TionestaDoug
Bearcat
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2016
- Messages
- 12
I have tried to adjust for all the dies trying to get the dies in time and as soon as I get one in time the others are off. Any thoughts?
Having problems with Lee Turret. ...anyone else?
- Thread starter TionestaDoug
- Start date
NikA
Hunter
Worn plastic ratchet?
When you say "out of time," do you mean that when one die is appropriately aligned with the press ram, and you stroke the press a full stroke, the next die is not properly aligned? As far as I know, that can only be caused by an issue with the plastic ratchet and rotation bar (forget the proper name), or by a fundamental issue with the press' construction. It is possible to short stroke the press to cause timing issues though if you are not completing a full up and down stroke.
When you say "out of time," do you mean that when one die is appropriately aligned with the press ram, and you stroke the press a full stroke, the next die is not properly aligned? As far as I know, that can only be caused by an issue with the plastic ratchet and rotation bar (forget the proper name), or by a fundamental issue with the press' construction. It is possible to short stroke the press to cause timing issues though if you are not completing a full up and down stroke.
Clovishound
Blackhawk
Yep, replace the little plastic square ratchet. They are a consumable. I have to replace mine about every 2 years or so. I believe they are designed to be sacrificial rather than damage other parts.
Try hand indexing. Twist the turret by hand and check alignment (you'll feel the indent ball "click" into place). If the dies line up, then replace the black plastic thingy, or remove it completely and just hand index. I got my turret about 13 years ago and removed the auto-index feature 12.75 years ago (I was setting the press up the for the first time and the press would index when I didn't ant it to). I developed a good batch load process that works quite well for all my reloading; 9mm through 30-06...
Jim Puke
Hunter
THAT... is the reason that I dumped mine...never ending need to be adjusted, new parts did not fix mine.
OP
TionestaDoug
Bearcat
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2016
- Messages
- 12
Thanks all I can see it will go out of time a lot took off index lines up perfect thanks guys
The little plastic ratcheting doodad is cheap and easily replaceable. I wouldn't condemn the press for this since it IS fairly cheap and still quite usable.
I've loaded a truck load of ammo on the turret presses I have.
I've loaded a truck load of ammo on the turret presses I have.
I believe that part is "sacrificial". Thar cheap plastic part should break before any more serious damage is done if the press is "binding" or some other issue. If that part didn't break first, more serious damage could occur...
Clovishound
Blackhawk
6gun said:You get what you pay for toss it and buy a RCBS.
I also have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds on my LCT. IMO it is a quality machine. Like any rotating press, it needs some occasional maintenance. Cleaning, lubing, and yes, the little sacrificial part has to be replaced every few years, or whenever the mechanism has been "forced". That is why it's made of plastic.
RCBS makes good stuff. The LCT is a good press as well, at a different price point.
Unfortunately whenever someone mentions "Lee" some Lee Hater has to chime in with something negative, and usually not related to the conversation. My Momma always said "if you ain't got something positive to say, shut up"...
FWIW, the only bad dies I've purchased were RCBS, totaly P.O.S. I almost bought a puke green RCBS press but was totally unimpressed with the workmanship (lack there of) and went with a quality press instead; Redding...
FWIW, the only bad dies I've purchased were RCBS, totaly P.O.S. I almost bought a puke green RCBS press but was totally unimpressed with the workmanship (lack there of) and went with a quality press instead; Redding...
Clovishound said:6gun said:You get what you pay for toss it and buy a RCBS.
I also have loaded thousands and thousands of rounds on my LCT. IMO it is a quality machine. Like any rotating press, it needs some occasional maintenance. Cleaning, lubing, and yes, the little sacrificial part has to be replaced every few years, or whenever the mechanism has been "forced". That is why it's made of plastic.
RCBS makes good stuff. The LCT is a good press as well, at a different price point.
A quality machine don't break down or have plastic parts to replace, like I said you get what you pay for.
NikA
Hunter
A well-engineered machine will absolutely have wear parts that are inexpensive and replaceable by the end user. The fact that this piece is plastic is only a choice that combines the necessary strength with the wear properties and cost.
The best engineered press, with no need for parts replacement, would be well beyond the cost of the average reloader (think bushings or bearings on every possible wear surface to control runout/misalignment). However, the design of dies and other reloading tools is such that absolute alignment is typically undesirable and may be detrimental to self-alignment in precisely toleranced parts such as dies.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Lee brand reloading tools. They are somewhat less expensive, but they are appropriately engineered to meet the needs of their users at the price point at which they are offered. They even have offered some unique solutions to reloading challenges that other brands have failed to acknowledge.
