Alpha Mr Bulletfeeder DC motor (https://www.doublealpha.biz/mr-bulletfeeder-motor)
3. 4 X M5-0.8 Hex nuts and washers (to secure motor to bullet tub, not included with motor)
4. Double Alpha Spring extension (https://www.doublealpha.biz/mrbulletfeeder-output-spring-
and-extension-adaptor)
5. ¾” x ¾” square tube from Home Depot (https://www.homedepot.com/p/48-in-x-3-4-in-x-1-16-
in-Aluminum-Square-Tube-801317/204274004)
6. #6 ½” sheet metal screws (half dozen should work)
7. #6 ¾” Sheet metal screws (half dozen should work)
8. Harbor freight SAE Drill/Tap/Deburr Bit Set 13 Pc (https://www.harborfreight.com/sae-drill-tap-
deburr-bit-set-95528.html) (optional if you will mount bracket directly to press as shown)
9. 10/24 1” machine screws (to mount square tubing to press)
10. 12v white LED (https://www.amazon.com/LAOMAO-Bulbs-White-Pre-Wired-
Parties/dp/B00H98OS2W/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1519490264&sr=1-
1&keywords=12v+white+LED) (it’s cheaper to buy this bundle than single one)
11. Optical sensor switch kit (the brains that will stop and start motor as bullets reach a certain
point in feeder tube.
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FXFMQRQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF
8&psc=1)
12. A project box to house the switch PC board and house the switch and connectors
(https://www.amazon.com/uxcell-100mmx68mmx40mm-Universal-Enclosure-
Transparent/dp/B0714N28YT/ref=sr_1_16?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1519490481&sr=1-
16&keywords=project+box) (something similar to this, but up to you on size)
13. Switch for power (depends what you like and how handy you are with soldering iron)
14. Barrel plug pig tails for motor connection and power connection
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072BXB2Y8/ref=sspa_dk_bot_sx_aax_0?psc=1)
15. 12 volt power adapter with a 5mm barrel plug (very common) with at least 2A (2000 mA)
output.
16. Small spring as shown for the finger. (about ¾” long) fairly soft.
17. Drill.
18. Drill bits.
19. Basic hand tools.
20. Multimeter for testing electronics.
21. Some DIY skills and bravery.
This manual shows only one option on how this can be done very inexpensively, using only the materials
listed above. This is the system to cover the installation on a Lee Loadmaster and can be easily adapted
to a Lee Pro 100 or any Press that is using the Lee bullet feeder system.
Bucket Assembly.
1. Inspect all your components as listed, make sure you have everything required in front of you.
2. Prepare the holes on bucket with drill to ensure the motor bolts easily to the bucket, with all 4
studs on motor, use appropriate sized drill bit (7/16”) (sometimes due to the 3D printing process
not all holes are quite as exact as they need to be).
3. unit to be mounted on tub.
4. At this point it’s highly recommended to solder a female 5mm barrel pigtail to motor making
sure to use heat shrink tubing to insulate connections. (lots of
videos on how to do this on Youtube).
5. Add a washer and a (M5-0.8) nut to each stud and tighten down snuggly but not too tight as the
body of tub may be damaged. (ensure all mount components are below the surface of the
bottom of the inside of the tub).
6. Use a drill with a 9/64” drill bit to uniform the holes to hold #6 screws. (6 on spring funnel, two
on the bucket bottom for mounting, and one on the case return finger)
7. The case finger needs a second drilling operation with a ¼” drill bit, but only going in about one
half the thickness to allow clearance of a #6 ¾” sheet metal screw.
8. Mount the finger to location shown, ensuring the reis still enough play so finger can move freely
but well secured.
9. Once motor is mounted, Mount the BF support bracket with 2X #6 ½” screws as shown.
10. Take spring funnel adapter and work the spring into it as shown , this will be enough to hold
spring tube securely.
Bucket mount to press.
1. Cut the ¾” square tube to a length long enough to put the bucket at a height where it gives
clearance to your powder feed and high enough as to allow a straighter path for spring tube to
feeder tube.
