Lube for moving press parts?

[Wedge]

Hi everyone,

Quick question. What sort of lube should I use for my Lee Challenger presses moving parts? Is gun lube (rem oil) good enough or should I use some white lithium grease or something else?

Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

[Jeeper]

I use Mobil 1 on my presses(650's). It works well on the shaft and joints.

 

[Wedge]

Thanks...I'll pick up some oil tomorrow. How often do you lube? Before and after every session?

 

[Jeeper]

I load about 2K every 2 weeks. I lube every now and then but not really that often. I can tell when it starts to slow down pretty well. It makes it a lot smoother though. Make sure to hit all th joints and levers and such . Anyplace with friction can cause a major hangup. Some of the smallest places can give the best results.

 

[Ross]

Wedge,
Probably removing priming residue is even more important than lubrication. When I first started reloading, changing the shellholder involved removing the ram from the press. Those newfangled removable shellholder heads resulted in the presses going years without cleaning. The ground glass from the primer compound is an effective grinding-lapping compound.
Pull the press apart and wipe it down as often as you think of it. Be sure to run a patch through all the pin holes and the ram channel.
Almost any old lube works well, but one that does not harden and "varnish" too quickly is best.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been using Rem Oil for decades. I've got to believe any high quality lubricant would be good.

Getting rid of primer residue can take awhile.

 

[Bad Flynch]

Engine assemply lube is good. It is made to stay put and the vertical ram needs it. The other points, such as pins, can be lubed with pretty much any decent oil.

 

[DT Guy]

I've always worried about oil migrating and killing primers. I've had good luck with Superlube's dry-film lube, and it won't do that.


Larry

 

[Valkman]

I'd use whatever you use on your guns - I use FP-10 on my guns and on my 2 Dillons.

 

[Cortland]

Dillon recommends 30 weight motor oil.

Probably removing priming residue is even more important than lubrication.

With a Dillon, yes. The Dillon 550 de-priming system spits primers and primer residue all over the press (been there, done that). A more civilized press--like ... oh say ... the Hornady LnL AP--de-primes directly into a rubber tube which can be routed in a trash can. The LnL AP also has two zerk fittings for lubrication via grease gun.

Now regarding your Lee Challenger, I would recommend you not lube it at all since the sooner it wears out or breaks the sooner you can buy a decent press

I lube my Lee Classic Cast with motor oil.

 

[LAH]

I've used about anything on a Lyman All Amerian Turret. It's worked well since 1973. There's a Dillon SDB here that loads lots of handgun ammo and I tear it apart ever couple months, clean with starting fluid and lube with vaseline. Works fine for me.

 

[CB900F]

Fella's;

You may wish to try a product called Tri-Flow. In aerosol, once the propellant evaporates off, it leaves a Teflon lubricant behind. Lubricity is excellent & it doesn't tend to collect crud like petroleum lubes do.

Hmmmm, my Dillon RL550B doesn't spit much of anything anywhere - except for loaded ammo into the collector bin.

900F

 

[Bronson7]

First I clean the ram and use 30 wt. motor oil. Regular chasis grease for the link pins.
Bronson7

 

[WhoKnowsWho]

The Dillon 550 de-priming system spits primers and primer residue all over the press

That is the same as the Lee Turret Press I have. I am considering getting one of the new cast press' since it has the tube and everything to get rid of primers. Bleh.

 

[enfield]

I've always worried about oil migrating and killing primers.

Oil won't kill primers. It might temporarily disable them but not permanently.