Busted Lee 4-Hole Turret Press

[axshon]

So kids are home with no school and VPN is down at work so I figured I'd get on some brass prep. I've got a bunch of LC .308 I've been tinkering with and I need to swage all the primer pockets.

I'm about 100 pieces in and the press goes POW! Hmm, that's not good. Roll it down and look things over thinking I set the brass in canted and I busted my RCBS swager pilot. Nope. Ok, run it up slowly. Front pin is separated from the press base. Stripped the threads right off. I was not running it up very hard and was lubricating the swager head with Unique. No real excuse other than inferior molding. I don't think this is a design defect since a search doesn't indicate this is a normal failure point.

I can get the part replaced from Lee for $15.00 and upgrade the old ball handle in the process for another $32.00 or I can send the entire thing back for refurbishing for 50% of retail price (no thanks).

Or... I can just head down to Bass Pro and pick up an RCBS Rock Chucker and be done with it. I was saving up for a Forster Coax but I guess that's off the table in the short term.

Thoughts?

 

[fnfalsar48]

How about a Helicoil thread repair insert. Better than new

 

[axshon]

Yeah, I considered the helicoil but the kits I've seen are in the $25 range and if indeed it is a casting fault in the base I'd rather just get a new one.

 

[Bootknife]

Man that is a shame, is the frame Aluminum ? I kind of stayed away from Aluminum so haven't had any issues like that . I have repaired an Alum Head with a Hela-coil but not sure in Your situation if that would Work ! Good Luck.

 

[axshon]

Cast iron. I've had it happen with rocker arms on high lift drag cams back in the day so I know it will work on the material.

 

[fnfalsar48]

The Helicoil will be stronger than a new one.

 

[axshon]

The big problem I have is that I wasn't abusing the press and it broke and the Lee site says my only option is to send the entire thing in with a 50% retail payment to have it fixed.

Whereas, whenever I have had even the smallest problem with an RCBS product they shipped new parts out with no questions asked.

 

[axshon]

The Helicoil will be stronger than a new one.

Agreed but not sure if that means enough to me at the moment.

 

[Traveler]

Dillon or RCBS for me, for this very reason. Forster is an excellent press, Rockchucker is no slouch. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[HarCo2ANewb]

Is that refurbishing a quote that Lee gave you? Seems like something they would want to make right rather than have more reasons out there for people to avoid them.

 

[Magnumite]

Looks like not enough thread engagement. I'd run a helicoil in it and get on with business. Even if you sell the press cheap after purchasing your next desired press you'll still have the helicoils for some other use.

I have a Lee original 3 station turret press I still use on occasion. Part of the bell crank/pull lever assembly stripped out/buckled. A shock washer put me back in business....for 35 years. The rest of that press may eventually die but that washer sure won't!

 

[axshon]

Thanks all for the advice. My neighbor is a mechanic so I may ask him if he has a spare helicoil. Buying a dozen doesn't make much sense. More likely, I'll just buy the part from Lee. I bought a Rock Chucker at Bass Pro with a Christmas gift card and some cash. I didn't realize how much beefier that RCBS was until I pulled it out of the box. Also didn't realize how redneck the name was until my wife saw the box on my bench.

"So you broke your press and went out and got a... rock... chucker... ?"

 

[BUFF7MM]

Cast iron. I've had it happen with rocker arms on high lift drag cams back in the day so I know it will work on the material.

Was it this press?
http://leeprecision.com/4-hole-turret-press-with-auto-index.html
If so that an aluminum base
Here's the cast iron turret
http://leeprecision.com/4-hole-classic-turret-press.html
Much beefier by far.

 

[axshon]

It's the aluminum model, about 4 years old. Huh, I thought I'd recognize the material more easily than that. Should have put a magnet on it...

 

[BUFF7MM]

It's the aluminum model, about 4 years old. Huh, I thought I'd recognize the material more easily than that. Should have put a magnet on it...

I looked at that value Press before I bought the classic cast turret, it seems to be rock solid so far.

 

[Pinecone]

Call Lee first and see what they say.

I have had good luck dealing with them.

 

[wgttgw]

I second contacting them. The one occasion I had an issue with a set of dies they sent me a new sizing die IIRC for free.

And yes the cast iron version of that press is heaver duty. Same as the Casic cast single stage vs Breech lock single stage presses.

 

[Muleskinner]

I have been in the market for a new press for about 6 months. After reading reviews and asking many reloading friends about their equipment I decided to keep my nearly 40 year old Lee 3 holed turret. The old adage remains true. "They don't make em like they use to."

 

[John from MD]

Check at Pep Boys. I believe you can buy a separate helicoils and a kit with a drill and tap as well.

John

 

[molonlabe]

The Rockchucker is built like a brick outhouse. When your not reloading you can use it for a boat anchor.

Check eBay they last forever. Might be able to get it cheap.