2. Ok here comes the scary part but it is optional as you could mount the square tube in many
fashions and as long as you want it to be (mine is 18” to match what you see in pictures), this is
the way I chose as my presses are removable and store as complete units. I also do not have a
motorized case collator (yet) like other presses do and this gives clearance with my shelves and
Lee case collator.
3. Mark 2 holes like shown and utilize the “drill Master 10/24 drill/threader bit” to drill and tap
these 2 holes.
4. Mark exact location of these two holes in the square tube as shown and drill holes (all the way
through both sides) for the 10/24 machine screws, a 1” should give you required bite into the
now threaded holes in casting.
5. Mount the square tube to the press or to wherever you have decided to mount it.
6. The Bucket Bracket now mounted to the bucket can now slip on top of the square tube (make
sure it is securely seated).
7. The Double Alpha spring tube should now be hanging loose and probably a bit too long.
Bullet feed tube.
1. Insert the bullet feed bushing (small short tube with inside having a funnel shape) (with widest
portion facing up) in to the Lee bullet feed tube mount.
2. Place Bullet feed tube on top and around of the aluminum Lee bullet feed tube holder with the
two optical ports oriented so they are on the upper part (will only fit one way) ensuring the
bullet check opening is facing you.
3. This tube’s top opening will accept the Double Alpha Large extension tube coming from the BF
tub into the top portion (remove the screw on extension collar that comes with spring tube),
this will probably need some trimming (can be cut with HD electrical wire cutters or a Dremel
with a cut off wheel), with this exact mount height there were approximately 2 or so inches
needed to be trimmed, cut at your own risk, may damage lesser cutters as spring metal is very
hard.
4. At this point you can test the feeder with power temporarily connected to ensure all is running
smoothly, you should hear a clicking from the finger and spring combo. to make sure any bullets
that come down the tube are properly oriented (no nose downs) run a handful of bullets
through it, you can manually cycle the Lee BF mechanism to check everyone did come down tail
first.
5. REJOICE !!! the mechanical part is done.
Electronic optical sensor.
1. Prepare by reading manual on how the connections are to be connected to the optical sensor
relay board.
2. Prepare a project box by locating where your switch is to be located and make sure the small
circuit board will have plenty of clearance for all wiring then drill the appropriate sized hole to
mount your switch. (planning location for switch and holes for wires coming in and out will
make things easier when thought out).
3. Drill a small ¼” hole to pass wires through (use grommets if necessary) on one side of box for
wire input and solder the positive side (red) of a FEMALE barrel pigtail (power in) to one the C
(common) contact of your switch.
4. Now join the negative of (power input) barrel pigtail and the negative of a MALE pigtail (for
motor) together along with negative wire of LED (might need to extend as I did and insert all 3
wires into the negative terminal of power side of optical sensor board.
5. Solder a small pice of wire approx. 3” or 4” from the connected part of switch.
6. Connect this positive from switch along with another jumper to the positive side of the power
input of the optical relay board.
7. Connect jumper from positive side as well as the positive from the LED wire to the C (common)
connection on the relay side connector.
8. Connect the positive side of the pigtail going to the motor to the NC connection on relay side.
9. Assemble control box making sure there is no chance of shorts , secure optical relay board to
the box with double stick tape or screws (depends on what box you get).
10. Mount box to the square tube where its within easy reach and not impeding any operations of
press.
11. Install the LED to one side of the drop tube (might need a little widening of opening) and put the
optical sensor on the other.
12. Adjust the small potentiometer down all the way then up about a quarter turn.
13. Plug your power supply in and test. The LED should come on when the switch is turned ON, and
the relay board will have LEDs on it as well.
14. Test that the light comes on and that if you cover the optical sensor it switches (you will hear a
click when the relay changes state. If this Is working put the optical sensor back in feed tube and
test with a handful of bullets, enough to fill the tube to reach the optical sensor.
15. IF you have success then the bullets fed until they reached the sensor and then the motor shut
off. Manually cycle the bullet feed slider while catching the bullets in hand or bin, after a couple
of bullets go , you should hear the motor turn on again feeding more bullets. SUCCESS!!
This Manual is detailing the steps I took to make this work on my press, it can be adjusted and modified
to work with other presses and bullet feeding systems, including (in the plans) the RCBS bullet feed die,
the Double Alpha Mr Bullet feed die.