Question For LEE 4-20 Pot Owners!

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Admittedly, I own an RCBS Pro Pot, but was thinking of buying a used/orphan LEE 4-20 to maybe rebuild and have.

One thing I enjoy with my RCBS Pot is that it has a bolt that can be screwed up or down to regulate the flow of the lead coming from the spout by limiting the lift on the rod handle.

This is handy and done on the fly while casting as the pressure in the Pot changes with the level of lead.

All that to ask how is the flow regulated on the LEE and is it possible to regulate like the RCBS???

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

It does not move the rod at all. It simply limits its travel.

YES it is certainly worth while!! Either for a a Spare ir for different alloy. I run three pots for just this reason. One is for 20:1 and my lil 10# lee is used for pure. My Lyman is my main pot and used most often.

CW

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
So, how is the flow regulated on the LEE???

 

[Reloader762]

The valve rod, which is attached to the valve arm assembly, is threaded and can adjust the flow accordingly. I've had one of the Lee 4-20 pot for the past fifteen years and recently replace the valve rod and spout. The parts I got from lee for shipping charges about $10 and took me about thirty min. to replace.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Thanks for the pic!

But, can the adjustment be made "on the fly", or do you have to stop everything, get wrench, ect. to adjust it???

Is the "adjust" for the rod just how high you raise the handle and something you have regulate yourself as you pour???

Thanks again!

 

[Reloader762]

You can make the adjustment on the fly, all you need is a screwdriver. The handle travels the same amount regardless of how you adjust the valve rod.

https://leeprecision.com/files/instruct/EL3469.pdf

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Thanks, ok, NOW I get it.

The adjust is with part# EL3444 #6 Shoulder Bolt.

That adjusts the "lift" of the Rod Assembly.

I guess, a worth while upgrade, would be that bolt, with a knurled knob attached, so you could adjust while casting, without having to really stop?

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
I needed to understand this, so I did not buy something that at the end of the day was going to drive me crazy, not being to adjust the flow quickly and easily!

 

[Reloader762]

Actually, the adjustment part is #EL3427 Valve Rod. The Shoulder bolts top and bottom only hold the Valve Arm Assembly in place. Honestly, I hardly ever make any adjustments to the valve rod, it's just not something I really have to mess with for the majority of my casting.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Its a simple enough operating unit.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Yes, I see that but think my idea, would work better and faster?

The flow HAS to slow as the Pot gets more empty...

Of course that also depends on how low you want to let the level drop in one session and why people have 2 pots instead of one.

I do not go for Marathon Casting Sessions so flow adjust is important to me.

Thanks for the help and patience!!!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ooh absolutely flo can be very important! Lil 45g 22 pills are a WORLD different then a 500g 45!

 

[JonB]

I'm thinking the new Lee's (as shown above) have no flow adjustment.
The old style Lee's have a adjustment screw right by the #EL3427 Valve Rod, that actually lifts or lowers the valve rod.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
I do not know what the thread size is, but if you got a bolt to go where that #6 shoulder bolt is and have it protrude up through the rod assembly.

Then you could get a knurled knob and use that to regulate how far the rod/rod assembly is allowed to raise and thus regulate flow during use.

SHOULD be easy to do depending on the thread needed and knurling knobs available.

I have a lathe so easy for me but thinking of people limited to ACE Hardware???

 

[Jeff H]

Ooh absolutely flo can be very important! Lil 45g 22 pills are a WORLD different then a 500g 45!

BIG difference!

I'm thinking about bending the wire that works as a stop on my LEE 10# pots to limit how far the valve can open. Wore the orifices to the point of excessive enlargement over the course of thirty years' cleaning.

What I really should do is replace them with a couple LEE 20# pots, but ity's so hard to abandon something that still works, albeit with a little extra attention reuquired to make it work WELL.

 

[Jeff H]

.........I have a lathe so easy for me but thinking of people limited to ACE Hardware???

Very cool of you to think that way about your casting brothers. Thank you.

 

[JonB]

Here is a closeup image of my spare Lee 4-20
I do know a few casters that have replaced that adjustment screw with a threaded "dealybob" to allow easy hand adjustment on the fly. But, myself, I find a handy screwdriver works fine. a screwdriver is also used to turn the valve, which seems to clean it, on the fly.

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
Well, somebody beat me to it and added a weak spring which is not a bad idea.

Keeps down pressure on the rod into the spout!

 

[JonB]

BIG difference!

I'm thinking about bending the wire that works as a stop on my LEE 10# pots to limit how far the valve can open. Wore the orifices to the point of excessive enlargement over the course of thirty years' cleaning.

What I really should do is replace them with a couple LEE 20# pots, but ity's so hard to abandon something that still works, albeit with a little extra attention reuquired to make it work WELL.

I had a 10# Lee pot for a while. I hated that were wasn't an easy adjustment of the flow...but I never really gave much thought about a mod to make it adjustable, because I also wasn't happy with the 10#...I wanted 20#.

 

[JonB]

Hi,
Well, somebody beat me to it and added a weak spring which is not a bad idea.

Keeps down pressure on the rod into the spout!
View attachment 25508

The valve rod is threaded? HUH!
so that's where the adjustment is done, not on the big springy thingy.