Lee powder drum broke . . .

Prof Young · June 29, 2020, 08:15 PM

Bought this in August of 2017, so it almost made it three years. (Warranty is two years don't ya know.) I wore some of the plastic parts out and had to replace them. Don't have any idea how many thousands of loads I've run through it. You can see what broke in the pic below. Will order a replacement. Pic on line looks like Lee has made some "improvements." I'm assuming the riser from the old one will work with the new.

Life is good.

Prof Young

nhyrum · June 29, 2020, 08:21 PM

I loved my Lee powder drums so much I ended up with one per tool head.

I think one of the ways Lee is able to keep costs down is they don't have to roll in future replacements like others have to. It's reloaders are hard on everything just due to sheer number of cycles.

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mikejonestkd · June 29, 2020, 09:26 PM

Even though the warranty has expired it can't hurt to give Lee a call anyways. Explain that you love the autodrum measure, and that it broke under normal use. I would guess that they might replace the part for free.

nhyrum · June 29, 2020, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikejonestkd

Even though the warranty has expired it can't hurt to give Lee a call anyways. Explain that you love the autodrum measure, and that it broke under normal use. I would guess that they might replace the part for free.

Lee doesn't really have the same Warranty as others, mostly because the profit margin they have vs others. But, the worst they can do is say you have to buy a new one and pay for shipping. I wouldn't be surprised if they offered a discount. But wouldn't be totally agast if they sent one free. They're decent folk. Can't hurt to all

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sparkyv · June 29, 2020, 10:04 PM

I agree, call Lee.

Prof Young · June 30, 2020, 02:27 PM

Lee's stated warranty is two years for full repair or replacement. After two years you may send your broken item, so long as it is in current production, to them for repair at half the price of a new one.

Well, midway has the powder rum on sale for $30 something bucks so I just ordered one from them.

Calling Lee may be worth the while too.

Life is good.
Prof Young

Marco Califo · June 30, 2020, 08:05 PM

This place seems to stock every Lee part imaginable. But you would be buying the part. I found them very reasonable when I needed FART gaskets.
http://fsreloading.com/

Prof Young · June 30, 2020, 08:35 PM

Marco - Thanks for the info. They had the part for only 12 bucks. May get one and fix the old instrument.

Life is good.
Prof Young

pete2 · July 1, 2020, 10:42 AM

There is a reason Lee is cheaper.

nhyrum · July 1, 2020, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete2

There is a reason Lee is cheaper.

Yes. They don't roll in the price of two replacements into the cost of one.

Think of how many times you hear people say "I called up company x(usually green...) And they just sent me a whole new one! " That replacement isn't free. You're actually buying two or three when you buy just one, even if you don't use it.

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jaguarxk120 · July 1, 2020, 12:52 PM

I've purchased used green equipment at estate sales. Sometimes missing small parts, the green company has always stood behind their product
with NO questions asked.

You get what you pay for.

nhyrum · July 1, 2020, 02:09 PM

Right. Because when they first were bought, they paid for all the replacements. Those aren't free to them. That cost had to be covered somehow, so it's rolled into the purchase price. It's simple economics.

I like how Tommy boy explains guarantees.

Here's another way to look at it. Let's pretend there's two companies that sell the same widget. Trying to decide which to buy, you ask about them. You get an equal number of responses for both. The consensus for company a's customer service is, everyone has had to contact them, but they all got replacement parts for free. Company b, on the other have, a very small percentage have even had to deal with their customer service, but there's the same response of free replacements with a smile. Long story short, I'd rather buy from a company that people don't know what the customer service is like, because that means nobody has had an issue (never happens, but you get the point) than a company that EVERYONE has had to contact them, multiple times.

If you had to contact a car manufacturer as often at people talk to certain reloading companies, everyone would be pissed.

I don't but guaranteed pieces of crap.

