Don't know if this will help or not, I too have used a bottom pour Lee pot for some time now. When she starts acting up like that, I fill it up with soapy water heat it up until it starts boiling and drain it through the bottom pour. This usually will clean up any crude that has built up in the spout. I've also have used a paper clip with a right angle bend in it at the tip to scrub out the hole while it's pouring, this also will stop any dripping problems that come up while I'm casting. If that don't do it could you weld that ball bearing on the bottom of the rod, since it's working to stop the leak now, it may be a quick easy fix. Good luck to you, Peter