My Lee Classic 4 hole Turret Press stopped indexing.......

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:25 pm

.....well, not completely. It indexes a few strokes then stops for a few, then starts again. I've only loaded about 500 rounds since new. Surely it can't be worn out yet. It stopped suddenly. No warning, after 3 1/2 boxes. I oiled it, including the plastic ratchet thingy on the ram. Still no worky. What is wrong?

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:21 pm

I would start here...
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi
Lee has a 2 yr warranty. A call or e-mail to their customer service, or tech help would be the first thing, in my humble opinion.
It sounds like something is either binding, or slipped out of place??
Many plastics don't like oil. Some of them are made sticky, or softened by oil. Many times, on plastic (nylon) parts, I'll use just a touch of Vaseline at friction points. Other than that, I'm not really familiar with that press.
My only Lee is an old classic "O" frame single stage, and the only problems I've had have been the operator.

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:38 pm

Medicine Hat wrote:I would start here...
http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi
Lee has a 2 yr warranty. A call or e-mail to their customer service, or tech help would be the first thing, in my humble opinion.
It sounds like something is either binding, or slipped out of place??
Many plastics don't like oil. Some of them are made sticky, or softened by oil. Many times, on plastic (nylon) parts, I'll use just a touch of Vaseline at friction points. Other than that, I'm not really familiar with that press.
My only Lee is an old classic "O" frame single stage, and the only problems I've had have been the operator.

Thanks. An email has been sent. I had a powder spill. Maybe some powder got into the works (although it worked OK for some time after the spill).

blue68f100 · Post by **blue68f100** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:44 pm

If you had a powder spill they cause problems with most AP presses. I use Hornady One Shot dry lube on my LNL-AP, mainly under the shell plate. I found out early on if that happens it's best to take care of it then, rather tan later.

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 5:04 pm

http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm
Jack, I just found this article. Very interesting. It's a 3 part article, so when you get to the bottom of pt. 1 need to click on part 2, etc.
It goes beyond the factory 'how-to' setup and explains pretty well each part and it's relationship to the whole.

Maybe some of your spilled powder has combined with lube, and just plain balled up the turret??

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:48 pm

Medicine Hat wrote:http://www.realguns.com/archives/122.htm
Jack, I just found this article. Very interesting. It's a 3 part article, so when you get to the bottom of pt. 1 need to click on part 2, etc.
It goes beyond the factory 'how-to' setup and explains pretty well each part and it's relationship to the whole.

Maybe some of your spilled powder has combined with lube, and just plain balled up the turret??

Nice article. Thanks again. Finished my loads using the turret manually. The top end is clean. I think the problem is the plastic piece on the ram that turns the indexing rod. I'd take it apart and clean it, but not knowing what's inside, I'm leary. Too many times in my life, I've taken something apart and tiny parts and springs disappeared when it "exploded". Then, even if I was lucky enough to find the parts, I had no idea where to put them back. Nothing in my paperwork or any article I've read tells me what's inside that little black piece of plastic. I'm hoping the factory can shed some light on it.

Medicine Hat · Post by **Medicine Hat** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:37 pm

Hi Jack, just checking in to see if you found a fix for your press. Hope so.

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Thu Feb 10, 2011 4:18 pm

Medicine Hat wrote:Hi Jack, just checking in to see if you found a fix for your press. Hope so.

I hope so, too. I contacted Lee via email and they sent me new parts. I havent' installed them yet, but suspect they will do the job.

thumbs · Post by **thumbs** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:02 am

Jack

I had the same problem and Lee "sold" me some of the square little black things that ride on the twisted bar. The problem comes when you don't move the arm all the way up or down. Anyway hope the problem is solved. Just be sure to move the handle all the way one way or the other.

Jack D · Post by **Jack D** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:29 am

thumbs wrote:Jack

I had the same problem and Lee "sold" me some of the square little black things that ride on the twisted bar. The problem comes when you don't move the arm all the way up or down. Anyway hope the problem is solved. Just be sure to move the handle all the way one way or the other.

Lee sent me a replacement free and all is well now. It seems to require friction on the shaft and the old one was very loose. New one is snug on the shaft and works very well.

Post by **Bullseye** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:32 am

Glad to hear that Lee stood behind their press and made it right.

R,
Bullseye