Lee classic turret: spare parts to keep on hand?

[Tony k]

I just bought a new Lee classic turret with some Christmas gift money, and I've noticed that some of the parts are made of plastic and seem easy to break. I'm speaking specifically about part number T f 3567 Square ratchet. It comes with one spare but it seems like something that would break frequently. I'm probably going to buy a couple more just to have on hand.

So this question is for all you more experienced Lee classic turret users: Are there any other parts that break frequently or wear out frequently that I should have on hand just to keep things rolling?

Thank you

 

[kcofohio]

Maybe it varies from press to press. But, I have loaded over 6000 rds. on the same ratchet nut. It still seems to be going okay.

I bought a pack of 6 of those nuts off of ebay after reading of them wearing out. Still have all 6.

 

[Reefinmike]

the little ratchets are plastic so that the 50 cent part bends or breaks before something else does. if you operate the press right and dont force things where they dont want to go, the ratchets will last a very long time. the only other part ive had break on my setup was the return spring in the safety prime primer mechanism... and lee sent a new one free of charge, threw in a couple ratchets and decapping pins as well.

I wouldnt anticipate any parts breaking, just order a couple square ratchets and maybe a decapping pin just in case. lee decapping pins wont break if you have the right amount of tension on the collet.

 

[GT1]

Yep, I bought a half dozen of those little plastic squares because a few people warned about them. Turns out they were most likely the types that can break anything.

Still on the original here after 3 years.
Buy a couple just because. They are designed to break on purpose in case folks have a brain cramp.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Breakage or loss?

I am paranoid about losing whichever of the priming arms is not in use, even though my press normally resides in a plastic toolbox with small bins for such parts.

I put my spare square ratchet on the indexing rod and slid it all the way up to the top. It sits there, out of the way and protected from loss until the day I may eventually need it.

I always look at the plastic mounting arm the Safety Prime sits it as a vulnerable part. If I should hit it the wrong way I could break it. But in normal use, it is safe enough.

Periodically lube (and clean if necessary) all the bearing surfaces Press Ram. Bottom end linkage points. I dust the turret ring with a little graphite dust, but spray silicone lube (and use a towel to catch any overspray) would probably work just as well.

Thanks for asking our advice.

Lost Sheep

 

[Rule3]

I am still on ,my original ratchet. It is actually Nylon, not plastic.

If you do not force the press arm while it is engaged in the twists of the turret arm you will probably never break it.

I agree with extra primer arms and the safety prime triggers. The mounting bracket feels like it will break but again it is nylon ad holds up well.

There is a little spring in there that can break. It can be replaced but is a pain to do so if you have fat fingers. Those I keep on hand. If you do not prime on the press then no problems.

Large and small

http://leeprecision.com/assemb-of-lg-trigger.html

Spring for the Pro Auto Disc, When if that sucker breaks it's like getting shot (almost) wear safety glasses, it will wake you right up!!.

http://leeprecision.com/spring.html

 

[Edcnh]

I have had my Classic Cast press for a few years and never had any problems yet!

 

[rondog]

If you turn the turret manually with the ram all the way down, you'll ruin that square plastic ratchet. As long as you make sure the ram is at least halfway up before turning the turret manually, you'll be fine and it'll last for years. But spares are cheap and nice to have.

I love my LCT press, it's all I really need or want in a press.

 

[RandyP]

Not so much 'spares' but I have a separate turret and powder riser holding adjusted dies for each caliber I reload. Makes changing calibers a snap. I just swap over the Pro powder measure and change disk holes.

I too have several years on my original ratchet, though I bought a couple spares too - lol

I did make a wall chart that shows the weight of Win 231/HP-38 (the only powder I use) for each hole in each disk.

 

[tcoz]

The LCT is a great reloading press, especially considering the price. I've loaded in excess of 6000 rounds and never had to replace a part. As others have said, don't turn the turret by hand unless the ram is at least halfway raised and the little ratchet will last a long time. Another tip is don't use oil to lubricate the press or any of its associated parts. Get a small tube of powdered graphite in the lock/key department at Lowes and squeeze a little of it on springs and metal to metal contact surfaces every once in a while.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Rules for how not to break your square ratchet

As others have said, don't turn the turret by hand unless the ram is at least halfway raised and the little ratchet will last a long time. (edited for focus)

Where on the indexing rod the square ratchet is is not as important as the DIRECTION OF LAST MOVEMENT of the ram/indexing arm/ratchet.

The ratchet engages notches in the underside of the top surface of the indexing arm/clamp. If the ratchet is engaged and you move the turret opposite to its normal rotation, you will break something. Better the 50 cent square ratchet than the 6 dollar indexing arm.

Remember, thumbs up, the gladiator lives, thumbs down the gladiator dies. Last movement up, the ratchet lives, last movement down, the ratchet dies.

It is simpler to remember to lift the indexing rod and drop it down before rotating the turret. That will disengage the ratchet from the notches, too.

Lost Sheep

 

[Nordeste]

Don't forget to throw in a few decapping pins. Sooner or later you'll miss ones of those darn Berdan cases and you'll have a broken decapping pin. Been there done that, you know? .

 

[splattergun]

when I break the original ratchet square and install the spare, I'll order some more spares.

You'll probably want a turret for each caliber you load, but they aren't exactly "spares". The LCT is a good piece of kit IMO. Berdan primed brass aside, it is usually abuse or failure to follow the instructions that causes breakage.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I broke 2 ratchets when I first got the press completely through my error and haven't changed one since. I have A LOT of rounds made on the press since with the same ratchet, many more than I expected it to last!

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm up to around 20K rounds on mine. One ratchet wore out (didn't break but stopped indexing 100% around 12K rounds) and the pro auto disk return spring broke about 15K rounds. Both were cheap replacements.

Early on I munched/bent the round cup in the primer mechanism trying to mash a LRP past a non-reamed, crimped rifle primer pocket (my fault). Lee sent me a replacement LP assembly for free.

I've also replaced a couple of the square U-shaped return springs in the safety prime mechanism... after ~15K rounds the spring was weak and I had to pull the mechanism back with my finger to allow the next primer to fall into place. Lee sent me a couple of those for free when I emailed.

Absolutely the best press for the money if you want ease and speed and convenience, IMO. I love it.

I do feel the need for a full progressive now, though. I can load a consistent 250/hr with some efficiency tips I've developed, but that same effort would likely produce 500-800/hr on a 650 or something. But changing calibers and primer sized and powder types/charges is so easy on the LCT I think that if you load for a couple-three calibers on a regular basis it might actually be equally time-consuming using the LCT doing >1K batches of different calibers and primer sizes.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Just FYI, the last I checked the square ratchets were over four dollars at Midway USA.com, and only $.50 apiece at Lee itself.

 

[mdi]

FWIW; I don't want a "semi-progressive" press so when I bought my Lee turret I removed the auto-indexing hardware ("sacrificial" plastic ratchet and indexing rod). I've been hand indexing for 12 years, quite happily I might add...

 

[Reefinmike]

I removed my indexer shortly after i bought my press three years ago. I prefer to size/decap and prime a bunch of brass at once, then I simply flip back n forth between the powder through expander and the bullet seat/crimp die. I can load very fast this way while only having two operations on my mind- bullet, powder, bullet, powder, bullet ....

I am planning on putting the indexing rod back in once I start loading for 300 blackout... im going to have to be using three dies instead of just two.

 

[deadeye dick]

I load each stage sepratly. with a loading block. Decap and prime all at once than drop my powder , than seat the slug. No need for the ratchet as I broke too many.