Lee 10lb pot questions

[aarolar]

I was gifted a lee 10lb bottom pour pot in fair condition. I fully dissambeled it when I got it and cleaned the pot inside and out and noted the coil looked kinda rough. Now trying to use it it just barely will reach and hold 700* on half a pot of lead a full load will never even reach that. My question is will just replacing the coil solve my problem or should I replace the control at the same time?

[lobowolf761]

I would replace the coil and the control just to be on the safe side. I have 10 lb pot that I got in the 80's when stationed in Germany that was 220. Early this year I had to replace the coil and control and rewire it to convert it to 110 volt. I had to do a bit of modifying to make sure it went back together and worked properly. It was an old model that is once again working. Parts didn't cost much.

[Beef15]

The parts are pretty cheap, but are you certain your thermometer is accurate?

[Southerngunner]

When my 10 lb pot would not heat up enough I removed the thermostat and wired it direct to see if the coil was the problem . It came up to full temp in 10 minutes I replaced the thermostat and its good as ever.

[lobowolf761]

I would replace the coil and the control just to be on the safe side. I have 10 lb pot that I got in the 80's when stationed in Germany that was 220. Early this year I had to replace the coil and control and rewire it to convert it to 110 volt. I had to do a bit of modifying to make sure it went back together and worked properly. It was an old model that is once again working. Parts didn't cost much.
I meant to say thermostat, not the control.

[aarolar]

The parts are pretty cheap, but are you certain your thermometer is accurate?
Sure I guess its a lyman that I borrowed from somebody. It will cast ok as long as its around 700 but if it drops much I get bad bases and wrinkles.

The coil was real cracked up and bad looking thats mainly why I think its the coil. The next question I have is should I go to 220 I have 220 in my shop that my Craftsman radial arm saw runs off of.

[lobowolf761]

I would stick with a 110. The pot I redid to 110 was originally set up for European 220. 110 will work just fine.

[dragonrider]

The bimetal thermostat can be adjusted to increase temps. Increase the space between the contacts a little at a time testing between.

[aarolar]

Little update I went out and straight wired it and it made it up past 700 right away so I fiddeled with the bimetallic strip on the thermostat and had it holding 725 on about #6. I think I can squeese alittle more life out of it for now without spending any money which is good because mama is getting tired of me asking for "gun stuff"...