Got this many done before this happened
- Thread starter reloader357
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I think I have the same mould! Got it used in 1984 or 5. I have made at least 10,000 bullets with it. I had a 6 cavity 9mm 115 RN in the mid 90's and thought it was trash! I have a 4 cavity Lyman 230 RN, and think the 6 cavity Lee is too flimsy for mass casting!
Ivan
Ivan
I couldn't tell you how many bullets I have cast myself. I have NEVER seen nor even heard of this happening. Serious bummer.
Don't bother with calling Lee......I had a similar issues with the sprue bolt being stripped in the mold body.....So, on the advice of a machinist friend of mine that is also a fellow member....I drilled the mold body out, installed a bolt and double nutted it....works perfect.
In your case I would try to drill the broken bolt shaft out and replace with a similar sized bolt and be done with it. (Or get an EZ out and remove the broken bolt)
When I spoke with Lee, they would sell me another mold with a discount...don't remember how much but it wasn't much.
Randy
In your case I would try to drill the broken bolt shaft out and replace with a similar sized bolt and be done with it. (Or get an EZ out and remove the broken bolt)
When I spoke with Lee, they would sell me another mold with a discount...don't remember how much but it wasn't much.
Randy
Last edited:
fredj338
Member
Yeah doubt lee fixes it. The newer molds are slightly better made, but their 6cav sprue plate is still poop, handle is flimsy.
schutzen-jager
Member
LEE will replace it at 1/2 the cost of a new one if you call them -
If you decide to drill out the old bolt, here's a great way to do it.
Get a short new bolt of the same size, that will thread into the hole.
Have someone with a lathe drill a hole down the center of the new bolt.
Screw the new bolt in and use it as a drill guide to drill out the broken one. Once you have the initial hole drilled in the broken bolt, carefully increase the size until the remains break up and can be picked out.
Get a short new bolt of the same size, that will thread into the hole.
Have someone with a lathe drill a hole down the center of the new bolt.
Screw the new bolt in and use it as a drill guide to drill out the broken one. Once you have the initial hole drilled in the broken bolt, carefully increase the size until the remains break up and can be picked out.
4barrel
Member
I have backed out bolts with a reverse drill bit.
If you are not up to fixing it yourself. Write to Lee rather than call. You get a service ticket assigned, Sometimes if you send it in to them they will replace it and mail it back to you. Can't hurt to try.
They do that for press parts, some parts you can just put in you online basket and they are free and they ship it.
They do that for press parts, some parts you can just put in you online basket and they are free and they ship it.
Maybe it is just me...but get a REAL mold if you get a new one. Personally never had much use for the Lee molds... May be ok if you just want a mold for very light use. Not real keen on their dies either.. I do think the cast presses they make are ok..but I have a cast turret I am going to sell.
With the effort and time it will take to repair that mold just buy a new quality mold and be done.
ACORN
Member
I believe the Lee sprue plate screws are left hand thread. A left hand hit would tend to tighten the screw. Try using a regular bit. Often the bit will snag onto the screw and wind it out. Easy peazy.
schutzen-jager
Member
mine are all right hand thread - been using them since they first came out - all double cavity - never a problem in at least 40 years -
I believe their newer pinned two cavity molds are LHT ,older models are RH.
Qc Pistolero
Member
While I have a few made by Lee,all my new moulds will be from Accurate.Yes,they are more expensive but the price is still very reasonable and they will last longer than me!
New production Lee molds are excellent, but the sprue plate handle is delicate. If you remove the sprue plate bolt, drill and tap for a #6 set screw to hold the sprue plate bolt, you will be very happy with the 6 cavity mold.
You do get a pile of bullets in 1 hour of casting.
EDIT: If you go online to Lee, you can order repair parts. I bought 4 or 5 items and only paid postage -- I believe.
You do get a pile of bullets in 1 hour of casting.
EDIT: If you go online to Lee, you can order repair parts. I bought 4 or 5 items and only paid postage -- I believe.
Last edited:
Funflyer
Member
When I first started casting I was having the same loose sprue plate bolt issue with all my Lee molds. The fix was to take a flat file the plate and remove just enough material so the wave washer worked as intended. I also had to add more vent channels to a few of my molds to get them to fill out properly.
41 mag Dave
Member
Good guns deserve good boolits. Spend the money and get a good mold. The casting is much smoother, bullets more consistent, and the better molds last forever. I just finished up 63# of H&G #68 out of an 8-cavity H&G mold I bought in 1987. I cannot tell you how many thousands of bullets I have cast out of it and it looks great still, nothing has ever broken. Bite the bullet( pun intended) and you will never regret it.
Qc Pistolero
Member
Accurate molds will last your lifetime even if you cast 50K a year.They are more costly at the time of purchase but when you consider you'll never need another one,it comes out cheaper.
And you can customize them;I have many brands and while I can't badmouth Lee's molds(they'll do the job proportionally for the $$invested)Accurate are now the ones I buy 95% of the time.
You won't regret the investment!
And you can customize them;I have many brands and while I can't badmouth Lee's molds(they'll do the job proportionally for the $$invested)Accurate are now the ones I buy 95% of the time.
You won't regret the investment!
Similar threads
