[ny32182]

What do you use to lube your press, and where? All the joints I assume... how about the ram shaft as it rides through the frame? Mine is getting a little... grungy... I'm thinking its about time.

[mongoose33]

My LnL AP press has grease zerks on it I use to lube it. On my single-stage, just a little grease on the ram, and I might, on any moving joints, spray a little BreakFree CLP on them in lieu of oiling them.

I will wipe off dirty grease before I do these things.

[bds]

I wipe off with paper towel and lightly lube all contact points with synthetic motor oil (left over from oil change) and repeat as necessary:

- Ram (Since I deprime on the single stage, my progressive ram stays CLEAN from spent primer fouling)
- Ram lever joints (inside press pins and lever bottom)
- Shell plate carrier hex rod (Pro 1000) top and bottom

I have a large bottle of BreakFree, but use that on the guns.

[W.E.G.]

I've had good luck with Break Free.

I like the way it washes away the fouling, and lubricates all at once.

[Conqueror]

I put a light coat of mid-weight grease on the ram, pivot points, and the bolt in the middle of the shell plate.

[ambidextrous1]

I lube according to recommendations in the manual; it appears to be adequate for the purpose. :rolleyes:

[JimKirk]

Break Free to clean & lube and Mobil 1 5w-20 to lube, I lube sparingly, just enough to do the job, no extra to gather dust and dirt.

Jimmy K

[thorn-]

I've use the Zerks on the LNL last year. They worked fine, but the grease gun itself was a complete mess to store for future use. I wrapped it in heavy paper and a ziplock, and I'd swear somehow grease was still penetrating through it all and getting on the shelf. Threw the darned thing in the trash a couple months ago - there was some money wasted.

Used CLP to lube the ram the next day. Worked great - very smooth action. Not sure I'll be going back to grease.

thorn

[ReloaderFred]

For the ram, clean off all the old residue and then oil lightly with either RemOil or Machinegunner's lube from www.sprinco.com. Either one will make the ram move smoothly, but I really prefer the Machinegunner's lube. It takes very little and lasts a long time. I also use Machinegunner's lube for all the pivot points on all my presses.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Gadzooks Mike]

I wipe my Lee turret press down after decapping - that's where all the mess comes from, it seems. I also put a drop of oil on the joints and on the shaft before every use.

[James2]

3in1 Oil

[ranger335v]

Clean and oil the moving parts and pivots in any mechanical device.

Most any common oil is fine for a press, it's all low speed stuff. The pivots are made to take the pressure.

[bobelk99]

Clean and oil the moving parts and pivots in any mechanical device.
Most any common oil is fine for a press, it's all low speed stuff. The pivots are made to take the pressure.

I can't improve on the above post. No need to go buy anything special.
If you have a manual with the press, you can't go wrong following it's directions.

I use WD40, just because it existed 40 years ago when I wasn't aware of anything better.

[ClarkEMyers]

I use Mobil 1 grease on a Hornady press just because the grease is red - otherwise I run a little Weaponshield or FP10 around to start a session on a single stage and call it good.

[HOWARD J]

I spray Barricade ( rust stopper) on all moving parts--it's a great lube
& stops rust..................................

[cheygriz]

Lubri-plate!:p

[1SOW]

Mobil 1, lightly for all the above locations.

[Drail]

Personally I use Breakfree CLP or Dexron ATF on almost everything in my shop but what really makes a difference on a reloading press is to completely disassemble and clean the crud out of the bore in the frame. You would be amazed what comes out of there (mainly grit from the deprime operation). Lube and reassemble and it feels like a new press.

[more forty fives]

CLP!

[BrokenWheel]

I used to use mobile 1 motor oil on the shaft of the press, but I found that when you do a group of say, 300 cartridges the main shaft becomes warm and tends to make the motor oil runny. Because of that I have switched over to wheel bearing grease.

[Drail]

Happiness is a warm "main shaft". How many rounds per minute are you producing? In all the years I've been pumping a handle I've never seen a shaft become warm.

[ny32182]

Wow, lots of opinions. Thanks for all the feedback... I guess I will try CLP first since that is what I have and it should penetrate the joints pretty easily. Maybe I will try something thicker on the ram after that.

I will dig around and see if I have the manual as well.

[ReloaderFred]

You actually want the thinnest oil that will do the job on the ram. Thicker oils and greases hamper the movement of the ram. You should be able to release the handle on the ram and it will move through the whole stroke by itself.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[A and O]

Have to agree with Fred on this one. On my co-ax I use Rem oil. There is always a 1 oz bottle sitting on the shelf above the press. And a little goes a very long way.


KB

[MulticalinMO]

Clean off press and then I use Gibbs (Which is RED) on my Green (RCBS) press. It is like Christmas! And the press just keeps on giving up ammo with Missouri Bullets!

Skip in Kingsville

[iblong]

CLP spray it on wipe it off.

[sonier]

ATF full synthetic with lil 10w-40 high milage to thicken it up some