I'll wager there's just as much Lee equipment out there as green. And I bet if you asked for a show of hands, how many people have had to contact either company, I've got a good idea who gets contacted more. And not because people don't even try because Lee is just easier to buy another.

Anyway, I'll leave it at that, don't mean to stir the pot.

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Marco Califo · July 1, 2020, 03:25 PM

Sounds like a lot of off-topic sour grapes from Lee haters. I do not think that was what OP asked for.

JKP · July 1, 2020, 09:01 PM

When mine broke, I decided by the time I paid shipping to send it back for a 1/2 price replacement, I just bought a new one on ebay.

**Aguila Blanca** · July 1, 2020, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco Califo

Sounds like a lot of off-topic sour grapes from Lee haters. I do not think that was what OP asked for.

Actually, the OP didn't ask for anything at all.

pete2 · July 1, 2020, 11:26 PM

Pretty sure my Uniflo will never break. Unlike my Lee priming tool and my Lee lead casting pot. Lee does make nice scoops that hold up. i actually like the priming tool, have 2, first one broke so i decided to have a spare. They also wear out, made of pot metal os make sure you keep the linkage greased.

TruthTellers · July 2, 2020, 01:53 AM

Castings can have voids that as stresses are repeatedly put on them will cause them to break eventually, but not all castings will have voids that cause failure. It's not a guarantee the case body of this Lee measure is going to break, it's just more likely to compared to a steel forging from "green" or other company.

The benefit of the Lee vs the other more expensive powder measures is you can buy one for each head you have for a progressive or LCT turret and spend much less money, plus have multiple drums set up for different powder charges or powders.

TruthTellers · July 2, 2020, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete2

Pretty sure my Uniflo will never break. Unlike my Lee priming tool and my Lee lead casting pot. Lee does make nice scoops that hold up. i actually like the priming tool, have 2, first one broke so i decided to have a spare. They also wear out, made of pot metal os make sure you keep the linkage greased.

The Lee pots are the best value for any caster. Sure, the heating elements go after a while, but those are a $20 part and 30 minutes of work to replace to get an $80 tool back up and running. They are so cheap and so good that it put RCBS and Lyman out of the market for bottom pour pots. I don't see the value to spending $250 or $300 on a tool that does the same thing as an $80 tool that needs occasional service to replace a $20 part.

hounddawg · July 2, 2020, 08:41 AM

I prefer Lee Classic Turret over any press on the market for light to medium duty reloading. I keep a RCBS under the bench in the event I ever need any heavy duty case sizing or wildcatting but for anything up to a .308 Win the Lee is just fine.

I am getting ready to try some benchrest shooting and I would bet a six pack of adult beverage I will be the only person on the line using a Lee. I have a Lee single stage set up for range loading

**Unclenick** · July 2, 2020, 09:44 AM

Wow. Talk a bout a thread going OT, fast!

June 29, 2020, 09:26 PM	#3
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,760	Even though the warranty has expired it can't hurt to give Lee a call anyways. Explain that you love the autodrum measure, and that it broke under normal use. I would guess that they might replace the part for free. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

June 29, 2020, 10:04 PM	#5
sparkyv Senior Member Join Date: May 2, 2015 Location: Deepinnaheartta,Texas Posts: 326	I agree, call Lee. __________________ μολὼν λαβέ NRA Life Member

June 30, 2020, 02:27 PM	#6
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,514	Stated Warranty says . . . Lee's stated warranty is two years for full repair or replacement. After two years you may send your broken item, so long as it is in current production, to them for repair at half the price of a new one. Well, midway has the powder rum on sale for $30 something bucks so I just ordered one from them. Calling Lee may be worth the while too. Life is good. Prof Young

June 30, 2020, 08:05 PM	#7
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,722	This place seems to stock every Lee part imaginable. But you would be buying the part. I found them very reasonable when I needed FART gaskets. http://fsreloading.com/ __________________ ............ Last edited by Marco Califo; June 30, 2020 at 08:16 PM.

