lee pro 4 bolt stripped.

[elginrunner]

My shoulder bolt that retains the valve arm on my Pro 4 is stripped out. I've used this pot for about ten years, and it has done a pretty good job.... i was thinking I could just JB weld the area where the screw gets purchase, but the JB weld is only rated for 500 degrees.... ( i will prob try it anyway ) Does anyone have a good idea how to fix this?

[Rockindaddy]

I have one of those Lee pots. Could you tap out the hole and install a larger bolt? Too hot for JB weld!

[ShooterAZ]

I had to do something similar to this with my old LEE pot, I disassembled it and lightly peened the screw races.

[Sam Sackett]

Check out the Lee website. There is a section for “Parts”. Poke around and you’ll find a bunch of parts for your pot. They are listed with a cost, but once you place them in your shopping cart the price goes to zero. You will be charged shipping only. You should be able to totally rebuild your pot.

Or at least that was the case a while back. I haven’t needed any parts lately.

https://leeprecision.com/parts-bulle...o-4-20lb-parts

Sam Sackett

[HATCH]

Nutsert

Drill it bigger and put a nutsert in it


Example - Rivet Nut, LOKMAN 50 Pieces 3/8-16UNC Carbon Steel Flat Head Rivnut Threaded Insert Nut, Knurled Body (3/8''-16) https://a.co/d/1ZdeX0c

That isn’t the correct part but just a link to what I am talking about

Charles

[elginrunner]

the problem with just going to a bigger screw thread size, it it has a long shoulder where the valve arm rides up and down. This screw limits the overall travel of the valve....it's not a machine screw thread, it's like a self tapper thread, kinda like a wood screw....

[elginrunner]

I had to do something similar to this with my old LEE pot, I disassembled it and lightly peened the screw races.

I will likely try this....

[45DUDE]

I have used copper wire for thread repair.

[cwlongshot]

Tack weld on top. File cut if need to remove. Wont take but a tiny weld. Might braze as well.

[elginrunner]

ShooterAZ had the right idea.... it worked just fine... it's a bad design, but for the money, I guess I shouldn't expect much these days.... Anyway i got to cast again today!!

[slim1836]

I have used copper wire for thread repair.

I did the same thing, works well.

Slim

[Winger Ed.]

An old trick the muffler shop guys do when a bracket bolt is stripped,
but doesn't really have to carry much weight or stress is to take the bolt out, put a little piece or two
of wire in it, and put the bolt back in.

It doesn't fix anything, but it pushes the bolt to one side where it can (maybe) get a better grip on the threads.
It may not be a fix for ya, but it's pretty cheap to try it.

[ShooterAZ]

ShooterAZ had the right idea.... it worked just fine... it's a bad design, but for the money, I guess I shouldn't expect much these days.... Anyway i got to cast again today!!

I'm glad it worked for you, and you were able to do some casting. After I had to do this at least couple of times with my old LEE pot, I broke down and bought a RCBS Pro Melt.

[rsrocket1]

Here's a decent idea:
https://support.leeprecision.net/en/...e-arm-assembly

The brass eyelet allows free movement of the arm so you don't need the shoulder bolt.

Ideally, you would replace the sheet metal screw with a long machine screw and use 2 nuts on either side of the pot lid to lock it down.

Fortunately my 4-20 is still holding up after 15 years and nearly a ton of lead going through it.