In short, buying reloading tools from any of the major brands is likely to get you a serviceable product. They all have flops and they all occasionally put out products that do not meet QC requirements. Heck, this forum is for a company renowned for leaving the final finishing to the customer to meet a price point- can you fault other companies for doing so as well?
The best engineered press, with no need for parts replacement, would be well beyond the cost of the average reloader (think bushings or bearings on every possible wear surface to control runout/misalignment). However, the design of dies and other reloading tools is such that absolute alignment is typically undesirable and may be detrimental to self-alignment in precisely toleranced parts such as dies.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Lee brand reloading tools. They are somewhat less expensive, but they are appropriately engineered to meet the needs of their users at the price point at which they are offered. They even have offered some unique solutions to reloading challenges that other brands have failed to acknowledge.
In short, buying reloading tools from any of the major brands is likely to get you a serviceable product. They all have flops and they all occasionally put out products that do not meet QC requirements. Heck, this forum is for a company renowned for leaving the final finishing to the customer to meet a price point- can you fault other companies for doing so as well?
NikA
Hunter
I bet you've loaded tens of thousands of rounds on it and checked the wear points for dimensional stability, too. The point here is that if your RCBS press develops play due to wear at a contact surface, the replacement parts will be more involved than the "cheap" little plastic ratchet. The fact that you may never use it that much or that the small changes that develop are unimportant to you is irrelevant.
Maybe we should compare it to RCBS's attempts at inexpensive turret/semi-progressive presses?
-Their turret is 2x cost and develops known torques due to its unbalanced force design. It WILL need parts, as the play in the central turret attachment point will increase with use.
-RCBS Piggyback presses seem to have left the marketplace due to design issues.
-Seems like the RCBS Green Machine was so much of a failure it never came out in all the calibers it was originally advertised for.
-RCBS's current progressives run as much or more than Dillon's; seems like serious reloaders tend to prefer the latter.
A single stage press is pretty laughably easy to design. Once things start moving against each other in close dependency, you have wear parts that need to be replaced. Doesn't matter whether it's a press, or a gun, or a car. Wear is the inevitable consequence of moving parts, and a good design takes this into account and makes the wear parts inexpensive and user replaceable.
Maybe we should compare it to RCBS's attempts at inexpensive turret/semi-progressive presses?
-Their turret is 2x cost and develops known torques due to its unbalanced force design. It WILL need parts, as the play in the central turret attachment point will increase with use.
-RCBS Piggyback presses seem to have left the marketplace due to design issues.
-Seems like the RCBS Green Machine was so much of a failure it never came out in all the calibers it was originally advertised for.
-RCBS's current progressives run as much or more than Dillon's; seems like serious reloaders tend to prefer the latter.
A single stage press is pretty laughably easy to design. Once things start moving against each other in close dependency, you have wear parts that need to be replaced. Doesn't matter whether it's a press, or a gun, or a car. Wear is the inevitable consequence of moving parts, and a good design takes this into account and makes the wear parts inexpensive and user replaceable.
I love my Lee turret press. I should buy some of those plastic gizmos to have on hand but it will probably take learning the hard way to do that...
6gun - Thanks for your enlightened opinion, if it hasn't been made clear then let me restate it for you: take it elsewhere.
Clark
6gun - Thanks for your enlightened opinion, if it hasn't been made clear then let me restate it for you: take it elsewhere.
Clark
Rook
Blackhawk
Clark said:
So do I. Not sure why some people have problems with the plastic part. I've been using my Lee 4 hole turret for many years reloading 500 Mag, .50AE, .30-06, 45 Colt, .44 Mag, .357 Mag, .38 Special, .38-40, .380, and I've yet to have to replace anything on mine. Maybe I'm just lucky but then there are people that can tear up a steel ball with a rubber mallet. :lol:
Wow, my reloading bench hasn't been that clean since 3 hours after I finished building it.
Rook
Blackhawk
Mobuck said:
When mine gets dirty I just take the air hose and blow it off and sweep up what ever hits the floor.
opos
Buckeye
Lee has a help video on adjusting the timing on the shaft that rides in the little square plastic thing...I had it "off" a bit for a while and figured I knew better and didn't need those darn pesky instructions...when I went by the instructions included with the press (after I found them) and looking at the vid...it went together perfectly and I've had absolutely no issues since...90% of the problems with the square timing collar is that the user does not take a full stroke up and down and they catch the corners part way moved...it needs a full stroke to the top and bottom after it's adjusted and it's never a problem after that....I use it as well as a single stage Lee Classic Cast...As to RCBS I had a rockchucker that threw primers all over the floor and had a feed tube of primers detonate years ago...the only thing RCBS I use is a 5-0-5 scale and it's one of the old ones before they were made in another country (think their presses are chinese)...It's like anything else...there are good ones and bad ones and good operators and not so good operators..Lee makes it easy if I just follow the instructions and take time.
