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03-20-2013, 07:04 PM
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Lee Classic Turret Quick Change Turrets
I use the Lee Classic Turret Press that I use to reload 9MM, 38 Special, 357 Mag, S&W 40, 44 Special, 44 Mag, 45 ACP, and 45 Colt. So I do not have to change out dies I use the 4-hole quick change turrets. I had four (4) and ordered two (2) more from Midway but the one's I received from Midway did not turn/rotate/index, I contacted Lee, explained the problem, we then exchanged turrets and the new ones I just received will not rotate either? I would appreciate any input, eye balling these new one's does not show any physical difference from the old one's? thanks
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03-20-2013, 07:18 PM
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It sounds most likely that you have broken the little square black plastic piece inside the drive for the indexing rod. When yoou get it running again make sure you have all the turrets smoothed and slightly lubed to turn freely in the press. If not you'll be back to square one.
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03-20-2013, 07:32 PM
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Going off of what tomf said when you have the older quick change turrets in do they rotate? When you are moving the handle up and down can you see if the center metal guide bar rotates at all? Another question is, is the square nut still on top of the center guide rod? If your center guide rod does not move and your original turrets do not spin its the black plastic square he mentioned. Midway sells the squares in a 6 pack I think.
Last edited by dkals; 03-20-2013 at 07:35 PM.
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03-20-2013, 07:41 PM
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In addition to seeing if your old ones still spin, try the new ones without the indexing rod and index them by hand. Lift slightly, and twist.
If you can do that, the problem is with the plastic square or how your index rod is seated.
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03-20-2013, 07:49 PM
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The new turrets are such a tight fit that I have to use a large screw driver as a pry bar between two dies to turn the turrets, I already ruined the square ratchet. I have two new ratchets on order. Its not the ratchet or the indexing rod, its the turrets they fit so tight you can hardly turn them with a pry bar even lubed. The other four I have fit great, rotate freely with no stress on the square ratchet. Its too late to call Lee, so I will contact them in the morning, I was hoping some one else had this issue and had found a fix!
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03-20-2013, 08:10 PM
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Since you are reloading I am assuming you have a calliper. Did you or can you measure width of the original turret and the new one?
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03-20-2013, 08:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkals
Since you are reloading I am assuming you have a calliper. Did you or can you measure width of the original turret and the new one?
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I tried to caliper the different aspects of the turret and could find no difference. By turning the quick change turret with the screw driver (pry bar) after a couple hundred turns I can almost turn it by hand now! I am tempted to try the square ratchet again, but it looks so frail, that I just know it will spin off the indexing rod?
update:
You would not believe the amount of metal (aluminum) filings, as I put the index rod back in the turret, the pilings were piled on top of base. Anyway cleaned up the mess took some sandpaper to each turret and they now work ok, the older one's rotate much better, disappointed in the QC! -thanks for all the input-
Last edited by MajorHal; 03-20-2013 at 08:51 PM.
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03-20-2013, 09:59 PM
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Wow, thanks for the heads-up. I haven't bought a turret in about 2 years but I need one now. I will be very careful to check the fit before I try to pull the handle.
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Last edited by ArchAngelCD; 03-20-2013 at 10:04 PM.
Reason: Spelling
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03-21-2013, 01:05 AM
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I have about 12 or 13 turrets and never had something like this occur?? There is a little spring loaded roller bearing in the inside of the main press where the turrets pop in, does that roll and can you push it in and out??. Put some oil on it. Without the rod or any dies the turret should just turn easily by hand.
Other than that I can not understand it without seeing it. Sound like the turret is out of spec. But they sent you other ones so something is very odd. As you said call them while you are at the press. Be sure to ask for a Technician (in the shop area)
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03-21-2013, 01:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkals
Midway sells the squares in a 6 pack I think.
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Midway sells them for $2.99 each.
Order from Lee for .50cents each and use two
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03-21-2013, 01:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3
I have about 12 or 13 turrets and never had something like this occur?? There is a little spring loaded roller bearing in the inside of the main press where the turrets pop in, does that roll and can you push it in and out??. Put some oil on it. Without the rod or any dies the turret should just turn easily by hand.
Other than that I can not understand it without seeing it. Sound like the turret is out of spec. But they sent you other ones so something is very odd. As you said call them while you are at the press. Be sure to ask for a Technician (in the shop area)
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My original turrets work fine, they spin/rotate while in the press, I put in the new one's into the press (these turrets slide/fit into the top of the press with no problem) but they will not rotate without a pry bar. The spring loaded roller bearing works fine. It maybe hard to believe but these new turrets would not turn even oiled, I have four other quick change turrets and I am swapping them out all the time no problem! Using the large screw driver as a lever I was able to rotate the turrets, this created quite a few metal shavings. With some effort I can now rotate with my hand, it will work now but not nearly as good as the old turrets.
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03-21-2013, 08:31 AM
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I've had the same issue with a newer press, the turrets will turn by hand but you have to force them, on my old press everything worked just fine. After 700K rounds the press was too loose and sloppy so I replaced it with another 3-holer, and that's when the problems began. I use mine as a single-stage and always have, so it's not that big a deal. The turrets are slowly getting looser as the head wears in, but sometimes it takes some serious effort to turn the turret to the next station.
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03-21-2013, 11:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollbar
Midway sells them for $2.99 each.
Order from Lee for .50cents each and use two
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Or call them and tell them it broke. FREE
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03-21-2013, 03:29 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MajorHal
My original turrets work fine, they spin/rotate while in the press, I put in the new one's into the press (these turrets slide/fit into the top of the press with no problem) but they will not rotate without a pry bar. The spring loaded roller bearing works fine. It maybe hard to believe but these new turrets would not turn even oiled, I have four other quick change turrets and I am swapping them out all the time no problem! Using the large screw driver as a lever I was able to rotate the turrets, this created quite a few metal shavings. With some effort I can now rotate with my hand, it will work now but not nearly as good as the old turrets.
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From everything you said in this thread I have no doubt something went wrong with their CNC machine and there are probably an entire lot of turrets out there which are out of spec. This is not good!!!
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03-21-2013, 03:45 PM
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Re: Lee Classic Turret Quick Change Turrets
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD
there are probably an entire lot of turrets out there which are out of spec. This is not good!!!
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I hope not, I ordered extra heads and after 60 days it becomes store credit per Midway USA if I read their policy correctly.
Mass production=QC out the window. :banghead:
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
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03-21-2013, 05:10 PM
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update: Lee is sending me two more turrets and a couple of square ratchets.
For those of you who have ordered new quick change turrets, be sure and place the turret in your press and try to rotate the turret with your hand if it turns then it will work fine. if you try and rotate the turret with the index bar by moving the handle up and down and its a tight fit it will destroy the square ratchet!
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03-21-2013, 06:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD
From everything you said in this thread I have no doubt something went wrong with their CNC machine and there are probably an entire lot of turrets out there which are out of spec. This is not good!!!
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that would be my guess too but I find it surprising. FWIW, I have two Lee Classic Turrets ( On 4 years old and one purchased just a month ago). I have a total of 9 turrets. Four of the turrets were purchased from Midway and Cabelas' within the last three months. All seem to work fine ( as most Lee products do.)
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Last edited by Wee Hooker; 03-22-2013 at 05:43 PM.
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03-22-2013, 06:35 AM
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This has to be a very recent probelm as I ordered a pair of turrets only a few months ago and mine all work just fine.
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