Turning With the Lee Turret Press

[Fourbits]

I see a lot of comments on the problems with using the auto turning system on the Lee turret press. Many people just stop using it.
I've been using the turning system for years and I think it works for me because of lubrication. Steel on aluminum is not the best combination for friction free sliding.
I use a dry film lubricant made for bicycle chains. Its a milky white liquid which I'm sure contains Teflon. The brand I have is "White Lightning" - "The self-cleaning lubricant". It makes an amazing difference in the force required to rotate the turret.

Fourbits

 

[wankerjake]

I've only had mine a year and a half but I haven't had any issues...

 

[angus6]

it's more that they waste the square ratchet washer from miss stroking, trying to turn turret by hand in the wrong place in stroke. It's a total user f**kup , once I caught on to what I was doing no more problems, I'm a little slow sometimes it took 2 washers. I'm now at around 10K on the washer, now that dosen't mean that I don't keep several spares on hand

Might have to try the White Lighting as it sounds like it can't hurt

 

[1SOW]

angus6 is correct.

I keep 3 spares, but they'll probably outlive me.

 

[blikseme300]

I use Lithium grease on my Lee presses. It has been many thousands of rounds and more than 20 years ago since I last needed to replace the plastic bits. The secret is NOT to rotate the shell plate by hand when the ratchet is engaged. (Follow manufacturers instructions.)

 

[Mags]

they waste the square ratchet washer from miss stroking

I had a square washer made from aluminium in hopes of less wear. Wasn't very effective so I keep a half dozen of the factory plastic washers on hande along with an extra plastic housing for the washer.

 

[bluetopper]

I have a Lee turret but I've always loaded in large single stage batches.......I guess because I like to look at the powder in the cases on a block before I seat.
Crazy, I know.

 

[The Bushmaster]

The biggest problem with either the Lee Classic or the Lee Classic Cast Turret is the "operater"....It seems that many of them can't read or don't read the instructions...

I have loaded thousands upon thousands of rounds on the old 3 station Lee turret (aluminum base) and have only wore out three ratchets. I have retired the old lee (still in good condition) and now have the Lee Classic Cast Turret and have loaded about a thousand rounds on it without incident...

 

[RustyFN]

I do just the opposite. I clean the shaft that the ratchet rides on to keep it clean and dry. I don't lube the turrets either. Three years and thousands of rounds later and I'm still on the original ratchet.

Rusty

 

[Sport45]

I see a lot of comments on the problems with using the auto turning system on the Lee turret press. Many people just stop using it.

Not me, I never started to use it. I use mine as a quick-change single stage along with a load block to run 50 at a time. I only use two stations for rifle and it would be silly for me to pull the handle twice just to get the depriming die back into place. I suppose I could buy another set of dies...

 

[benzuncle]

Definitely the operator. No oil is required, as per a phone call to Lee. While learning how to use the auto indexing feature, I made too many moves with the index in the wrong place on the rod. Since replacing the original ratchet piece with the spare that came with the LCT it has worked flawlessly. BTW: I have on more than one occasion ordered a spare ratchet piece when ordering from Midway to get past their silly $25 minimum for shipping.