Lee drip-o-matic not dripping anymore

[PeterB]

It seams that all owners of the Lee Production pot IV is plagued by these little fellows, they are almost impossible to pick up.

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I have tried cleaning, lapping the valve stem to the seat but the dripping always returned.
This weekend I tried another approach to solve the problem and it has been working so far.
All thats needed is a coil spring, a self tapping screw and a washer.

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Fasten the coil spring on the opposite side of the valve stem with the screw.

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Attach the other side of the spring to the washer and put the washer over the valve stem.

http://proxy1.pixbox.se/arkivet/synligt_36/30290000-30299999/640x480/30295827.jpg?0
The finished product.
The spring tension holds the washer in place on the stem and pulls the stem in firm contact with the operating crank.
The spring also aids in a positive closing of the valve due to the downward angle.
Lets just hope that the heat of the melt don't destroy the spring characteristics.

I hope this setup can be helpful for someone.

:smile: Peter

[462]

PeterB,

Spiffy.

Another method is to remove the cylindrical knob, slip one end a a spring onto the lever, replace the knob, attach the other end of the spring to the pot's base. I drilled a small hole in the base to accept the spring and keep it in place.

[LAH]

Good job Peter. Magma uses the same principle. Note spring under lever. The heat or tension will finally weaken the spring but it will last long and be worth the trouble of replacement.............Creeker

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h244/Creekerpics/Picture393.jpg

Dry Creek Bullet Works
Dry Creek Firewood

[Tazman1602]

I simply keep my Lyman ingot mold under the spout. That way it can drip all it wants and if I need to clean out the spout I just heat it up good and proper and let'r flow...........

[mdi]

I saw a "fix" for the drip. It's a weight slipped over the rod near the knob. A little weight seems to close the valve a bit more positively. But my Lee pot never drips...

[Lee]

Find a spring made with oil-tempered wire. It will look black, and most likely be slightly oily. The heat will affect it less, and it will last longer then the music wire spring you currently have. But the idea is a keeper! I'll have to try that on my drip-o-matic......Lee

[3006guns]

I've never owned a Lee, but have a suggestion. Use TWO lighter springs from the rod to the two existing rim screws. This will result in a "V" configuration, allowing you to top off the pot easier and use the factory screws....no need to drill.

[PeterB]

I did initially look on the solutions with the weighted and the spring loaded handle.

While constantly wiggling the stem with a screwdriver I realized that most of the times stem had fallen away, not bottoming the operating crank in the stem slot.
This caused the stem will contact the valve seat in different angles.
By putting the spring this way, the contact surface between the valve components will be more consistent.

:smile:Peter

[TAWILDCATT]

put the spring on the handle to base.the rod has a tendency to float.

[r6487]

Mine used to drip regularly. Then i read a post here where a member explained that the plunger stem tends to want to try and float a little when it is surrounded by all that (dense) melted lead(ie-gravity doesn't help as much in a full melted pot). He suggested taking a 10-12oz fishing weight (with the hole thru it for the fishing line) and simply adding it onto the plunger handle. I pick up all weights I find when scuba diving in saltwater and had a 12oz oval one that went on my pot that night. I rarely have drips anymore. If I do (rarely) it is usually a small bit of trash trying to come thru the nipple.