Disasembling Lee FL sizing die

[09cs]

I was FL sizing some 308 brass, and noticed a lot of scratch marks on the brass coming out of the die, and am thinking it's dirty. I tried undoing to top screw on top of the die but for the life of me can't get it to budge! Any tips?

[BigBronco]

Lock the die in to the press first. Then loosen the top.end. put something in the jaws of the pliers to keep from marring the die.

[09cs]

Lock the die in to the press first. Then loosen the top.end. put something in the jaws of the pliers to keep from marring the die.

Tried that, locked it into place, even raised the handle and it would just loosen the entire die.

I've never taken them apart before, so not sure if Lee uses Lock Tite or something?

[klewan]

A big a%s vice to put the die in, you need soft jaws or make a barrel holding tool out of a chunk of hardwood. Then with it secured, put a 3/4" wrench on the machined flats on the top of the die body and a 1/2" socket on some kind of long ratchet or breaker bar. Start tugging, it'll break lose.

You can also grab the wrench flats in the vise jaws, the die needs to be pointed into the jaws so you can use the 1/2" socket on an extension to get to the nut on top. Understand? The die is going to be parallel to the bench top. You really need some leverage on the top nut; at least a foot long ratchet or bar...

[BigBronco]

Where are you located? I could help you need a new die. Well perhaps I would not destroy it.

[09cs]

Where are you located? I could help you need a new die. Well perhaps I would not destroy it.

I'm in Santa Monica area part time, and the Thousand Oaks/Agoura the other part


I tried using two pairs of pliers (one holding the die body, the other trying to loosen the top screw) using a cloth to not screw up the metal.

[09cs]

UPDATE:

Got it loosened, cleaned it out, it was pretty dirty so hopefully that helps.

Tried resizing a case, and saw the stem to start going down the die and I raised the ram, guess I didn't tighten it enough. Tightened it as much as I could, so lets see if that fixes it!

[varanidguy]

What I did is took a 3/4" wrench and placed the die in accordingly. Then I locked the wrench into my vise with the die in the wrench. I hold the die with one hand in the stabalized wrench, then I take a 1/2" socket and use that to unscrew the cap with the decapping pin. It allows me to get a lot of torque on it without risking destroying my tools or the die for loosening and tightening.

[klewan]

What I did is took a 3/4" wrench and placed the die in accordingly. Then I locked the wrench into my vise with the die in the wrench. I hold the die with one hand in the stabalized wrench, then I take a 1/2" socket and use that to unscrew the cap with the decapping pin. It allows me to get a lot of torque on it without risking destroying my tools or the die for loosening and tightening.

That's a good way of doing it; soft jaws to protect the wrench?

[09cs]

What I did is took a 3/4" wrench and placed the die in accordingly. Then I locked the wrench into my vise with the die in the wrench. I hold the die with one hand in the stabalized wrench, then I take a 1/2" socket and use that to unscrew the cap with the decapping pin. It allows me to get a lot of torque on it without risking destroying my tools or the die for loosening and tightening.

I'll try that next time! thanks

[varanidguy]

That's a good way of doing it; soft jaws to protect the wrench?

I suppose you could. My vise jaws have grooves in them that fit the wrench perfectly, didn't mar it at all.

[Rusty Scabbard]

I was FL sizing some 308 brass, and noticed a lot of scratch marks on the brass coming out of the die, and am thinking it's dirty. I tried undoing to top screw on top of the die but for the life of me can't get it to budge! Any tips?

The decapper/throat sizing plug needs to be really tight on Lee dies. Use wrenches that are big enough. The smaller one (1/2") for the gripping nut should be a 6 point socket or box wrench, which is much less likely to round corners off the nut like an adjustable wrench or 12 pt. I thought I was going to strip the threads off the nut the last time I finally got mine tight enough to stop pulling the pin down on the downstroke.
Order a spare decapper rod and a nut from LEE- cheap enough and its nice to have onhand. I hate getting all set up, and having to quit for a $4 part.