Lee Classic Turret over rotates

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joecil said:
Have you thought about the TF3567 Square Ratchet which you get a spare with? This can be damaged if you short stroke it while on the spin section of the indexing rod.
Click to expand...

I can only speak for my case but the worn ratchet caused inconsistent rotation & then stopped rotating altogether. I don't see how a worn ratchet would cause over rotation.

Unless you're going hog wild with the lever it shouldn't over rotate from momentum.
 
What I was saying inside the clamp is a little plastic square insert. That is what drive that is part of the system. It is easily damage and can be done by short stroking while on the worm part of the shaft. It will actually warp or stretch a bit, hence when you buy a new classic turret they automatically give you and extra with it. Just a thought is all and perhaps worth a try.
 
It ain't the twisty part that's at fault

Sure, reversing direction while the indexing arm is on the twisted portion of the indexing rod is the most COMMON place where the square ratchet is damaged, but you can produce the damage anywhere along the length of the rod.

You do this by turning the turret manually in reverse direction while the ratchet is engaged with the ratched notches inside the indexing arm (clamp). This can happen anywere.

You can also damage the ratchet by moving the ram in the downward direction (the operating lever going UP) while the turret is not allowed to move for any reason.

If you want to move the turret manually in reverse direction, grab the indexing rod and lift it a fraction of an inch, then drop it down. That disengages the ratchet from the notches (which are on the underside of the top of the inside of the indexing arm). Either that, or make DARNED SURE that the most recent movement of the ram was UP, at least 1/4 inch. (Don't ask me how I know. I know, okay?)

Lost Sheep
 
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Lost Sheep said:
Either that, or make DARNED SURE that the most recent movement of the ram was UP, at least 1/4 inch. (Don't ask me how I know. I know, okay?)

Lost Sheep
Click to expand...

I don't need to ask...:eek:

Since I couldn't locate my spare (the original lasted right around 2 years) I ordered up 10 spares from Lee @ $.50 a pop. Naturally I located my spare soon after.

I'm GTG for about 22 more years. :D
 
It fixed!!!

OK, I'm a happy man again...after trying every trick I could think of, trying every suggestion from all on this forum (thanks everyone) and trying everything the rep at Lee suggested I ordered a detent from McMaster Carr and solved the problem instantly!!! First let me say I think this is a great little press but it could be sooooooo much better with just a few minor improvements from Lee, such as the extra detent and all metal parts instead of plastic. Also, The rep at Lee could not have been any nicer. He sent me an auto indexing clamp no charge after I stripped the threads on mine... My Bad.

So here's my take on the whole thing. The press works great if you stay in it's limits. This means not getting to fast where it starts to over rotate. The indexing clamp Lee sent helped. Mine was worn and had become loose after about 10,000 rounds. When I installed the new clamp I was able to get it to index perfectly as long as I went at my beginner pace. As soon as I picked up the pace it over rotated again. That's when I ordered the extra detent. As soon as I drilled and tapped the press and installed the extra detent my troubles were OVER!!! I just loaded 77 rounds in 15 minutes, which works to 308 rounds per hour:) and that is not beating or pounding on the press, its steady and smooth, I don't beat up equipment. Now I'm sure this may cause some ware issues down the road but the plastic parts are cheap and take only seconds to install. to me it's worth it.

I posted some pictures of my little rig. The case feeder I built from scratch. That saves so much time fumbling around with the case it's not funny. The case ejector I made also speeds things up. You will notice the powder checker I made from the factory crimp die. I set the bullet and crimp with the same die.

Leeloader007.jpg

Leeloader004.jpg

Leeloader003.jpg

Leeloader006.jpg

Leeloader001.jpg
 
Ok Garage Dog now please explain all the mods done to this press. It sure doesn't look anything like mine and would love to hear the details of the mods as well as how they work. :eek:
 
The only mod to the press is the extra detent ball. The powder checker was explained in this thread
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=622571

The auto eject is just one of the little square black things attached to a 9/16" (I think) nylon bushing I got at Home Depot and a small spring. Just attach the little black thingy to the nylon bushing after cutting the nylon bushing down so it does not hit the bottom of the turret when its raised, install the spring and waaa-laaa, you have an automatic ejector!
 
I've tried to get through all these suggestions.
I had that same thing happen to mine and two things stopped the problem.
1. Adjust the nut at the top of the indexing rod to just lift/put some pressure on the turret. The bottom of the indexing rod will be resting on the press base.
2. Get it to over-rotate. Then hold the rod stationary with the 1/4" wrench and rotate the turret by hand "just barely back to the proper position". You may have to do this more than once to get it timed right on the money at all the stations. This system is sensitive to very small changes, so be patient. It will work.
You can go pretty fast with the handle, but don't slam it up and down. "Smooth is fast".
 
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i would love to see a video of that case feeder in action
Click to expand...

