lee turret powder spillage
- Thread starter biogenic
- Start date
- Status
The Pro-Auto disc hopper seals much better than the standard square hopper.
Small ball/flattened disc powders are the worst for leakage. AA#5 is one of THE worst and is listed as such on the LEE site under the "FAQs" section. They also suggest a "fix" for 'most' of that particular problem. If you are using AA#2/AA#5 and they leak significantly, check the FAQS on the LEE site.
Win 231/HP-38 small ball and Vit small rod powders or bigger powders won't have any or insignificant leakage with the PRO system. It also has a shut-off and is much better made and designed than the standard hopper, and well worth the upgrade.
JMO having used both with my LEE Turret press.
Small ball/flattened disc powders are the worst for leakage. AA#5 is one of THE worst and is listed as such on the LEE site under the "FAQs" section. They also suggest a "fix" for 'most' of that particular problem. If you are using AA#2/AA#5 and they leak significantly, check the FAQS on the LEE site.
Win 231/HP-38 small ball and Vit small rod powders or bigger powders won't have any or insignificant leakage with the PRO system. It also has a shut-off and is much better made and designed than the standard hopper, and well worth the upgrade.
JMO having used both with my LEE Turret press.
What powder you using?
The Pro Autodisk has a nylon insert that is supposed to seal where the powder hopper communicates with the sliding disk (which is where your powder leakage is most likely coming from, the upper surface of the disk). The standard auto-disk does not have the seal.
I have heard that sometimes the Pro's seal leaks worse than the Standard without the seal.
Is it possible that you are getting some powder leakage from the bottom surface of the disk? I have never heard of this, but suppose it could be possible.
But the first question to ask is what powder are you using?
Second question is, is your disk or the bottom of the powder hopper worn to the point that there is excess clearance?
Lost Sheep
The Pro Autodisk has a nylon insert that is supposed to seal where the powder hopper communicates with the sliding disk (which is where your powder leakage is most likely coming from, the upper surface of the disk). The standard auto-disk does not have the seal.
I have heard that sometimes the Pro's seal leaks worse than the Standard without the seal.
Is it possible that you are getting some powder leakage from the bottom surface of the disk? I have never heard of this, but suppose it could be possible.
But the first question to ask is what powder are you using?
Second question is, is your disk or the bottom of the powder hopper worn to the point that there is excess clearance?
Lost Sheep
The pro upgrade will cut down on spillage. It's also nice to be able to shut off the powder flow with the pro.
I took a sanding block to the top flange of mine to reduce the clearance even further to cut down on leakage. It still leaks with some really fine ball powders but not nearly as bad.
I took a sanding block to the top flange of mine to reduce the clearance even further to cut down on leakage. It still leaks with some really fine ball powders but not nearly as bad.
While the Perfect Powder Measure usually leaks like a sieve, I have had good luck with disk measure and have the Pro disk measure as well. I would recommend an upgrade if the problem is causing you trouble/worry. Personally I'd just buy a complete Pro Disk Measure and keep the other one for powders that don't leak in it.
OP
OP
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2011
- Messages
- 270
w231 and the hopper is about 1 month old.
I got a lee adjustable charge bar which helped quite a bit. I am getting very little spillage now. After a while, changing the disks and tighten the screws, I don"t get the same "grip" on the screws anymore since they are held in the plastic housing. The pro auto disk upgrade seems to have a better design... Wish Mr Lee would of used an aluminum hopper and charge bar ( that's what I have on my 550
)
Last edited:
I'm not familiar with the leakage propensity of W231, but someone will come along who knows, I am confident.w231 and the hopper is about 1 month old.
I got a lee adjustable charge bar which helped quite a bit. I am getting very little spillage now. After a while, changing the disks and tighten the screws, I don"t get the same "grip" on the screws anymore since they are held in the plastic housing. The pro auto disk upgrade seems to have a better design... Wish Mr Lee would of used an aluminum hopper and charge bar ( that's what I have on my 550
I have been thinking about a way to "cure" the number one complaint about the standard auto-disk hopper (stripping out the threads).
The simplest way is to stick some wood glue and a toothpick in the hole, coat the screw with a little release gel, screw it in and let it set. Presto - brand new threads. Carpenters do it all the time.
You could get some 1/8" or 7/64" threaded rod and two knurled nuts, glue the rods into the holes and go from there.
I wrote a really long and detailed description of how to do this with threaded rod or even coathanger wire and rubber bands. Then I saw that replacement standard hoppers are only $2.99 each.
Lost Sheep
I use the Lee Pro Auto Disk with AA5 & 2 and 231. I "lube" the nylon insert and the disk with fine powdered graphite and don't have spillage problems. Go to your O'Reilly (Kragens) and they carry a small tube of graphite. Good to go!
Get the upgrade kit. Lee should just dump the old design. The upgraded is much better. Not only on leakage, but it is attached with bolts and knurled knobs instead of those crappy screws, and comes with the adjustable measure and the swivel all for $20. You will not regret it.
lol... I just thought of the #5 spilling as sort of like snowflakes, a harbinger of the fun times to be had just ahead.....
- Status
Similar threads
