Lee Turret press problems

[Volzfan]

I am new to reloading and the press that I started out with is the Lee 4 Hole Turret Press with auto index.

I've loaded less than 2000 rds and alreay I've run into a problem that I seen complaints on reviews and that is that the Indexing Ratchet has worn out. I've read that they work better with two installed rather than the single one that comes in it.

What have you guys done to help or correct this issue? It seems that someone would have made a SS replacement for this weak link with this Lee press.

I've also heard that graphite would help.

[SonnyCrockett]

buy extras...2000 is a fair amount from that plastic thingee

get a dozen,should last you years

[mikegideon]

I have barely hit 1000 on mine. I have the classic 4 hole. Not the same one as yours. One spare came with my press.

Good info. I'll order a sack of them when I get around to it.

[pcrc11]

I get about 500 rounds out of mine before I have to "help it index" the last 1/8-1/4" or so of rotation. I have been kicking around the idea of milling a hole in the bottom of the square shaft to accept a roll pin. Then drill a hole in the base where the shaft spins and insert the other end of the roll pin in that hole. That would let the shaft turn and not wobble when it turns. IMO that creates a lot of undo wear on those plastic inserts making them wear out faster. Funny thing is when you have the three hole Lee Turret it comes with the insert and rotater made of metal. You would have thought they could have done the same thing with the four hole turret when they developed that. Oh, and I also keep a half dozen of them on hand as well.

[BigK]

I've heard of this problem a lot too, last time I ordered from Lee I bought a couple of extras just in case. I must be one lucky SOB, because mine still has the original installed. I have loaded somewhere near 2000 rds of 9mm, 400 rds of Makarov, and 450 rds of 45 acp on that original part.

I don't know if it's because I keep mine over lubricated or just blind-stupid luck.

Edited September 13, 2012 by BigK

[Guest daddyseal]

I've heard of this problem a lot too, last time I ordered from Lee I bought a couple of extras just in case. I must be one lucky SOB, because mine still has the original installed. I have loaded somewhere near 2000 rds of 9mm, 400 rds of Makarov, and 450 rds of 45 acp on that original part.

I don't know if it's because I keep mine over lubricated or just blind-stupid luck.

My plastic ratchet wore out after only about 500 reloads. So, now I hand rotate it.

Even then, I feel the turret "objecting" to get to a certain place in the rotation...even with my multiple number of turrets containing dies for all my calibers. I have lubed the the heck out of the turret housing with oil, then cleaned and tried graphite, looked for wear spots so I might smooth them out...but see none.

Lee told me to send in the whole press, and they'd fix it, but reload every day, and don't want to be without it.

Are you talking about "over lubing" the turret in the top of your press, or the shaft?

Please tell me what lube you use, and where, friend?

HELP~!!

Edited September 19, 2012 by daddyseal

[BigK]

I've never lubed the aluminum turret interface at the top, but I did slick it up with a Dremel, a buffing attachment, and some polishing compound. Mine had small burrs that looked like they'd snag and bind up the turret when it turns inside the press.

Likewise, I ran some 1000 grit sandpaper up/down the indexing shaft to smooth it up where it touches other parts, especially the auto-indexing clamp (that's the housing that the nylon ratchet is inside of).

As far as lube goes, I just squirt 3-in-1 oil above the auto-indexing clamp and let it run down the shaft. In fact, there's a recess in the press body where that shaft touches the base. If that recess is overflowing, I figure I used too much. If not, I don't even wipe up that oil. I figure it can't hurt the bottom of that shaft to rest in a little oil.

I hope that helps. I know I wouldn't want to be without a press while Lee fixes mine either.

[Jonnin]

when mine goes I am going to buy a replacement, and mill out a metal one using the plastic new one as a guide.... probably make it out of aluminum but I am tempted to go steel on it.

[Rock.45]

Dillon 550 14 years old and still going strong with no problems, I paid alittle more but you get what you pay for . Lee's dies work great in a Dillon press.

[Guest daddyseal]

I've never lubed the aluminum turret interface at the top, but I did slick it up with a Dremel, a buffing attachment, and some polishing compound. Mine had small burrs that looked like they'd snag and bind up the turret when it turns inside the press.

Likewise, I ran some 1000 grit sandpaper up/down the indexing shaft to smooth it up where it touches other parts, especially the auto-indexing clamp (that's the housing that the nylon ratchet is inside of).

As far as lube goes, I just squirt 3-in-1 oil above the auto-indexing clamp and let it run down the shaft. In fact, there's a recess in the press body where that shaft touches the base. If that recess is overflowing, I figure I used too much. If not, I don't even wipe up that oil. I figure it can't hurt the bottom of that shaft to rest in a little oil.

I hope that helps. I know I wouldn't want to be without a press while Lee fixes mine either.

I buff all my pistol internal friction spots...Don't know why I hadn't done that to my press since I've had this issue...lol

Excellent ideas....Thank You~!...Will Do!

[pcrc11]

when mine goes I am going to buy a replacement, and mill out a metal one using the plastic new one as a guide.... probably make it out of aluminum but I am tempted to go steel on it.

If you make out of metal you will probaly wear out the plastic main housing that it rides in very quickly

[BigK]

Don't shoot the messenger over this, but I've read that the excessive wear on that part is 100% operator error. I'm not saying it's true, but the 4 things most commonly cited as causing this wear are

1) raising/lowering the ram too fast/hard

2) manually indexing the turret with the ram in the up or down position (rather than in the middle)

3) manually indexing the turret backwards instead of going all the way back around

4) short-stroking the handle

I'm not saying anybody is/isn't doing this, just that I read one or more reasons on several sites and all 4 in a single thread on TheFiringLine.com. It may be worth considering, maybe not.

I also read a pretty smart reason NOT to make/use a metal replacement part. The square ratchet is only a 50 cent part. Replace it with metal and whatever defect, operator error, wear, etc is causing the nylon part to wear out will cause the auto index clamp to wear when that metal replacement starts to transfer it's strain to the plastic clamp, which is a $6 part.

Dillon 550 14 years old and still going strong with no problems, I paid alittle more but you get what you pay for . Lee's dies work great in a Dillon press.

Only a little more? Just kidding, Rock.45. I have a 650 and a Lee 4-hole turret. There's things I love about both, but the Dillon is in a class of it's own.

When I started reloading, people like Jonnin and Dolomite gave me excellent advice. At that time the Lee turret was all I could afford and all I could realistically master as a beginner. If I were still shooting < 500 rounds/month, I'd never have sprung for a Dillon. Also, there is NO comparison regarding which is easier to convert to another caliber!!! I can go from .32 ACP to 9mm Makarov to .45 ACP to 7.62X25 and back on the Lee faster than I can remove the shellplate on the Dillon...all for only $10/extra turret.

[Jonnin]

If you make out of metal you will probaly wear out the plastic main housing that it rides in very quickly

I mean the whole thing.