Dancing lead stream

[slughammer]

Having a bit of trouble with the lead stream dancing as I try to fill my molds. It's always been there to one extent or the another, but lately I feel it is causing me some fill problems. This is my Lyman/Saeco 10lb pot. When I open the flow it diverts in a random direction each time. If I move the handle forward and aft the stream dances from left to right. If I adjust the stop up to allow more lead to flow, I quickly find the flow is too fast and the lead splashes into the cavity.

I pulled the operating rod and cleaned the rod and spout a couple of times now. This is a pic of the operating rod, the spout is .087 dia.

I'm wondering if it is the shape of the point on the operating rod? Or perhaps the spout dia is too big?

It's the only pot I've ever had. Can someone tell me if the shape of the rod point looks typical?

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff162/slughammer/IMG_1529.jpg

[oneokie]

Just a WAG, but sounds like the rod is flopping around in the orfice.

[waksupi]

Just a WAG, but sounds like the rod is flopping around in the orfice.

Sounds like someone I used to know...

[400cor-bon]

Sounds like someone I used to know...

hopefully not "know" in the biblical sense . . . .

[slughammer]

:hijack:


Yes it is the flopping around. Perhaps the tip should be longer and tapered more gently? I got a PM that said the Lee pots had a spherical rod end. Has anyone taken their Lyman or RCBS pot apart? This is one of the OLD Lyman/Saeco 10 pounders.

[oneokie]

Any way to make a rod guide on the orfice, inside the pot?

[imashooter2]

Lee 20 pound rod:

http://leeprecision.com/graphics/parts/3427.jpg

Lee 10 pound rod:

http://leeprecision.com/graphics/parts/1143.jpg

Both of the Lee rods seal at the top edge of the spout, well away from the stream.

The Lyman Mag 20 instruction sheet exploded shows the valve rod as a taper to a point.

http://lymanproducts.com/lymanproducts/Instruction%20Guide%2012.pdf

The RCBS Pro Melt exploded shows a rod similar to yours except the "pin" end is much longer.

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/ProMeltElectricLeadFurnaceInstructions.pdf

I can't find anything on any SAECO pots.

I know a guy that has a Lyman pot very similar to yours, but he is on a Disney cruise and won't be back until Christmas. I know he's taken his pot apart to clean a couple of times. If you haven't figured this out by then, I'll hook up with him and ask what his valve rod looks like.

[Lloyd Smale]

you may need to empty your pot and pull the rod out and actually clean the valve seat from the inside. they can get a crust built up on them after a while and a just rodding out the orfice isnt going to take care of it. Another thing that can do what your experineceing is a partial freezeup of the spout. Next time it does it try heating the nozzle tip with a propane torch and see if that cures it.

[Winger Ed.]

Can you get your mold right up on the pour spout?

If so, Hold the mold up against it for your pour.
When the mold is full you'll see a little speck of Lead sort of jump out.
Then ease it down to pour a good sprue on top of that.

If all else fails, that might work. Not that it will stop the Lead stream from dancing,
But with the exit spout being right up against the mold, it won't matter.

.

[TAWILDCATT]

I would say you have a spec of crud in the spout and the lead is swilling around it I will look at my Saeco pot.take a 22 cal wire brush to the orfice.I put the brush on first length of cleaning rod and put in drill.