Head fails to fully return

[mrrush]

Hello.  Just received my first Star.  The only issue I've encountered so far is that the Head does not return to full hight after a down stroke.  The Press  came with a new no. #56 spring and the old one.  The issue is the same with both springs.

The head does return high enough to clear the dies, recharge the powder measure and allow easy manual indexing. Is this normal or is it a problem. If so whats the best fix?

Thank you.

[cc656d]

Pic ?

[rbwillnj]

If you remove #65 Lower Link Pin, does the head move freely up to the crankshaft assembly?   If it DOES NOT move freely with the lower link pin out,  then the failure to return might be just a dirty column, lack of lubrication or possibly a burr or ding on the column.   If it DOES move freely with the lower link pin out, then we need to look at some other things.

[mrrush]

Thank you for your quick responses.  My bad on my description of my problem.

The Head fully and easily (maybe too easily) returns to full hight when the Handle is manually raised..  The problem is when I release the Handle the Head drops approx. 1/2".  When I release the Handle after the down stroke, the Head returns to approx. 1/2" short of full hight. 

My first thought is that the Head Spring is weak.  But the problem is the same with both the old and the new Head Spring.

Thanks, Bruce R.

[fc60]

Greetings,

Please post a photo or two showing the machine in profile highlighting the the return spring.

Could be a bent goose neck or, possibly, two incorrect return springs.

When you release the spring from the goose neck, it should take some effort.

Cheers,

Dave

[NYKenn]

One of my presses often does the same thing. Same for another member of my club that I am aware of.  The spring does provide resistance and maintains control on both the down and upstroke.It will drop down a small amount from the highest point, (never measured it)  but not so far as to impact any of the reloading processes, (powder, primer, etc.)
No issues or impacts with this that I can see, as it does not impact reloading.

Kenn

[mrrush]

Problem solved  by a new OEM return spring.