Cocked&Locked makes my Lee Challenger even better!!!

Proutfoo

Proutfoo

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So everybody knows that some people (even girlie-men like me) are somehow able to break the linkage on their Lee Challenger presses. People like to say that those linkage parts are made of "tin-pot metal"....and indeed they are :confused:

lee-links.jpg


So anyway, I posted this picture in a thread back in October or November ranting about how I broke my press :eek: , and a CGNer by the name of Cocked&Locked stepped up and told me he was a tool and die maker, and wanted a crack at making me links :dancingbanana:

So I mailed him the broken ones, and a couple months later and a few PM exchanges where we discussed measurements and function, this is what I get in the mail today :)

newlinks1.jpg

newlinks2.jpg


:cool: :cool: :cool: Indestructible links, courtesy of Cocked&Locked. Not only did he make me the links, he made me a new steel handle, and the other link that holds the links and ram together. Everything is threaded, even the nut holding the handle in the links :cool: :D Mega-awesome. Solid as a rock.

He says it is made out of "4140" (and I am clueless what that means), but he tells me it is pretty tough stuff ;) I have to agree ;)

Thanks man!!!

Now all I need is a .50BMG and some brass :D ;)
 
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magna1404 said:
Very nice!! Do you think he would like to make more??? Just in case mine brakes!!

Cheers

Magna1404
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well, the prototype was made for the cost of shipping....I think any additional ones will be at least 500$ :D

seriously though, this guy is really something. I sent him the original broken links, however the other part was done completely by measurements alone. He has no Lee press to try it on, so it was all done by technique. I am still really impressed!

The only drawback to the original is that the press does not completely bottom out as the links don't intersect as much as before...I have to turn the dies in an extra turn or turn and a half, but it is no big deal. It feels like a ROCK!
 
Proutfoo said:
He says it is made out of "4140" (and I am clueless what that means),
[...]
Now all I need is a .50BMG and some brass :D ;)
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It means that he had some lying around at work ;) it's a good steel, keep it oiled as it isn't stainless.

Regarding the 50BMG, sure, now you'll jump up and down on the arm and the linkage will be fine, but the press itself will split :p
 
That's the BOMB! C&L is a real sweetie for making that up for you. The work and materials put in there are not cheap considering it's a $40 press :)
 
Frigoman said:
40$ Press with 225$ linkage...good for life or untill the frame blows ;)
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:D :D :D is it really that expensive a material? Cocked&Locked did it as a project, but I am just staring at it admiring how well it works and looks :cool:

maybe he took pity on me :rolleyes:
 
I bet that linkage assembly could be redesigned and simplified quite a bit, possibly to the point where it could be made from steel flats, a drill press and some taps. Maybe even to the point where it would be viable to sell at a reasonable price
 
prosper said:
I bet that linkage assembly could be redesigned and simplified quite a bit, possibly to the point where it could be made from steel flats, a drill press and some taps. Maybe even to the point where it would be viable to sell at a reasonable price
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well the pot-metal was 8$ from Higgensons, I got some replacements. I shelved them now that I have this tho :p Lee offerred to send me new ones no charge when I mailed them the pic.

plus there is just something strangely cool about putting it together with an alen-wrench...
 
The arm that attaches the press to the handle could be made from 2 straight pieces of steel like the Classic cast linkage. It doesn't need to be one piece...
leecc.jpg
 
That's pretty cool and very nice of C&L to make that for you. Now people are going to have linkage envy.
 
[QUOTEmaybe he took pity on me][/QUOTE]

no way thats pity.......thats the way most CGNer are.....good to hear of a story were someone goes out there way to help another out..
cocked and locked.......you the man .....cheers to you:)
 
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