Lee Turret Press Lube Help

DHAWK · September 24, 2011, 08:33 PM

I have just seet up a Lee Turrett press. Does the ram need to be lubed? the manual does not address that. Also, I read on previous posts that white lithium grease is recommended for the turrett. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie.

m&p45acp10+1 · September 24, 2011, 08:45 PM

A bit of light grease would not hurt I am sure. I used food service grade white grease on the ram of my Breech Lock Challenger, and it has held up for a year with no problems. If in doubt call Lee's Customer support. I am sure they will give you an awnser.

overkill0084 · September 25, 2011, 10:18 AM

On the ram I simply apply a few drops of synthetic motor oil and wipe off the excess.
I've found that motorcycle chain lube works well on the on the turret actuating rod (whatever it's real nomenclature is, I can't remember). It stays put rather nicely.

coptersteve · September 25, 2011, 11:00 AM

I've had my turret press for 2 years now. I clean and lube the ram every couple of hundred loads. I use a light oil like Gibbs. After decapping a lot of casings I'll clean it. I removed the rod that turns the turret, it works better for me to turn it by hand. Some powders do not meter consistently, so I run the turret by hand. I have never lubed the turret, probably never will. Just keep it clean... I don't want any oil or grease around that part of my press.

dickttx · September 25, 2011, 07:23 PM

I got my Classic Turret about nine months ago. The instructions said to use a light oil on the ram. I did that and it still has lube from that. It is much smoother working now. It was pretty rough when I first started using it.
I don't believe you are supposed to use any lube on the turret actuating rod as it only works in the little square plastic thingy. I have not used anything on any of my turrets.

This is what the Lee instructions say for the Classic Turret:

"Lubricate the ram and all pivot points with a lightweight
oil—gun, sewing machine or any weight motor
oil will work. Avoid water-displacing oils such as WD-
40. Coat bare metal parts with oil for storage like you
would any fine firearm."

azphx55 · September 25, 2011, 07:38 PM

You put ammo in it, so I treat it like a gun.

I clean and lube it with patches soaked in gun oil and even run bore snakes through the dies from time to time (no oil in the powder channel).

Jim243 · September 25, 2011, 07:41 PM

A couple drops of 3 in 1 oil on the ram is all I use, worked well for me for 7 years now, no problem.

Jim

Hook686 · September 25, 2011, 11:09 PM

Same here ... a couple drops 3-in-1 oil every few hundred round on the ram using a cleaning patch and a drop at the pivot points. Seems to work just fine for me.

Kyo · September 25, 2011, 11:10 PM

i spray mine with ballistol every once in a while and forget about it

twins · September 26, 2011, 06:29 AM

I've tried synthetic motor oil on the ram and it worked fine but attracted dirt quickly.

Then I tried the Lee Resizing Lubricant and it worked great. It dries quickly and doesn't seem to attract dirt or other grime at all. The RAM now moves smoothly.
http://leeprecision.com/xcart/RESIZE-LUBE.html

September 24, 2011, 08:33 PM	#1
DHAWK Junior Member Join Date: September 24, 2011 Posts: 1	Lee Turret Press Lube Help I have just seet up a Lee Turrett press. Does the ram need to be lubed? the manual does not address that. Also, I read on previous posts that white lithium grease is recommended for the turrett. Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance for helping a newbie.

September 24, 2011, 08:45 PM	#2
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	A bit of light grease would not hurt I am sure. I used food service grade white grease on the ram of my Breech Lock Challenger, and it has held up for a year with no problems. If in doubt call Lee's Customer support. I am sure they will give you an awnser. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

September 25, 2011, 10:18 AM	#3
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	On the ram I simply apply a few drops of synthetic motor oil and wipe off the excess. I've found that motorcycle chain lube works well on the on the turret actuating rod (whatever it's real nomenclature is, I can't remember). It stays put rather nicely. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

September 25, 2011, 11:00 AM	#4
coptersteve Member Join Date: January 30, 2010 Location: Eagle Point Oregon Posts: 27	Lee Turret Press I've had my turret press for 2 years now. I clean and lube the ram every couple of hundred loads. I use a light oil like Gibbs. After decapping a lot of casings I'll clean it. I removed the rod that turns the turret, it works better for me to turn it by hand. Some powders do not meter consistently, so I run the turret by hand. I have never lubed the turret, probably never will. Just keep it clean... I don't want any oil or grease around that part of my press.

September 25, 2011, 07:23 PM	#5
dickttx Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2011 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 500	I got my Classic Turret about nine months ago. The instructions said to use a light oil on the ram. I did that and it still has lube from that. It is much smoother working now. It was pretty rough when I first started using it. I don't believe you are supposed to use any lube on the turret actuating rod as it only works in the little square plastic thingy. I have not used anything on any of my turrets. This is what the Lee instructions say for the Classic Turret: "Lubricate the ram and all pivot points with a lightweight oil—gun, sewing machine or any weight motor oil will work. Avoid water-displacing oils such as WD- 40. Coat bare metal parts with oil for storage like you would any fine firearm." __________________ Education teaches you the rules, experience teaches you the exceptions (Plagiarized from Claude Clay) Last edited by dickttx; September 25, 2011 at 07:28 PM.

September 25, 2011, 07:38 PM	#6
azphx55 Member Join Date: September 7, 2010 Posts: 85	You put ammo in it, so I treat it like a gun. I clean and lube it with patches soaked in gun oil and even run bore snakes through the dies from time to time (no oil in the powder channel).

September 25, 2011, 07:41 PM	#7
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	A couple drops of 3 in 1 oil on the ram is all I use, worked well for me for 7 years now, no problem. Jim __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

September 25, 2011, 11:09 PM	#8
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	Same here ... a couple drops 3-in-1 oil every few hundred round on the ram using a cleaning patch and a drop at the pivot points. Seems to work just fine for me. __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides.

September 25, 2011, 11:10 PM	#9
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	i spray mine with ballistol every once in a while and forget about it __________________ 1. The gun is *always* loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger unless you are ready to shoot. 4. Be be sure of your target and what is beyond it.

September 26, 2011, 06:29 AM	#10
twins Senior Member Join Date: October 1, 2010 Posts: 393	I've tried synthetic motor oil on the ram and it worked fine but attracted dirt quickly. Then I tried the Lee Resizing Lubricant and it worked great. It dries quickly and doesn't seem to attract dirt or other grime at all. The RAM now moves smoothly. http://leeprecision.com/xcart/RESIZE-LUBE.html