lee breechlock press problem, warranty?

The instructions on your RCBS resizing die state to use a big wrench to tighten them? Really? Or do they say, "Set the large lock nut," repeatedly?

Let's quote for truth.
RCBS Universal Decap Die "Set the die lock ring...."
RCBS Bottleneck Rifle and Pistol sizing die "Set the large lock nut ...."
RCBS Straight Wall (Carbide) "Tighten the large lock nut ...."
RCBS Straight Wall (Steel) "Set the large lock nut ...."

Regardless, common sense is common sense. Your picture shows that you couldn't find your wrench at least 4 separate times. It also shows that you applied enough force to upset the steel of the locating pin. No certificate in the world can change that. YOU broke it.

If you had a problem with the press or bushing from the beginning, you should have resolved it with the manufacturer. Mentioning it after you broke the bushing makes it look like you are trying to find an excuse to avoid personal accountability for abusing your equipment.

But I will say it once again the bushing never fit tightly in the dowel and always moved around so it didn't take much at all to strip.

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I am familiar with the breech lock bushings, they rattle around, but lock up the same under press load, they aren't designed to be 'tightened', just turned until the button pops in to the detent.

It took a lot of power/leverage to strip those lugs. They should have never been wrenched like that, that is all folks are saying.

Anyway, it doesn't matter now, and Lee isn't going to fix it for free as they see it that way too.

If you would have called & explained how you made a mistake & tore it up because you didn't understand the instructions then they would have probably given you one. At least they have me 3 times or so now. Now if you called & told them there junk broke like I'm sure Legion did also. I'm sure they got offended & want as welling to give free stuff.

Gonefishin, my lee press looks the same way, I keep a cresent wrench hangin on my bench. if you only hand tighten your dies on rcbs dies then the whole die wants to move around while trying to adjust their prehistoric semi archaic seater adjusting nut.. so I snug.. and I mean only snug them in. the problem I ran into is that the little plunger has too much play and will actually bind your collets in and you can't tighten them or loosen them. I actually make sure when I install a dies that I do not allow the plunger and notch to line up. when removing a die and attempting to allow the collet to remain in the press use a little down pressure so that the collet can't pop up. the threads engage backwards and the die pops right out.. after 10,000 plus rounds no issues.. stay away from the little plunger, it doesn't work.. the whole it rides in is too large and allows it to cant to the side... oh and put some anti-sieze on your threads before you wish you had oh and I also have one collet that looks like a squirrel ate it because I followed the manual and snugged it up with a wrench and the collet bound up.. but yeah it isn't lees problem.. that is the only complaint I have about my press, so I live with it

Today, 02:55 AM #25
gonefishin1
Member


Join Date: February 15, 2013
Location: houston
Posts: 14 Ok I am an ase certified mechanic for the last 12 years I know how to use tools and am more than capable to change dies out.... I know to push the plunger in to remove the whole bushing and die but as I have said I was only removing the die. The instructions do say to tighten with a wrench so that's wgat I did and not overly tight. Trust me I know how to use just about any tool made the couple of teeth marks are from when I first got the press and couldn't find my wrench. But I will say it once again the bushing never fit tightly in the dowel and always moved around so it didn't take much at all to strip.




Gonefishing1, I understand, I heard you the first time, the bushing is cute, it is of a weak design, poorly made, cheap, but, saves time for those that do not have time, again, me? I do not get into mortal combat with reloading, I adjust my dies every time. I do not need anything between the die and press. Aid to securing the die: place a shim between the bottom of the die and top of the shell holder, raise the ram, remove the slack while the ram is up and against the die, then secure the die to the press with the lock ring. Again, an inch pound torque wrench is adequate, if not in the hand, in the mind. And verify, I verify adjustments, I use the versatile tool, the feeler gage, it is a transfer, it is a standard and it is used for verifying.

It is not easy to get credit on the Internet, it is not easy to bring something from the outside in. I am one of the very few if not the only reloader that can determine the effort necessary to size a case without a press, it is easier with a press, back to the part where I said I am not ‘that desperate for attention’. Desperate for attention, most of the attention I get is negative, not a problem and I make no excuses. Criticism should be objective, if a better way is not suggested the criticism is not fair and or objective, it is just plain b$#^hing.

