Lee Turret not turning

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FEIW, I used my Lee turret and hand indexed for maybe 15 years. When I was initially setting it up it would index when I didn't want it to so I removed the index rod. Worked quite well for my batch loading technique...
 
Stefan A said:
I get this problem on a seemingly random basis - but it seems to be happening more and more. I can manually turn it, but it won't turn with the handle. Everything is connected properly. See video.
Click to expand...

I hope you can solve the problem within a few posts...........

If not, a 33+ page thread could be started for you................:p
 
Smittypa said:
Inside the black plastic piece on the top of the ram, is a small black plastic square that the index rod runs through. Check that if it’s worn it will miss sometimes.
Click to expand...
Looks good to me. I cleaned the rod with some balistol and right now it’s working. Not sure if that will help long term. But I guess it can’t hurt.
 
Stefan A said:
Looks good to me. I cleaned the rod with some balistol and right now it’s working. Not sure if that will help long term. But I guess it can’t hurt.
Click to expand...

After watching your video and seeing the ram go up and down with no movement I would replace the square plastic ratchet because by not turning that is showing me that the plastic is damaged.
I use both a 3 hole turret and a Pro1000 which both use a hex plastic ratchet instead of the square one. Also I use just a dab of white lithium grease on the action rod and then again around the lugs on the turret and turret head.
 
Stefan A said:
Looks good to me. I cleaned the rod with some balistol and right now it’s working. Not sure if that will help long term. But I guess it can’t hurt.
Click to expand...

The turret rod does not need and lube. The Ratchet (nylon) rides or turns on the twist of the turretet rod. You may need a new one. I still have the orginal after thousands of rounds. Lube the metal turret and ring of the press,

https://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html


Part TF3567 for products: 90064 CLASSIC TURRET PRESS and 90932 4 HOLE TP WI AUTO INDEX.

This part installs inside the black auto index clamp on the steel ram. The square black ratchet rides on the 1/4"x 1/4" steel index rod.


In order to maintain the integrity of the square ratchet, remember to raise the ram which disengages the ratchet from the housing and allows the index rod to spin freely. It is at this point that the Turret can be removed and installed at will. Put some household oil between the 4 hole turret and 4 hole turret ring to extend the life of your square ratchet.

 
FWIW short stroking or turning the turret with the index ratchet in the engaged position can ruin the ratchet and cause this problem almost immediately.
I ruined my first ratchet in the first 50 rounds.
The second lasted 300 or so.
The third lasted about 12,000.
I'm on the fourth now, with around 28,000 on the index system, and about 54,000 total on the press.

I seem to recall the intermittent problem happening when the ratchet square is upside down. There is an up and a down side.

The ratchet is nylon, and will naturally flex. They often look okay when you take them out, but do not hold shape under load. Look at the raised area on one side. Even if the ratchet looks otherwise good, once that thin area gets chewed up, you can bet it warping.
They're cheap and easy to replace.

This can also be caused by loosening of the plastic box the ratchet rides in and needs tightened. Eventually it will wear to where it can't be tightened. get a longer screw with the same threads, and put a nut on the other end.

I have ran the same index ratchet for about 15,000 rounds now and its working fine. Putting a bolt with a nut on the end to hold the clamp made a huge difference.
 
mjsdwash said:
FWIW short stroking or turning the turret with the index ratchet in the engaged position can ruin the ratchet and cause this problem almost immediately.
I ruined my first ratchet in the first 50 rounds.
The second lasted 300 or so.
The third lasted about 12,000.
I'm on the fourth now, with around 28,000 on the index system, and about 54,000 total on the press.

I seem to recall the intermittent problem happening when the ratchet square is upside down. There is an up and a down side.

The ratchet is nylon, and will naturally flex. They often look okay when you take them out, but do not hold shape under load. Look at the raised area on one side. Even if the ratchet looks otherwise good, once that thin area gets chewed up, you can bet it warping.
They're cheap and easy to replace.

This can also be caused by loosening of the plastic box the ratchet rides in and needs tightened. Eventually it will wear to where it can't be tightened. get a longer screw with the same threads, and put a nut on the other end.

I have ran the same index ratchet for about 15,000 rounds now and its working fine. Putting a bolt with a nut on the end to hold the clamp made a huge difference.
Click to expand...
I’m sure I wore it down. I never raised the ram when removing the turret. So, I was probably putting too much pressure on the ratchet. Plus, there have been times when it would get stuck at the point where the rod should turn. Although I never forced it, I’m sure I pressed a bit too hard.
 
mjsdwash said:
FWIW short stroking or turning the turret with the index ratchet in the engaged position can ruin the ratchet and cause this problem almost immediately.
Click to expand...

Yup. If the lever isn’t raised all the way so the ratchet clears the bottom of the twist on the advancing rod, it’ll chew up the sacrificial ratchet bearing almost immediately - only a couple of strokes. My automaticity is to feel that tap at the top as if I were seating a primer on every stroke (even though I’m never actually doing so), just to ensure that reliability. I rip pretty hard going the other way, to the point of expecting I would be doing damage to the ratchets, but they hold up fine. But that LITTLE mistake of short stroking at the bottom of ram travel will tear through that ratchet in only a couple of strokes.
 
Varminterror said:
Yup. If the lever isn’t raised all the way so the ratchet clears the bottom of the twist on the advancing rod, it’ll chew up the sacrificial ratchet bearing almost immediately - only a couple of strokes. My automaticity is to feel that tap at the top as if I were seating a primer on every stroke (even though I’m never actually doing so), just to ensure that reliability. I rip pretty hard going the other way, to the point of expecting I would be doing damage to the ratchets, but they hold up fine. But that LITTLE mistake of short stroking at the bottom of ram travel will tear through that ratchet in only a couple of strokes.
Click to expand...

Yes, that's the technic that's allows those ratchets to last 10,000 rounds (40,000 cycles) or more. You can run these machines pretty hard, and very fast, but the stroke is 100% up, 100% down, and manipulate the turret in the neutral area. Makes switching to a progressive easier if your used to never short stroking.
 
I used mine for about a month with it only indexing about half the time.
After that I took all the indexing parts off & just turn it by hand it's just as fast after you get used to it.
 
Stefan A said:
I’m not sure I understand why short stroking is a problem, as long as I’m clearing the twist.
Click to expand...


It's not. Some are just trying to make it more of a issue than it is. Short stroking is a internet thing:eek: Just trying to get to over 33 post!
If you clear the twist all is well, I have loaded a lot on mine and never replaced the ratchet Just one of those things

You also want to check that the nut on the end of the turret rod is "staked" in and not loose. Take of the turret head and the square nut on the top of the rod.

Also if you what to mess around, loosen the bolt on the press handle and let it go down some to shorten the throw. It will fill like a stick shift on a little sports car. You lose some leverage for sizing and priming but it is pretty "quick" feeling.:)
 
Rule3 said:
It's not. Some are just trying to make it more of a issue than it is. Short stroking is a internet thing:eek: :)
Click to expand...

I have to agree here. I use a Lee 3 hole turret in all my load development which equates to a lot of adjusting for powder weight, bullet seating depth and just general inspection. Many times I find myself lowering the ram to the point I am just shy of the twist in the rod so I can make an adjustment or even a complete change to what I am making. Many times I do this to weigh check powder drops on my 223 target loads, drop a charge, weigh it and trickle up or down, replace into the press and then seat the bullet. All w/o having to cycle the turret all the way around and back to where I was.

On the Pro1000 I can do this also at the bottom while seating primers. I can raise the shell plate and carrier enough to remove a case, inspect the primers, replace the case and never get out of sequence.
 
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