Lee Classic Turret Press Problem

[Urban]

Hey, I’m new here, thought I’d wade right in. I load on a Lee 6000 press, which I love for pistol ammo, but am kinda up in the air on for rifle calibers.
I picked up a used Lee Classic Turret press, and while it looks like it’ll do, I cannot for the life of me stop breaking indexing ratchets. The press is index aligned fine. What I’m wondering is this - I assume from what I’ve read, seen and understand that the ratchet should be able to slide smoothly up and down the indexing rod - that’s correct, right? Don’t mean to sound like an idiot, but this press of mine doesn’t do that - I have two different batches of ratchets, and none of them slide smoothly over the twisted section of the rod - pretty much every time they get stuck there, then get rounded, and then it’s game over for indexing.
Could my problem be a bad rod?
Any help greatly appreciated - I’m a very mechanically adept guy, and this is frustrating the crap outa me!

 

[SSL]

Hey, I’m new here, thought I’d wade right in. I load on a Lee 6000 press, which I love for pistol ammo, but am kinda up in the air on for rifle calibers.
I picked up a used Lee Classic Turret press, and while it looks like it’ll do, I cannot for the life of me stop breaking indexing ratchets. The press is index aligned fine. What I’m wondering is this - I assume from what I’ve read, seen and understand that the ratchet should be able to slide smoothly up and down the indexing rod - that’s correct, right? Don’t mean to sound like an idiot, but this press of mine doesn’t do that - I have two different batches of ratchets, and none of them slide smoothly over the twisted section of the rod - pretty much every time they get stuck there, then get rounded, and then it’s game over for indexing.
Could my problem be a bad rod?
Any help greatly appreciated - I’m a very mechanically adept guy, and this is frustrating the crap outa me!

Sorry to be a downer, but I have one that did that years ago. From then on I just used it by turning it by hand until I retired it. Never did figure it out even though I replaced the ratchet pieces at least three times. Not fatal to me since I wouldn't load precision rifle cartridges on a turret or progressive anyway...and yes...I know others do it with success. I just have my own phobia about repeatability when you have that many moving parts. Use progressive for all my handgun loads, but only a single stage for rifle.

 

[Urban]

No downer at all, Mate - appreciate your thoughts. I leaning toward doing just that, since I’ll use this press for range rifle stuff. Really bugs me that I can’t figure it out though - actually glad to hear it may not be me!

 

[46and2]

Look at the square nut on top of the indexing rod.
Make sure it's at a true 45° angle to the rod flats.

 

[Urban]

Interesting - not heard that before - the nut on my rod is plastic, and doesn’t cinch down well at all - thank you!

 

[46and2]

Interesting - not heard that before - the nut on my rod is plastic, and doesn’t cinch down well at all - thank you!

My square nut is metal. I would have no idea why yours is plastic.

You said it was used?? Maybe Lee can get you a new metal nut.

 

[Urban]

Greet minds think alike! I put a request in right after I read your post

 

[MislMan]

Clean the rotating head circumference real good. Clean the interior surface (hole) of the interface head (press itself). Then lightly lube both those surfaces with a light lubricant spray (I use Ballistol spray). Maybe wipe down rotating rod and lightly lube it also. The rotating head should move very smoothly and allow the head to index cleanly.
these surfaces are the notched areas in the press.

 

[Urban]

I opened a request with Lee - we shall see!

So am I correct in the way the ratchet should be able travel on the indexing rod, right? Is there something else that would cause them to break and not index? I calibrated indexing per Lee. Instructions, and am careful not to do the well covered stuff that causes them to round out.

 

[KMW 1954]

I run both aPro1000 and old model Value 3 hole turret press. The plastic ratchets are not the same but they function the same. The one thing that has been proven is these presses do not like to be half stroked/short stroked. In plain words once the ratchet get into the twisted part of the rod do not go back up, complete the stroke.
Keep the running surfaces of the turrets clean and I lube with white lithium grease. I also wipe down the indexing rod with just a slight amount of the same grease.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I took all the indexing parts out of my 4 hole lee.
I run FL / deprime on a bunch, then move by hand, and neck with a LC (rotating and hitting it again. I might prime along with one of the previous steps, or not.
I end up with all the brass for the session primer up in the loading block.
Cull any upside down primers
Charge with funnel in hand, immediately start a bullet and seat then to the loading block, bullet up.
I find that doing steps in batches results in more consistent steps instead of having the turret
going round and round just to make a round, then round and round again for the next round.
Just don't see the need for progressive with batch processing.

 

[Paul's Black Rifles]

Keep the running surfaces of the turrets clean and I lube with white lithium grease. I also wipe down the indexing rod with just a slight amount of the same grease.

If this doesn't work for you, I've had great luck with spray Slip-plate on farm equipment. Of course clean the parts before lightly applying Slip-plate. Worth a try.
I don't have either of the presses mentioned but I do use Lee products.

 

[old codger]

Just for info the nut on mine is plastic. Press was bought about 4 years ago. It works on mine but I don't use the auto index feature. I just turn the die plate by hand.

 

[tominboise]

If this doesn't work for you, I've had great luck with spray Slip-plate on farm equipment. Of course clean the parts before lightly applying Slip-plate. Worth a try.
I don't have either of the presses mentioned but I do use Lee products.

I will add that I use Redding Imperial sizing die wax as lube on my turrets and it makes a significant difference in the effort required to rotate the turret.

I am also in the camp of - I took all the rotating equipment off mine and threw it in a drawer. I just turn mine by hand.

 

[Urban]

Well, thanks Mates - What I’ve learned here is the reminder that getting stubbornly stuck on something that you don’t need is folly - Nix the index it is!

 

[Rocketvapor]

 

[Urban]

Great song!

 

[Urban]

Lee gave me a couple things to look at, just to rule out a bad rod - we shall see!