I have used a lee turret press for about four years. Loaded thousands of pistol rounds with it. One thing i found out about it is dont index it by hand with the indexing rod in place it will trash the ratchet fast. I use it mostly for rifle now so its indexed by hand kinda like having multiple single stage presses in one. Use a lee pro 1000 for my pistol rounds. I do not use the priming feature i prime off press as part of case prep. Tumble deprime prime 200 to a zip lock bag.
sliclee
Single-Sixer
If you notice,almost all help me posts are about Lee products. This is not personal, many reloaders years ago probably started off with Lee because its inexpensive always needing parts and breaking down.
This led to buying better equipment. When I read the problems I do feel bad about the problems and youa'll don't want to her it.
This led to buying better equipment. When I read the problems I do feel bad about the problems and youa'll don't want to her it.
Only problem I've had with mine was the ratchet. Don't index it by hand with the rod in place no problems. I'm a member on other forums and the biggest complaint about reloading presses is the priming system on all of them. Alot of people modify it to help make it work better or prime off press. I read a lot of posts before I started reloading and figured out that I was not going to prime while reloading. I tumble deprime and prime on my turret press I put the primers in the cup one at a time takes time but I'm not in any hurry. All primers are in correctly no upside down or sideways ones
It's one thing I don't have to watch for when I'm loading. Just my personal preference.
It's one thing I don't have to watch for when I'm loading. Just my personal preference.
Rick Courtright
Hawkeye
sliclee said:
Hi,
Actually, no, I haven't. Perhaps you can be so kind as to show us some valid data to back up that comment.
Rick C
Rook
Blackhawk
sliclee said:
Typical post from someone that's paid ten times to much for the equipment they use.
sliclee
Single-Sixer
NIKA wake up-cheap is cheap- THERE IS ONLY ONE TURRET PRESS REDDINGS-it will last 100 years only one bering might be needed- mine is over 50 years- I have 5 different plates-each plate has its own bearing-each a rifle caliber for varmints-ammo made perfect 100%- was my first reloading machine
ask anyone who ownes one- I also have 2 DILLON 650's there is NONE better.
We only have so much time use it well
ask anyone who ownes one- I also have 2 DILLON 650's there is NONE better.
We only have so much time use it well
NikA
Hunter
Hmm, cast part, creates a torque by design, countered only by the tolerances on other cast parts? I'm so impressed, I think I'll pay 3x as much for the press and 5x as much for each turret!
You can debate the merits of your press until you're blue in the face. Lee's design is functional and utilitarian, and at an attractive price point. Makes sense to me. Then again, I considered buying a Niva because anything that could possibly go wrong could be fixed in a home shop with handtools. Guess we probably just have different objectives. Mine is not to disparage people on the basis of their choice of equipment.
You can debate the merits of your press until you're blue in the face. Lee's design is functional and utilitarian, and at an attractive price point. Makes sense to me. Then again, I considered buying a Niva because anything that could possibly go wrong could be fixed in a home shop with handtools. Guess we probably just have different objectives. Mine is not to disparage people on the basis of their choice of equipment.
nvbirdman
Blackhawk
Paying twice the price of a Lee press to avoid replacing a two dollar part every five years sounds like Obama's economic policy.
Lost Sheep
Single-Sixer
[/quote]If you don't rotate the turret backwards, the ratchet takes no stress. Unfortunately, it is easy to counter-rotate. Even just a little could be problematic.
I can state without fear of contradiction that the Lee Classic Turret is the best 4-station auto-indexing press in current production anywhere in the world. Of course, there is only one other, the slightly inferior Lee Deluxe Turret press. My point (and weveral others here, too) that you get what you pay for and Lee is great value for the money. Redding is great value for the money, too, but only if it fits your needs. Lee turrets change in seconds, the spent primer handling is second to none, the Lee Safety prime fills quicker than any other and is safer and very reliable. This fills my needs better than the Redding. That's why I bougnt what I did. I am sure that's why you bought what you did. I am glad you are happy with your choice.
Yes, but you are buying from the wrong vendor. They are readily available for $1 for two square ratchets. The indexing arm being protected by the sacrificial square ratchet is the $6 indexing arm (also plastic).
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