Lee Challenger Press cracked

spenom

spenom

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Kamloops, B.C.
I was using my press to de-prime and neck size some .270 tonight and heard a funny noise. I checked the mounting bolts of my press but all was tight. I sized and deprimed another round and felt more flex than normal. I was only pushing down with around 25 pounds of pressure during the operations. Anyway, I guess you get what you pay for. I thought the Lee 50th aniversary reloading set was a good deal until tonight. This was a christmas present last year so I have no proof that it is within 2 years of purchase to be under warranty. Plus even if it was under warranty what is the shipping to send it back to the factory to get it fixed or replaced only to end up with the same breakable junk? Is there any reason I should not just get a buddy with a welder to lay a bead on the crack and call it good? Or should I just replace this press with a better one (open to suggestions).

brokepress.jpg


brokepress2.jpg
 
spenom said:
Plus even if it was under warranty what is the shipping to send it back to the factory to get it fixed or replaced only to end up with the same breakable junk? Is there any reason I should not just get a buddy with a welder to lay a bead on the crack and call it good? Or should I just replace this press with a better one (open to suggestions).
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Only one small part, I'd advise emailing the photo to Lee and I wouldn't be surprised if they'd mail up the replacement part free of charge. In the worst case, you'd have a fully functional Lee press that someone would be happy to take off your hands.
 
Call or Email Lee. Tell them when you got it. They should take your word and send you a new part.
 
I'd give Lee a chance to make it good.
E-mail tham that pic.
If they tell you that you're on your own,
then get your buddy to weld it.

Kinda crumby though, these things never happen
on the last one, always when you are just
getting started.
 
First I would contact them first then I would spend some extra $, send it to Lee if possible to exchange it for Lee Clasic Cast press made of cast iron, best value and the strongest press arround. Pay once, cry once....
 
I think that Lee reloading equipment is junk. You can't go wrong with a Rockchucker.
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I have seen a few broken Challenger presses over the years, but my Rockchucker is over 30 years old, and has seen a lot of use, and it has never given me any issues.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have seen a few broken Challenger presses over the years, but my Rockchucker is over 30 years old, and has seen a lot of use, and it has never given me any issues.
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I generally go with Redding reloading equipment, but when it comes to presses, I prefer the RCBS Rockerchucker over any Redding press.
 
How does the RCBC Rockchucker stack up against the clasic cast press? I like how lee presses catch the de-primed primers in the clear tube. How do the RCBS units handle spent primers? Also I did just send Lee an e-mail with the pictures included. At the very least their customer service will dictate any future purchases from me.
 
I would do as has been suggested and sent a picture to Lee explaining when you got it and hope for the free replacement part. If they say no to the free replacement you could order the replacement part. It's part # OF2853: BL CHALLENGER TOGGLE. $5.00
http://leeprecision.com/bl-challenger-toggle.html or
http://www.factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/parts.php?product=90588
Just for clarity sake, it is only broken through one of them right? The second one appears has a nick into it that lines up right with the crack in the top one. That isn't a second fracture is it?
 
I personally think RCBS prices their stuff high just so people perceive them to be as high quality as Lyman and Forster. For Lee equipment, about 40% of their stuff is fantastic and the rest is junk. I find the accessories, progressive presses, etc to be a little above garbage whereas the dies and single presses to be pretty decent. I have a breech lock challenger and I reefed on the handle pretty hard in my day, no issues, and I've loaded thousands of rounds on it. I know this because I've emptied that hopper tube probably 50 times now.

As for the Lee broken press, all you have to do is say you're calling them because people on the internet suggested you do. Once they hear that, they'll replace the part, because they know how word of mouth spreads. Kind of like how mouth diseases spread, like when that girl you know has a cold sore and you get drunk together and a few years later your friends inform you that you have type II herpes and won't use your dishes without washing them by hand personally - you know how it is.
 
Don't bother sending a pic to Lee. Just mail the broken part with a letter explaining where it is from. I did exactly this a few weeks ago and Lee sent me a replacement within 2 weeks, no questions asked.

I've had this kind of service from Lee many times in the past.

I agree that RCBS is generally superior, but they are not infallible, either. At the same time I mailed the broken part to Lee, I also mailed a broken power trimmer motor back to RCBS.

The Lee replacement arrived first. I got a note in the mail today saying a package is waiting... that has to be the RCBS motor.

The upshot is that both of these companies will stand by their products.
 
madpat said:
I would do as has been suggested and sent a picture to Lee explaining when you got it and hope for the free replacement part. If they say no to the free replacement you could order the replacement part. It's part # OF2853: BL CHALLENGER TOGGLE. $5.00
http://leeprecision.com/bl-challenger-toggle.html or
http://www.factorysales.com/html/xcart/catalog/parts.php?product=90588
Just for clarity sake, it is only broken through one of them right? The second one appears has a nick into it that lines up right with the crack in the top one. That isn't a second fracture is it?
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Hey thanks for the link to the part. It is just the one side that is cracked. The other side is just a nick that looks like a crack in the picture. Once I get this repaired I will probably sell it and pick up a better press so it does not happen again. It is a pretty beefy chunk of metal to break like this with not that much force. Granted in one year it has reloaded close to 1000 rounds of .270 so maybe repeat use on a factory defect is to blame.
 
I have a Lee FL die that I picked up used with a broken decapping pin (don't ask me how the guy broke it, I have no idea). Sent the broken pin to Lee and they sent me a new one, free of charge, no questions asked. Great service!
 
I just took the broken part off the press and it fell apart into 2 pieces. I was just thinking "sending it is going to cost more than the part costs plus wasted time". It is a $5.00 part. I think I will just buy a new one so I can get operational again faster. Winter is long cold and boring without reloading.
 
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