Again, I purchase tools, datums, etc., At the Big Town Gun show in Mesquite, TX. I came away with 40 lbs. of dies and everything else related to reloading for $20.00. In a good gesture? After paying for the equipment I started sorting Lee equipment like dies etc., to give them back. Immediately the dealer wanted to know what I was doing, obvious, I was giving him the lee dies back for free, he said I could not do that, seems he threw the Lee dies in for free, he gave me the Lee dies. He did not want the dies back and I did not want to haul them to the parking lot. THEN! I took the dies to the Market Hall Gun show, set the Lee dies on the table and not one person ask if they could have them. One reloader did ask about the factory crimp dies, then he told me everything there was to know about the factory crimp die then told me what I could and could not do with them. I told him I was the fan of bullet hold.

The second day I came back with cases, lots of cases, one person purchases all the 223 cases, RCBS dies, I sold 25 sets, again, I did not get one inquiry for the Lee dies, except one, the man setting next to me pointed out some of the Lee dies belong to a sailor, seems the man setting next to me was a sailor and knew knots, three sets of the Lee dies had tags that were tied to the shell holders and dies with cord with some fancy knots.

F. Guffey

Dave, the post is about the Lee bushing. No where did I find Gonefishin1 state it was RCBS dies he was having problems with, or mentioned them at all. Really, can we keep the posts on topic and about what he asked? Yes, I know that some will now attack me for pointing out the off topic posts and posts that have nothing to do with the thread, especially attacks on me, but that is the price of telling the truth.

Breechlock

I just bought a Lee Breecglock Challenger and my dosent have messed up threads like those in the pics. Looks like vice grip marks or pipe wrench. When inserting bushing just use hand presure to put bushing and die in the press. From the pics its not a manufacture defect. :banghead:

Ummm. I own the same press. The Lee instructions say FINGER TIGHT.
Tool marks on steel lock rings, stripped out interrupted threads in the press look like it was cross-threaded...
If a mechanic left marks like that on my car I'd find a different tech.
Take the 1/2 price and be happy.

Legion,
Go look at the picture and then read the op claims that the instructions say to use a wrench. That IS an RCBS die. He did claim the instructions said to use a wrench. Are you disputing either of those facts? If not, I am completely on topic.

His picture also shows that he repeatedly used some tool with sharp teeth to tighten or loosen the RCBS die with enough forceto scar the lock ring. His picture also shows that he applied enough force to upset the steel of the locating pin. All facts.

So you honestly believe that an RCBS or XYZ brand would have taken that abuse or is it that you believe any mfg should replace any broken piece within the warranty period regardless of the facts? Do you believe those pictures indicate "normal use?" The Lee warranty is explicitly clear on normal use. It is fine for you to disagree with Lee's warranty but what I see is not something that anyone would consider normal use if he is being honesty. Which is fine but be honest and state you think Lee should offer a different warrant instead of coming in here and claiming they don't honor their warranty without presenting facts.

It is fine by me if you choose to pay twice the price for products to get what you find to be a comfortable warranty for you. But you are deluding yourself if you believe that you aren't paying a 100% price increase to insure your equipment and every lowest common denominator's equipment out there who also buys into it. For my money, I will self insure and I will read the warranty before I opine on it.

Who is this guy " Legion", that is always making trouble??

Smokeyloads

floydster said:

Who is this guy " Legion", that is always making trouble??

Smokeyloads

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I noticed Legion489 when he first joined THR. His first handful of posts derided Lee products and complained of his own persecution. He does not like Lee Precision for some reason. His posts show that he also likes to "poke the tiger in the eye" for sport. I have tried to encourage him to do it more reasonably and for a while he softened his rhetoric (one of his favorite things is to suggest Lee uses "pot metal" for its presses, which he gave up for a time).

Yet, he is intelligent, demonstrates good grammar and spelling and generally is not as rabid as some I have read. However, he is consistently irritating.

I still have hope he may become a human being (reference to Chief Dan George's line in "Little Big Man"). If you have seen the movie, it is particularly on point with Legion489. Let us endeavor to persevere (another quote from the movie), and help him.

Lost Sheep

I'm tired of trying to help him. That Load Master he says it's junk has been striped to nothing & he still wants a new price out of it. I was going to buy it & set it up for a friend of it was reasonable but he must think more of it then he acts.

More than enough...