Lee sizing and decapping die. Cant get collet srcrewed back in. PLEASE HELP

[dryfiregen4]

I just got the lee classic turret press with the 9mm deluxe die set. I loaded about 15 rounds when the decapping pin popped up..i have read that that is normal and read to loosen the collet then reposition the pin... welll i accidently screwed it completly off and now i cant get it back on for the life of me. Im new at this so please help me out so i can continue having fun with my new toy! :banghead:

THANKS!

 

[plmitch]

Just keep at it, it will go back on with a little pressure.

 

[1SOW]

Take the pin out. Screw the collet in a couple of threads. Insert the pin and hold it from falling through.. Tighten the collet and When the pin has just enough pressure to hold it fom falling through, push in almost flush with the collet. Tighten the collet securely.

Will work if the threads are clean.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Take the pin out. Screw the collet in a couple of threads. Insert the pin and hold it from falling through.. Tighten the collet and When the pin has just enough pressure to hold it fom falling through, push in almost flush with the collet. Tighten the collet securely.

Will work if the threads are clean.

Can't add to that, it will solve your problem...

 

[dryfiregen4]

:banghead:I wish i could say that helped but i cant. I dont know what im doing wrong..the collet will simply not catch and screw in..ive been pretty darn persistant. Im looking at the collet and there is no real threads on the bottom of it. the threads start about half way up. i tried pushing the pin in from the bottom and holding it flush will i tried to screw it in..and im just having trouble. righty tighty right?? haha

 

[2 Horse]

Never seen one with the threads at the half way point, Lee collets are taper threaded, just like pipe threads. If the collet you have has no threads at the end then it may be cut wrong, I'd call Lee and have them send you a new one.

I have 7 sets of Lee dies a none are like yours

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

pictures may help us help you

 

[dryfiregen4]

Im not an expert on this stuff..im hoping its something simple and yall can just make fun of me lol but THANKS GUYS FOR REPLYING, IM NEW TO THIS WHOLE FORUM STUFF AND YOU GUYS ARE BEING HELPFUL SO THANKS!

 

[dryfiregen4]

This is where im stuck at..its not screwing in!!

 

[ironworkerwill]

Looks like stripped threads to me pal.

 

[dryfiregen4]

that was first thought..it being stripped. but i wasnt sure if thats how those collets are or not. Well should i just buy a whole new die or just the collet?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

that was first thought..it being stripped. but i wasnt sure if thats how those collets are or not. Well should i just buy a whole new die or just the collet?

You will only need a complete die if the threads inside the die body are also stripped BUT, call Lee first and see what they will do for you...

 

[ironworkerwill]

I just took one off a 30-06 and it was terrible TIGHT! I looked again just to see if it was LH threads, lol. It came right off and back on with no problem. Like AACD said if the die threads arent jacked up you may be able to get a new one.

 

[dryfiregen4]

Ok thanks for all the help. Im gonna call lee and see what they see. If they wont replace it its not the end of the world..the die is only like 15 bucks, it could always be something worse!! lol I cant wait to start reloading again!!

 

[Potatohead]

It strips really easy. i had to send mine back in. They replaced it. That little thing can be a booger. I think Ive finally got the hang of how to deal with it though, so it can be done.

 

[dryfiregen4]

I sent lee an email with the same pictures i put on here and they confirmed it was stripped. Im send the who die back to make sure everything is ok! so far so good with Lee customer service

 

[dryfiregen4]

potatohead im curious how you got the hang of it, because im sure when i get it back that pin will pop up again(because thats how it is designed) so do you just slightly lossen the collet and the push the pin back down so its flush?? that sucker was TIGHT on mine.

Thanks!!

 

[ironworkerwill]

It's close when they ship it, but, if not: I loosen the collet while a case is in the die, let the pin come up or down so that it will not dogg off on the inside of the case head, if it pops up then loosen the collet ( make sure the collet is threaded into the die a little but allows the pin to move) PUSH the pin down to the normal place and retighten the collet, do not strike the pin as it will mushroom and will fail.

 

[floydster]

I had a Lee die just like that only not as bad, this was a new die.
The first few threads were galled and I had a heck of a time getting it threaded again, cleaned it up with a wire brush and finally got it started, but yours really seems bad. I would want a new die.

 

[dickttx]

It looks like it was not as tight as it should have been to start with, which resulted in the threads stripping. The threads inside the die are probably full of the trash from the collet and would be very hard to clean out.
That collet has to be TIGHT to work properly.

 

[gibble888]

The decapper nut or "collect" is made of softer steel...you can clean the stripped threads out of the die body with a small screwdriver or trusty dental tool install a new decapper nut with a drop of oil...done....your die body is fine im sure.

 

[wild willy]

You wouldn't be the first person to get one cross threaded from the factory

 

[Rule3]

The problem is that it is almost like it is "spring" loaded hence a collet nut. It basically needs to be squeezed and threaded at the same time. Line it up correctly and push down hard on it while starting it to thread.

Of course this will not help if it already buggered.

As mentioned just send it to lee (the whole die and nut) they will fix it.

Welcome to the "club"

 

[dryfiregen4]

I sent the whole die to them today, cant wait to have it fixed! ill be a little more careful next time im messing with the collet.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Rule3]

I sent the whole die to them today, cant wait to have it fixed! ill be a little more careful next time im messing with the collet.

Thanks again guys!

Just never take it all the way out. No need to. Many moons ago I stuck a 223 case. I can not tell you what I did to that die. All I had to do was look at the LEE video on removing a stuck case, but Nooooo. Needless to say I screwed mine up worse than yours. I told lee the whole truth and returned it. They gave me a new one free, Must have felt sorry for the master mechanic!