Lee Precision LEVER_CLAMP_SQUARE

Overview

The Lever Clamp Square is the small forged steel block on Lee Precision single-stage and progressive presses that clamps the operating handle to the toggle link, turning arm movement into the up-down stroke of the ram. It is not a glamorous part, but it takes the full leverage load every time you cycle the press, and it is one of the few press components that does wear or crack after years of heavy use. Lee lists it under part number OF3662, a renumbering of the older OF3613, and it ships as a raw, black oxide steel block with two cross-drilled and tapped holes: one for the handle itself and one for the clamping bolt that squeezes the block shut around it.

What sets Lee apart in the reloading press market is the modular parts philosophy behind machines like the Breech Lock Challenger and Pro 1000: rather than forcing a full press replacement, Lee sells the exact wear item, at a fraction of a full handle assembly's cost, so a press bought a decade ago stays serviceable indefinitely. This clamp is a direct fit across a surprisingly wide family of Lee presses built on the same toggle geometry, which is worth knowing if you own more than one Lee press and want to keep a spare on the shelf.

Buyers reaching for this part are almost always doing a repair, not a new build: either the plastic-look black finish has chipped on an older clamp, the retaining bolt has worked loose and elongated the hole, or the handle itself has developed play at the pivot. Because it is a raw casting-style block rather than a finished cosmetic part, fitment is mechanical and forgiving; the only real skill required is torquing the retaining bolt evenly so the block seats square against the toggle.

Key Features

• Cross-drilled square steel block clamps directly around the press handle, so the handle can be removed and refitted without disturbing the toggle link pin.
• Works with the heavy duty bolt (Lee part FO2113) and steel washer (Lee part OF3609) that Lee specifies for this clamp, giving a proper high-tensile clamping force rather than relying on a generic hardware-store bolt.
• Square-block design keys into the flat sides of the toggle housing so the handle cannot rotate independently once the clamping bolt is tight, which is what stops handle wobble developing over time.
• Fits across the Breech Lock Challenger single-stage press as well as several Lee progressive and turret machines, so one part number covers most of a mixed Lee reloading bench.
• Sold as a standalone spare, letting a reloader replace only the worn clamp instead of buying a complete handle assembly or a new press.

Technical Specifications

Fit & Compatibility

This clamp is a factory-listed spare for the Breech Lock Challenger single-stage press, the Bench Prime Press Kit, the Breech Lock Challenger Kit, the 50th Anniversary Kit, the Pro 1000 progressive, the Pro 4000 Kit and the Value Turret Press. All of these share the same toggle-link geometry at the top of the press body, which is why one clamp part number covers presses that otherwise look quite different. It will not fit Lee's older Classic Cast or Hand Press lines, which use a different handle-to-ram linkage, so match the press model before ordering rather than going by appearance alone.

Materials & Construction

The clamp is a solid steel block, cross-drilled through both faces and tapped for the retaining bolt, finished in Lee's usual black coating rather than being plated or polished. It is a functional part, not a cosmetic one; the finish is there to resist rust on a shop bench, and light surface wear at the bolt hole after years of use is normal rather than a sign of a defective part. Reloaders who have replaced one report that the new block sits noticeably more solid than a decade-worn original, with less side-to-side play in the handle once torqued down.

Care & Maintenance

A light smear of grease on the bolt threads before assembly stops the clamping bolt from galling in the tapped hole over repeated handle removals. Check the bolt torque periodically on a press that sees high round-count reloading sessions, since a loose clamp is the most common cause of a handle that feels like it has developed slop at the pivot. If the block itself has visibly deformed around the bolt hole, replace it rather than continuing to tighten further, since an elongated hole will not clamp evenly again.

Who It's For

This part is for existing Lee Precision press owners doing routine maintenance, not for anyone assembling a press from scratch, since it is sold as an individual spare rather than as part of a handle kit. It suits reloaders who keep older Breech Lock Challenger, Pro 1000 or Value Turret presses running for years and prefer to replace the specific worn component instead of buying a new handle assembly or press. It is also a sensible item to keep as a spare on the bench for anyone running a Pro 1000 or Pro 4000 in a high-volume reloading operation, where the handle sees the most cycles.

FAQ

• Does this include the bolt and washer? No, the clamp is sold on its own; Lee specifies the FO2113 bolt and OF3609 washer as the matching hardware, which are separate line items.
• Will this fit my Lee Classic Cast press? No, this clamp is listed for the Breech Lock Challenger family, Pro 1000, Pro 4000 and Value Turret press, not for the older Classic Cast or Hand Press ranges.
• Why has my original clamp cracked or worn? The block takes the full leverage load of every press stroke, so after years of heavy use the bolt hole can elongate or the block can crack at the drilled section, which is the usual reason reloaders order a replacement.
• Is the part number OF3613 or OF3662? Lee renumbered this part from OF3613 to OF3662; both numbers refer to the same physical clamp, and older documentation or eBay listings may still show OF3613.