the damn lead pot spout is plugged!!!!

19 November 2009, 07:36

tasco 74

ok i have lee production pot to cast bullets with.... i got it goin and have about 4 lbs of good lead in it fluxed and ready to go but the thing won't pour........... i took a wire a dug at it for awhile but it won't come...... any good tricks to get it to flow?? damn i'm pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for any suggestions......... jjb

LIFE IS SHORT.....

19 November 2009, 08:09

bfrshooter

A ladle is the answer!

19 November 2009, 08:26

mstarling

Hi the nozzle with a propane torch to get it warmer. Open the valve and wire it ... WEAR LONG HEAVY GLOVES!

Lead burns are painful ;(

20 November 2009, 06:18

carpetman1

Roto Rooter?

20 November 2009, 07:48

N E 450 No2

quote:
Originally posted by mstarling:
Hi the nozzle with a propane torch to get it warmer. Open the valve and wire it ... WEAR LONG HEAVY GLOVES!

Lead burns are painful ;(

What He said.
Plug in the pot for a while and see if it "thaws" it self out. If not
use the torch.

Go easy on the torch.
Go easy with the torch

20 November 2009, 17:48

arkypete

The least expensive, to your emotional well being is buy a Lyman or RCBS pot.
Lee pots are junk.

Jim

20 November 2009, 19:47

Peter

As above, but I also attacked it from the "end" using a nail, held by vice grips and a glove.
Peter.

21 November 2009, 03:55

Paul H

quote:
Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
quote:
Originally posted by mstarling:
Hi the nozzle with a propane torch to get it warmer. Open the valve and wire it ... WEAR LONG HEAVY GLOVES!

Lead burns are painful ;(

What He said.
Plug in the pot for a while and see if it "thaws" it self out. If not
use the torch.

Go easy on the torch.
Go easy with the torch

Yup, that always did the trick for me.

The problem I usually had with the Lee pot was the thing would piddle lead out of the spout when it wasn't supposed to be flowing.

21 November 2009, 10:04

tasco 74

quote:
Originally posted by tasco 74:
the thing was hot enough it sould have flowed it was going ot...... i always keep an ingot pan under the piddleing spout...... i'll try it again in a couple of days ........ goin to be busy for a bit........ when i get thing going i uaually keep on casting as long is i can... these look like they might fun to make.... look like 12 gauge air rifle pellets!!

thanks again guys.........

LIFE IS SHORT.....

19 January 2010, 08:57

GSSP

Bend a paper clip so you can insert it "up" the sprout from the bottom. Get it hot too. I turn my thermostat to max and let it get really hot.

Once you get it unplugged, drain the whole pot, cool it off and really clean out the pot. Removed the two screws on the top/back and remove the metal plug to get the accumlated crud/lead off the tip of the plug. Repeat as necessary. I have!

Alan

19 January 2010, 16:30

Lloyd Smale

take a propane torch and heat the nozzle and then try the pick in it.

19 January 2010, 17:54

James Kain

quote:
Originally posted by arkypete:
The least expensive, to your emotional well being is buy a Lyman or RCBS pot.
Lee pots are junk.

Jim

quote:

Peter
Posted 20 November 2009 19:47
As above, but I also attacked it from the "end" using a nail, held by vice grips and a glove.
Peter.

I agree with both these guys!
I have one of them pos's and when ever it got plugged I would use a finishing nail and a pair of pliers. I would crank it to max and lift the plunger and then jam the finishing nail in and wiggle it around and bounce it up and down. Really get into it and inshore its clean.

quote:

GSSP
Posted 19 January 2010 08:57
Bend a paper clip so you can insert it "up" the sprout from the bottom. Get it hot too. I turn my thermostat to max and let it get really hot.

Once you get it unplugged, drain the whole pot, cool it off and really clean out the pot. Removed the two screws on the top/back and remove the metal plug to get the accumlated crud/lead off the tip of the plug. Repeat as necessary. I have!

Alan

Know anyone with a sand blaster? That should help you out allot! Save you a shit ton of time!

Personally I got fed up with the lee pot's and what I ended up doing was buying a propane camp heater, hooked up to a 20lbs tank, and bought a iron melting pot and a ladle. I found it easier and faster to do my bullets. Saved me a lot of cash on the power bill too! Much cheaper to run the propane!

And remember do not jam anything cold into the pot! BOOOOM!! I sill have marks from a mistake last winter. (-45*F in a unheated shop!) This year has yet to get that cold again!

19 January 2010, 19:06

MT Gianni

A bbq lighter or long nose lighter is enough heat to melt things.

20 January 2010, 00:18

Jerry Liles

I use a Lee pot for ladle casting and it works very well, at least as good as a much more expensive Lyman or RCBS. The Lee bottom pour pots are noted as dribbler but, if the melt is kept clean and is run hot enough it will function quite reliably. Fixes for the dribbles include extra weight on the valve rod or using a spring to provide extra downward force on the rod to help it seal. There have been interminable discussions of Lee pots on the Cast Boolet site that should prove helpful. By the way all bottom pour pots run much better full than almost empty and 4lbs of melt is almost empty.

my 2 cents

Jerry Liles