uncooperative Lee case length gage

[Matthew T.]

Does someone know a trick to getting Lee case length gages to screw into the cutter? I had a stubborn one in the past, but was able to fool with the threaded end using a screw driver to make it work. I'm on my second .223 gage, having jaked up the first one using vice grips.

I got this one fully screwed into the cutter using a couple of pieces of wood and C clamp, but there has to be a better way.

On a completed unrelated note, I just saw that I am now a senior member. Who knew?

 

[flashhole]

sounds to me like the threads in the cutter are boogered up. Maybe if you run a tap into the cutter it would clean out the threads.

 

[FlyinBryan]

mine trims the cases way too short if its screwed in all the way.

mine is the lee wooden ball cutter, and there is enough tension that it holds in place screwed out to the proper trim length.

it sounds like your cutter has some problem with the threads maybe like the other guy said.

when mine was screwed in all the way it was trimming my brass about 40 thousanths too short, i ended up tossing some cases over it.

edit, wow, im a senior too now. would have never noticed it if you didnt mention it, lol.

 

[Griz44]

Bryan, sounds like you are using the shellholder without the base. The tip of the gauge has to hit the base to be the right length. The extended tip should never protrude beyond the base of the case. I had to do a little thread cleaning to get the gauge into my cutter as well.

 

[Matthew T.]

The .223 gage is doing this on both of my cutters. That's not to say that the threads aren't necessarily buggered. I'll try some of my other gages in the cutters and see if anything has changed since last I trimmed. I may just leave the .223 gage screwed into one of the cutters, since I seem to have a spare.

 

[kennedy]

Also had the same problem with my .223, 40S&W, .308, 7.62x54 worked fine, but .223 was a bear, had to use plyers to get it screwed in. I think lee screwed it up.

 

[FlyinBryan]

griz, naw, im using the zip trim and the base of the case secures right up against the solid output shaft of the zip trim. i was pretty surprised that it was like that and just chalked it up to me screwing it in too far to begin with.

but the tip of the gauge is just like you describe it. the cutter stops trimming when the tip contacts the base of the trimmer output shaft.

with it screwed in all the way it was trimming to 1.720 so i backed it out a little and now im trimming to 1.755.

it stays put pretty good where it is, and as a precaution u use very little pressure.

 

[Matthew T.]

I thought it kind of odd that I got two too tight .223 gages in a row. I jaked up the first one by scratching it with vice grips to screw it in. The abrasions on the cutter then made tiny scratches in my case necks.

 

[Evenflo76]

Consider that the threads are WAY TOO COURSE to strip. when they bind, grab a pair of channel-locks and twist them on. It will seat just fine.

I had the same issue just last week when I received mine:banghead:

 

[Z-Michigan]

I've had the same issue with my Lee gauge for .223. Glad this thread was started, it answered two questions for me! (The second one being another Lee gauge, the .357mag, seeming like it was cutting too short.)

 

[RNG]

I just received my Lee .223 and had the same problem. On mine, it wasn't the threads in the cutter because a bolt of the same thread size screws right in. I gently screwed the gage in using a pair of needle nose pliers and slightly buggered it up. Used file and knocked down the area I messed up. Further adjustments were made by grabbing gage near the tip where it was smaller.

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Dave P]

Sounds like a common problem - bad threads in the cutter part?

I just tighten mine down with pliers, and then sand and polish the nicks. And sometimes I then shorten the pin to my liking.

 

[rcmodel]

Put the sucker in with Lock-Tight, and adjust the trim length to where it is supposed to be when you screw it it.

My .223 set got progressively shorter the longer I used it. Then the threads wore out until the depth stop was loose.

Finally Lock-Tighted it in at the correct trim length, and it has not changed since.

rcmodel

 

[glicerin]

Lee threads are BAD. I clean female thread with Q tips, touch up male thread with needle files if needed, lube slightly, hold the pilot with a 3 jaw drill chuck, and use aluminum or lead strip on cutter with visegrips to avoid damage. Sometimes pilot is too fat to fit in sized neck of case, so spin in an electric drill and remove about one thou with a fine file and polish with 400 grit paper. They work great once you fix them.

 

[SSN Vet]

I just assumed that the threads were cut "funny by design"....

look at them...they don't even look like normal machine threads....more like a pipe thread.

I'v managed to get by using vice grips (padded w/ rubber from an old tire tube) on the gauge and my manly paw on the wooden ball handle.

 

[cougar1717]

The easiest way I've found to screw down a stubborn case length gauge is to use a pair of channel locks with a folded up paper towel/rag in the jaws. You can put plenty of torque on it and as long as the rag is thick enough, you won't damage the gauge. A little light oil never hurt anything either.

 

[snuffy]

The lee pilots are split down the middle. The function of that cut is for the fit inside the cutter. If you have trouble threading the pilot into the cutter, give the pilot threads a little squeeze across that cut, padding it with a strip of leather or soft metal. The pilot will then enter the threads of the cutter more easily.

If, on the other hand, the pilot is too loose, then spreading that split in the threads will tighten it up.

If you over tighten the pilot, the cutter will take a cut off the back of the pilot shoulder where it butts up against the cutter. That will result in the trimmer trimming too short, or shorter than it was designed to.

 

[scrat]

I thought it kind of odd that I got two too tight .223 gages in a row. I jaked up the first one by scratching it with vice grips to screw it in. The abrasions on the cutter then made tiny scratches in my case necks.

Not really this is why you need to raise your hand. Most companies manufacture products on production runs. They could have made 1-5000 of them easy. if no one says hey you screwed up the threads are bad. Then all 5000 get sold and people all over will have problems. You need to report it. So they could check there stock see what production lot it came from. Test them then pull the whole lot. Otherwise everyone is going to be getting a surpise. Now for the one you have. if you want to keep it. i say go over the threads with a die. then use the permanet locktite and screw it in to proper depth. Problem is you will need a new lock stud as the cutter will be in that one for good. Unless you can clean up the threads so that it can be easily removed and reinstalled.

 

[Z-Michigan]

sounds like you are using the shellholder without the base. The tip of the gauge has to hit the base to be the right length. The extended tip should never protrude beyond the base of the case.

Tried following this tip tonight, and the trimmer/gauges worked like a charm on both .223 and .357 cases. And not surprisingly it confirmed that the few cases I had trimmed without the lock stud were WAY too short... like .05" too short.

I had to use vise grips to get the .223 gauge into the cutter. Given the prices of each part, I think I'm likely to just buy one cutter for each length gauge I have, or at least the ones I use most. (For now, that is .223, since the pistol calibers don't appear to stretch much.)

 

[1moa@500]

spray the inside of the cutter(female side) with brake cleaner it is ususlly clogged with brass shavings and old oil. i use anti seze compound on the threads and the I go to the vice grip method. My 223 gauge was also too short I adjusted the cutter to length and then put a witness mark on the cutter and the stud

 

[flashhole]

I'm like one of the other posters in this thread. I have a cutter/gage combination dedicated to each cartridge. I even went so far as to outfit each cutter with a wooden ball (I bought the wooden balls on eBay) because my hands cramp when trying to hold the cutter without the ball.

Interesting thread though, I've never had a problem with any of the Case Length Gages and I've never worn one out.

 

[Dave P]

and since no one mentioned it, I run my case gage in a cheap drill press, and let them bottom out on the plate do-dad of the drill press.

For 90% of my 308 cases, this method is fast and painless to trim to length. (and cheap)