LCT Reminder!

[drband]

I’ve probably loaded 15,000+ rounds on my trusty Lee Classic Turret and it has been a uniformly trouble-free system. I switched to the Autodrum pm about 18mos ago and it too, has been trouble free.

Sooo... this morning when I set up to load some .22TCM it was a rather annoying situation when every powder drop leaked W296 all over the ram and base of the press. I checked the Autodrum—no issues at all, even disassembled the Autodrum and the powder drop die and cleaned them before reassembly. No change. Still several granules of powder spilling with every drop. Very messy.

Finally I explored the turret alignment. It “seemed” ok with firm actuation from the press handle but would occasionally under rotate a fraction and then click in place with the die on ram movement.

Still seemed ok, but I wasn’t happy with the powder mess on my press.

I finally disassembled the auto rotate assembly at the top of the ram and found...

Yep, the minuscule under-rotation was caused by this broken (top left corner) nylon square ratchet.

I could have kicked myself for not checking this FIRST. And... knowing that it’s a common “disposable” part on the LCT, I always keep a few on hand. Easy fix—the press and powder drop now work perfectly without even a granule of spilled powder! As it should.

The “tiny” misalignment of the powder drop die and the small top of a .22TCM was the source of the messy press.

It sure is easy to forget the simple fixes when your setup works so well!

Now... back to reloading perfection!

 

[Axis II]

What is that piece for? I have a LCT and occasionally get a flake or two of HP38 on top of the turret.

 

[D Rock]

Good reminder, drband. Seems like you got your money's worth out of it.

I've never had it happen but I have several of those on hand.
EDIT: Here's a link to the Lee video showing how to replace it.


Dave

 

[D Rock]

What is that piece for? I have a LCT and occasionally get a flake or two of HP38 on top of the turret.

ohihunter, that's the Square Ratchet that turns the Turret. It rides over the twisted part of the arm.

I kind of doubt a couple of flakes is an issue. More likely leaking from your Auto Disk or Auto Drum. I get a few with Win 231 too.

Dave

 

[drband]

ohihunter, that's the Square Ratchet that turns the Turret. It rides over the twisted part of the arm.

I kind of doubt a couple of flakes is an issue. More likely leaking from your Auto Disk or Auto Drum. I get a few with Win 231 too.

Dave

Correct. My leak was caused by misalignment of the drop die with the shell holder/cartridge. Under the turret.

Loose flakes on top of the turret are caused by a drum that has not been cleanly assembled and tightened enough. It won’t leak hp38 or any othe powder if assembled carefully and at the correct tension on the screw that secures the drum.

When you assemble the Autodrum be sure to brush out all granules of powder from the drum housing, wipe the drum clean, and then tighten till the drum will not return to the fill position. Then, loosen just enough for it to cycle properly. No leaks!

One reminder: make sure the o-ring on the drum retaining screw is in place before tightening.

 

[D Rock]

Thanks, drband. I'll give that a try next time I'm doing maintenance. I did talk to Lee last year when I got the Auto Drum and the rep suggested a new powder measure drum, I just didn't think I'd bother at the time.

Dave

 

[Axis II]

ohihunter, that's the Square Ratchet that turns the Turret. It rides over the twisted part of the arm.

I kind of doubt a couple of flakes is an issue. More likely leaking from your Auto Disk or Auto Drum. I get a few with Win 231 too.

Dave

Oh, i see now! Thank you! I thought it was the little black square on top of the rod. I didn't know there was one inside the black thing at the bottom.

 

[someguy2800]

I still have the spares that came with the press but have never had to put one in either after thousands of rounds.

 

[Rule3]

Oh, i see now! Thank you! I thought it was the little black square on top of the rod. I didn't know there was one inside the black thing at the bottom.

Now you are getting "technical"

I am sure some "widget " masters will be here soon to correct your terminology!

FWIW I am still on my "original" ratchet" thingy!

 

[D Rock]

Now you are getting "technical"

I am sure some "widget " masters will be here soon to correct your terminology!

FWIW I am still on my "original" ratchet" thingy!

That's one of the things I like about the LCT. Not a lot of technical going on.

Dave

 

[Strat Rider]

FWIW I am still on my "original" ratchet" thingy!

I am on my 2nd one after the first 4k bullets but I seem to remember buying 10 of them for like $ 1.20 or something a while back.

 

[drband]

Mine seem to go at about 7000 rds or so. That’s pretty good for a plastic part!
Especially when you consider 4 pulls of the press handle for every rd.

 

[GBExpat]

... knowing that it’s a common “disposable” part on the LCT, I always keep a few on hand ...

This.

Good reminder for The LCT Mob, drband!

 

[Rule3]

Mine seem to go at about 7000 rds or so. That’s pretty good for a plastic part!
Especially when you consider 4 pulls of the press handle for every rd.

But is it plastic or a plastic polymer like Nylon?

 

[drband]

But is it plastic or a plastic polymer like Nylon?

I believe it is nylon. They are very tough.
Lee does not specify on the website.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I lost count on how many rounds have been loaded with my current ratchet but it's been many many years in service. I went through a few when I first got the press but that was all user error. I have several in my desk drawer but no sign of needing to change it yet. I wish I have kept count.

Note: If you don't have a spare or two try and order them with other items since you could pay $7 shipping on a 50¢ item if bought alone!

 

[drband]

I lost count on how many rounds have been loaded with my current ratchet but it's been many many years in service. I went through a few when I first got the press but that was all user error. I have several in my desk drawer but no sign of needing to change it yet. I wish I have kept count.

Note: If you don't have a spare or two try and order them with other items since you could pay $7 shipping on a 50¢ item if bought alone!

Lee will send you small replacement items for the cost of shipping. When you check out, the item total cost goes to zero. I usually order multiple small replacement items so the shipping becomes inconsequential.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Lee will send you small replacement items for the cost of shipping. When you check out, the item total cost goes to zero. I usually order multiple small replacement items so the shipping becomes inconsequential.

How dies that differ from what I said? Lee sells them for 50¢ but it's the shipping costs that will hurt. Even if Lee doesn't charge for the ratchet they are only giving you 50¢ off but the shipping remains.
https://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html

 

[drband]

How dies that differ from what I said? Lee sells them for 50¢ but it's the shipping costs that will hurt. Even if Lee doesn't charge for the ratchet they are only giving you 50¢ off but the shipping remains.
https://leeprecision.com/square-ratchet.html

No dispute with your post.

The point is you can order multiple replacement parts, say 6 ratchets, 4-5 springs, a few o-rings, whatever you need, for the same shipping cost but the cost of the parts will go to zero on checkout.
I have ordered multiple small replacement items that would have cost $8-10 but Lee only charges the one shipping cost. No charge at all for the items. That’s why I usually order multiple items when I can. Shipping cost is less a factor when spread over several small items.

No harm, no foul!

 

[Varminterror]

I haven’t been through but a handful of ratchets, usually stripped when I was in a rhythm and ran headlong into a fouled turret.

Nylon or delrin, either way, they last a long time.

Usually, my alignment errors are on the far side of the rotation, I get going too fast and my turret over-indexes on the upstroke. I hang my left hand on the press most of the time so my thumb and forefinger can drag the turret a bit and prevent that over-rotation.

 

[Strat Rider]

With a Sharpie, I drew a line on the turret body and four on the turret head when it is in each correct position.

 

[ponchh]

Some wheelbearing grease on the press lugs will stop the turret from being jumpy. None on the turret lugs, just the press. The bumps you can feel in the arm during rotation will go away.