Titan ReloadingLee PrecisionLoad DataWideners
MidSouth Shooters SupplyRepackboxReloading EverythingRotoMetals2
Inline Fabrication
Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: LEE 10 Pound Pot Valve Problem

  1. #1
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624

    LEE 10 Pound Pot Valve Problem

    A buddy bought an old LEE 10 pound pot with a leaking valve for me to repair.
    The stem was a hemisphere instead of square on the end.
    I reworked the end of the the valve stem but it is still leaking.

    I think that the seat needs to be recut.
    The seat could be flat or a taper.
    Does anyone know if the profile of the seat?

  2. #2
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    I would lap the inside of the spout (seat) with the Valve rod.

    Here is what a new valve rod looks like.
    https://leeprecision.com/valve-rod-complete.html

    Also, It might be best to just order a new pot liner and valve rod, if you haven't got these parts from Lee in the past, there will likely be no charge for the parts, just ship fees.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Thanks!
    I will have to remachine the valve stem to hemispherical!
    I can make a longer copy of the valve stem so that I can use a drill to do the lapping.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

    imashooter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    7,899
    You really need to use the valve rod to lap so that the surfaces mate. You could tack a smaller rod on the end of the valve rod temporarily to facilitate use of a smaller drill.

    After cleaning and lapping, a bit more weight added to the end of the actuator handle helps with the drip too. But it is unlikely you will ever stop the dripping completely with that design.
    ”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn

    My Straight Shooters thread:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter

    The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks

  5. #5
    Boolit Master Rapier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    NW Florida
    Posts
    1,449
    Toss the Lee and get an RCBS Pro Melt, never look back. Been that route.
    “There is a remedy for all things, save death.“
    Cervantes

    “Never give up, never quit.”
    Robert Rogers
    Roger’s Rangers

    There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
    Will Rogers

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    NH
    Posts
    3,783
    Sure add a few hundred bucks. Fix it

    10 pound pots parts appear to be gone. Choice is lap the valve you have cost some grinding compound. Most that can happen is it won't work.

    If I was to buy a new pot it would be the Lee 20 pounder. My 10-pounder bought in 1978 I changed the pot and got a spare hear and control 4-5 years ago due to skewing the pot up with magnaflux from Brownell's never will i use that garbage again
    Last edited by Geezer in NH; 09-23-2022 at 04:52 PM. Reason: #Dislexic

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ala.
    Posts
    1,190
    I had the same problem with my Lee pot. I threw it in the garbage and began ladle casting. Got a plumbers pot, fish cooker, side pour ladle, cheap set up much less frustrating, easier to cast good boolits. That was years ago.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    JoeJames's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Arkansas Delta
    Posts
    1,468
    My 10 pound pot plugged up big time, so I pulled the whole assembly and use it as a melter with a lade. Problem solved.
    Britons shall never be slaves.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Jim22's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Eastern Washington
    Posts
    590
    Some good points here. In my case I use a dental pick to unclog the valve when it gets plugged. This happens every time you drain the alloy from the pot to use something else. The dross seeemsto cause the trouble. Right now the valve releases lead fine but at an angle so there is a bit of guesswork figuring where to align the sprue plate.

    It's a problem in the design as has been mentioned.

    Jim

  10. #10
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Update!
    The seat has a large gap in it!
    It looks like a C instead of an O!
    I will tell my friend about plugging the spout and using it as a ladle pour pot!

  11. #11
    Boolit Master

    pworley1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Mississippi
    Posts
    3,252
    The drip is a built in feature to let you know when they are up to casting temp.
    NRA Benefactor Member NRA Golden Eagle

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

    imashooter2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    PA
    Posts
    7,899
    26 bucks gets you a new liner and valve rod. Seems like a pretty reasonable price.

    https://leeprecision.com/parts/bulle...-pot-iv-parts/
    ”We know they are lying, they know they are lying, they know we know they are lying, we know they know we know they are lying, yet they are still lying.” –Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn

    My Straight Shooters thread:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-shooter

    The Pewter Pictures and Hallmarks thread:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-and-hallmarks

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy Sam Sackett's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Shippensburg, PA
    Posts
    366
    Titan reloading has the parts available. $20 for the pot with spout and $6 for the stem.


    Sam Sackett

  14. #14
    Moderator Emeritus


    JonB_in_Glencoe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Land of 10,000 Lakes
    Posts
    15,832
    Quote Originally Posted by imashooter2 View Post
    26 bucks gets you a new liner and valve rod. Seems like a pretty reasonable price.

    https://leeprecision.com/parts/bulle...-pot-iv-parts/
    Quote Originally Posted by Sam Sackett View Post
    Titan reloading has the parts available. $20 for the pot with spout and $6 for the stem.


    Sam Sackett
    The parts will be free from Lee, if you haven't ordered them before, but there will be shipping.
    https://support.leeprecision.net/en/...t-parts-repair
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”
    ― The Dalai Lama, Seattle Times, May 2001

  15. #15
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    JonB thanks!

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy gunarea's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    North Central Florida
    Posts
    256
    Been using a Lee 10lb long enough to learn some things. Have given away RCBS, SAECO and LYMAN furnaces. There are some hacks and user tips which make this humble tool effective.Click image for larger version. 

Name:	gun stuff 008.jpg 
Views:	30 
Size:	60.5 KB 
ID:	303845 First and foremost! Clean alloy! Nearly all the complaints about the drip-O-matic go right back to the operator. It is a poor musician that blames the insturment. However, there is a small design flaw that can be addressed. Unlike most furnances, the control rod does not contact the seat in a perpindicular angle. Puting a slight bend, in the correct orientation, is relatively easy and makes a big difference. The picture shows a new and a modified valve stem. Click image for larger version. 

Name:	gun stuff 009.jpg 
Views:	40 
Size:	43.2 KB 
ID:	303844 It is also necessary to lap in the valve and seat prior to bending. My experience with this tool is extensive, empirical and successful. There is more guidance upon request. Good skill to you.
    Roy
    Shoot often, Shoot well.

  17. #17
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    3,624
    Quote Originally Posted by JonB_in_Glencoe View Post
    The parts will be free from Lee, if you haven't ordered them before, but there will be shipping.
    https://support.leeprecision.net/en/...t-parts-repair
    My free pot liner is on its way! thanks for the info!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check