I use the red powder baffle and did away with the brass washer and O ring. When it functioned perfectly, using a permanent magic marker, I marked the side of the red powder baffle and its corresponding position on the base with a vertical line. Should I have to remove the powder baffle and bottle, I know exactly where the perfect position was when I screw them back on.

 

replace the black gasket too when installing a new brass ring....I think that the black gasket gets hardened over time and sort of loses its "grip" on the brass

 

Measure the thickness of your bar. it should be 1.000" tall. I had a new bar that was about .050" undersized once. It caused trouble with leaked powder and shot getting jammed up on top of the bar.

 

I don't use the thin MEC washer any longer just for that reason. The so-called MEC baffle unit comes with a much thicker washer that is mechanically trapped and cannot slide out of position.

 

Throw the brass washer in the trash. Haven't used one in 40yrs. No baffles either. Tried them too.

 

So no brass washer, do you not get spillage?

 

Yes, with some powders you will get spillage. Pick your battles.

 

I think the brass washer was intended more for use with ball powders. I don't like the brass washer for the reason you stated. They move around and cause way more problems than they fix.

 

Asking experience recent problem I'm having on a MEC 9000.....

Impossible lol.

Leave the brass washer in and be sure the dimples face up. Ive never had one move around.
If you are using fine powder like Titewad it will help with reducing the amount of powder that ends up on the table.
Are you using the MEC bottle? You dont have to screw down the bottle very tight at all. If you are using a 2 liter Coke bottle or something toss that and get the correct sized MEC bottle.
Forget about 0.5 grains. MEC told me +/- 0.5 grains is normal. I gave up on trying to make the MEC Sow Ear a silk purse

Also toss the stooopid baffle. Its not even a baffle. The spring loaded end is supposed to do what the washer is trying to do by rubbing on the bar.

 

Crazy glue the brass washer to the rubber bushing

 

Get rid of the brass washer it's only cause trouble. There is nothing worse then having a bunch of shell's that have different powder weight. I bought some rubber washer on eBay that are littler thicker and they seem to work better then the ones from Mac.

 

Glue it problem solved don’t leave it out and dribble powder out

 

4 loaders, all with red baffle. Never any leakage. I'm surprised this hasn't been put back into production, I'm sure the y would sell very well.

HM

 

Grateful for the replys. Before tossing the brass washer, which I agree can cause problems, likely I'm over snugging the powder bottle which flattens the concave shape allowing it to move around. Next reloading session I'll use only a light contact on the powder bottle. I remember now this is what I've always done, and it seems I've forgotten what I used to know. AGE!!!!

BTW, the idea of very carefully using crazy glue to secure the brass washer to the rubber gasket really isn't a bad idea.

Thanks again, Bill

 

Grateful for the replys. Before tossing the brass washer, which I agree can cause problems, likely I'm over snugging the powder bottle which flattens the concave shape allowing it to move around. Next reloading session I'll use only a light contact on the powder bottle. I remember now this is what I've always done, and it seems I've forgotten what I used to know. AGE!!!!

BTW, the idea of very carefully using crazy glue to secure the brass washer to the rubber gasket really isn't a bad idea.

Thanks again, Bill

I’ve loaded on MEC loaders for 40 years. Never had a problem with the brass washer/rubber grommet stack. Every once in a while I would put the washer over an ornamental glass mushroom and carefully increase the concavity, but I never had one slip.

 

I've been crossing the street for 69 years. I've never been hit by a car.