So would I but I don't know how to do that :)

If you go to youtube and search home made case feeders you will see several good options to building your own.
 
The case falls down the tube and and rests on the base. The cases fall primer side down no matter how they fall into the spinning disk. Forwards or backwards, they always fall the same way. I don't have to pick up cases laying in a pile and figure which end is up because they all face the same way every time. It allows me to pay closer attention to whats going on with the whole system because my eyes only leave the action to pick up a bullet. I plan on building a bullet feeder next...someday. I just grab the case and sit it in the shell holder. This happens in a split second because as the reloaded round is ejected I already have the case in my hand and pop it right into the shell holder. The ram almost never stops! That is why I can load so many rounds without slamming the press around. Once you get a rytham (sorry, no spell check...) going the ram is always in motion except for just a split second.
 
Garage Dog said:
The case falls down the tube and and rests on the base. The cases fall primer side down no matter how they fall into the spinning disk. Forwards or backwards, they always fall the same way. I don't have to pick up cases laying in a pile and figure which end is up because they all face the same way every time. It allows me to pay closer attention to whats going on with the whole system because my eyes only leave the action to pick up a bullet. I plan on building a bullet feeder next...someday. I just grab the case and sit it in the shell holder. This happens in a split second because as the reloaded round is ejected I already have the case in my hand and pop it right into the shell holder. The ram almost never stops! That is why I can load so many rounds without slamming the press around. Once you get a rytham (sorry, no spell check...) going the ram is always in motion except for just a split second.
Click to expand...
rhythm

I wonder this: Since the shell holder must face in accord with the motion of the indexing rod (so the "kicker" will kick the case out, how will automatic insertion take place? I had thought about this question and could not come up with an answer but this one:

Modify a shell case holder to replace the standard shell case holder. The 3 o'clock area would be the original cutout for insertion/removal of the cases. The case would be gripped by the shell case holder 12 o'clock and at 6 o'clock only. The 9 o'clock area would be machined out to allow insertion of the next case.

The case, of course would have to be centered in the shell case holder, as with the machining out of the 9 o'clock area positioning of the case is "sloppy". Spring "jaws" retained in the shell case holder could do that.

Cases go in from the left and kick out to the right. Minimal (or no) involvement of fingers

What do you think?

Lost Sheep
 
Lost Sheep, your my "go to" guy for spelling from now on:)

The shell holder can go in any direction on this press. It just snaps in and can be rotated to any position you like right from the factory.
 
Garage Dog said:
Lost Sheep, your my "go to" guy for spelling from now on:)
When I am composing replies, if there is a misspelled word, it gets a red underline. No suggestion for the correct spelling, but at least that alert. Sadly, it doesn't do grammar or tell me when my sentences are too long.

The shell holder can go in any direction on this press. It just snaps in and can be rotated to any position you like right from the factory.
Click to expand...
Right, but if the shell holder is pointed towards the case feeder, it is facing in the wrong direction for the cartridge "kicker" and if facing the right direction for the cartridge kicker, it's back is facing the feeder.

Unless you machine out the back of the shell holder so the feeder can insert in the back and the kicker can kick out the front. But, as I noted, keeping the case centered becomes an issue.

But, your post reminding me that the shell holder can face any direction, which points out that if the shell holder can be made to turn as the turret turns, the shell holder could be made to face in the correct direction for both the automated case insertion and ejection.

Give you any ideas?

Lost Sheep
 
Hey Garage dog, I joined the forum just so I could ask if you elaborate on how you made the shell ejector a bit more as I cant really tell what you mean by your explanation and really want to do that to my press!
 
FWIW - I always use a little brush and some light grease, and lightly grease my turret rings where they rotate in the press and contact that detent ball, and especially the lip where the ring sits down onto the turret frame. Just a little light greasing really helps them turn smoothly.
 
Hey Garage dog, I joined the forum just so I could ask if you elaborate on how you made the shell ejector a bit more as I cant really tell what you mean by your explanation and really want to do that to my press!
Click to expand...

It's fairly simple. All you need are a few parts. The black square is the part that the metal ratchet fits in to. Get an extra one and glue it into a 9/16" nylon bushing you can get at Home Depot. Get a spring as show in the photo (stiff is better) and drill a hole in he nylon bushing at the point you wish the spring to contact the loaded round and kick it out of the shell holder. I added a counter weight the offset the spring weight so it will not bind on the metal indexing rod. You want it to fall freely on the indexing rod or it won't work. That's about it. Oh, you'll have to cut the nylon bushing to a width so it will not contact the turret when the ram is all the way up.


Caseejector003.jpg

Caseejector004.jpg
 
-Detail- additional photos of the "loaded round nudger" in an "assembled" & in the "installed" conditions would be helpful also.
I'm trying to get my head around this mod too. It seems ingenious, and I'm another fan that would like to incorporate it to my press
 
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