June 30, 2020, 08:35 PM	#8
Prof Young Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2007 Location: Illinois - down state Posts: 2,514	They have he part . . . Marco - Thanks for the info. They had the part for only 12 bucks. May get one and fix the old instrument. Life is good. Prof Young

June 29, 2020, 08:21 PM	#2
nhyrum Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2016 Posts: 598	I loved my Lee powder drums so much I ended up with one per tool head. I think one of the ways Lee is able to keep costs down is they don't have to roll in future replacements like others have to. It's reloaders are hard on everything just due to sheer number of cycles. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

July 1, 2020, 10:42 AM	#9
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,610	There is a reason Lee is cheaper.

July 1, 2020, 12:52 PM	#11
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,626	I've purchased used green equipment at estate sales. Sometimes missing small parts, the green company has always stood behind their product with NO questions asked. You get what you pay for.

July 1, 2020, 02:09 PM	#12
nhyrum Senior Member Join Date: March 10, 2016 Posts: 598	Right. Because when they first were bought, they paid for all the replacements. Those aren't free to them. That cost had to be covered somehow, so it's rolled into the purchase price. It's simple economics. I like how Tommy boy explains guarantees. Here's another way to look at it. Let's pretend there's two companies that sell the same widget. Trying to decide which to buy, you ask about them. You get an equal number of responses for both. The consensus for company a's customer service is, everyone has had to contact them, but they all got replacement parts for free. Company b, on the other have, a very small percentage have even had to deal with their customer service, but there's the same response of free replacements with a smile. Long story short, I'd rather buy from a company that people don't know what the customer service is like, because that means nobody has had an issue (never happens, but you get the point) than a company that EVERYONE has had to contact them, multiple times. If you had to contact a car manufacturer as often at people talk to certain reloading companies, everyone would be pissed. I don't but guaranteed pieces of crap. I'll wager there's just as much Lee equipment out there as green. And I bet if you asked for a show of hands, how many people have had to contact either company, I've got a good idea who gets contacted more. And not because people don't even try because Lee is just easier to buy another. Anyway, I'll leave it at that, don't mean to stir the pot. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

July 1, 2020, 03:25 PM	#13
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,722	Sounds like a lot of off-topic sour grapes from Lee haters. I do not think that was what OP asked for. __________________ ............

July 1, 2020, 09:01 PM	#14
JKP Member Join Date: May 3, 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 98	When mine broke, I decided by the time I paid shipping to send it back for a 1/2 price replacement, I just bought a new one on ebay.

July 1, 2020, 11:26 PM	#16
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,610	Pretty sure my Uniflo will never break. Unlike my Lee priming tool and my Lee lead casting pot. Lee does make nice scoops that hold up. i actually like the priming tool, have 2, first one broke so i decided to have a spare. They also wear out, made of pot metal os make sure you keep the linkage greased.

July 2, 2020, 01:53 AM	#17
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,962	Castings can have voids that as stresses are repeatedly put on them will cause them to break eventually, but not all castings will have voids that cause failure. It's not a guarantee the case body of this Lee measure is going to break, it's just more likely to compared to a steel forging from "green" or other company. The benefit of the Lee vs the other more expensive powder measures is you can buy one for each head you have for a progressive or LCT turret and spend much less money, plus have multiple drums set up for different powder charges or powders. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

July 2, 2020, 08:41 AM	#19
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I prefer Lee Classic Turret over any press on the market for light to medium duty reloading. I keep a RCBS under the bench in the event I ever need any heavy duty case sizing or wildcatting but for anything up to a .308 Win the Lee is just fine. I am getting ready to try some benchrest shooting and I would bet a six pack of adult beverage I will be the only person on the line using a Lee. I have a Lee single stage set up for range loading __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

July 2, 2020, 09:44 AM	#20
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,743	Wow. Talk a bout a thread going OT, fast! __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle