Help! I've sprung a leak!

JohnFreeman

JohnFreeman

The bane of my existence
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Like many others I suppose, I started off with a small lee bottom pour. For the qty of bullets I make it's entirely adequate but.....

The damned thing leaks... sometimes a stream of drops, other times just a fairly regular drip. The drip is not a big deal but it splatters hot lead when it hits.

so.... a couple questions

Is this typical of all bottom pour pots?

If not, is there a way to fix the Lee ?

Thanks
John

PS: The leak is at the pour valve/spout
 
You probably have trash caught in the valve, but take the advice of Grits and pick up a ladle just to be on the safe side. Think of it as an insurance policy.
 
Thanks all.... The needle and seat description sounds likely as it worked flawlessly when I first got it. I'll heat that dude up and clean out the needle and seat once the pot is empty

The only good thing about lead runaways is that it's all recycleable.
 
So far I just run the adjuster back and forth and it usually stops. Occassionally it takes more than one try.

Might have to do it twice in a casting session.

Oh and just dropping the handle to stop flow, if I push it down it leaks, guess it doesn't center right.
 
Use a screwdriver in the slot on top of the valve rod. A couple of quick, small turns while pushing down usually crushes whatever is fouling the needle. That'll let you finish out the pot so you can clean it.

Make sure you don't let the screwdriver slip. You could dunk your hand in the hot lead.
 
I run 2 Lee 20lbs pots at the same time. I push a small paperclip up the spout...that usually clears the debri. Have on heavy gloves though...cause it briefly streams a small amount on the finger holding the paperclip.
 
Thanks gentleman, I'll give it a go...
 
Lee bottom pour pot AKA The Drip-o-matic. Just drained and cleaned the valve and rod on mine. Me and Reloader762 fired it up today for the first time since the cleanout. Made it about two hours before it started dripping again. At least it's just a slow drip now...
 
+1 on the screwdriver method. Works all the time for me.

You're getting trash in that valve and the twisting motion helps to clear it. If it's really dripping, and the the twist doesn't help, I use a small wire bent in an "L" shape to poke back up through the nozzle to help clear it. Between the two, I don't have much problem with any of the 3 Lee pots I'm using.
 
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