Lyman 45 luber

[Jal5]

Just got one off ebay! Looks ok condition but will need some TLC. For $36 plus shipping how did I do?
Plan to rehab it using instructions here.
Joe

[Mk42gunner]

Sounds like the deal of the year from ebay to me.

Have fun,

Robert

[poppy42]

36 bucks for a Lyman 45? I’ll take 2 please!

[pworley1]

You did great. I have several 45's, among others, and they are the ones I use most often. I have one for every type of lube I use.

[metricmonkeywrench]

U done real good, you will be real surprised when they start to multiply....

Pix please

[Green Frog]

Once upon a time long ago I found a grey #450 in a thrift shop, missing its wrenches. I paid $25 for it and ran away quickly.

Froggie

[Jal5]

Needs some TLC including some parts. Included a top punch 429

[KCSO]

How far do you want to go? Put it back to using or a complete refurb? I take a big pot and fill it with water and boil the whole thing to get all the old lube out. Then either soak in carb cleaner and then paint strip and then prime and repaint or just refill it when it is clean and empty. Remember the 45 does not have a lot of leverage and this is where the 2 thousands sizing recommendation came in it will not take a460 hard 500 grain 45-70 and squeeze it to 457.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Interesting relocation of the return spring..

[Jal5]

I’m thinking just clean and add the parts to put it back to use. I’m not into refurb with these tools.
Joe

[shaune509]

Handle is 180 out. Check the sticky for the manual and clean it up and use.
Shaune509

[labradigger1]

I’ve had lyman 45’s, 450’s, Rcbs LAM’s and a star.
I kept one 45 and the star.

[Jal5]

I think I am getting this setup correctly now. Will post pics later.

The spring likely will need to be replaced.

The top punch that came with it seems to be 429 and if i am right that is for a .358 mold? It looks like a boolit is stuck in the sizer mold- would some heat free that up? I’m not sure i have the rod that pushes the boolit out setup right which would do that.

I really need a video of the 45 operating to confirm my setup.
Joe

[Jal5]

Also some surface rust on the two rods that the casting slides up/down on. Thinking of using fine steel wool lightly on them to remove rust don’t want to remove any metal there. Any suggestions?
Joe

[Jal5]

Here’s the rusty parts and a view of the stuck boolit.

[Bent Ramrod]

A little WD-40 on some 000 steel wool should get the surface rust off the guide rods. Some sewing machine oil on the rods and the lever pivot screw and you should be good to go. The return spring looks OK to me. All it has to do is hold the lever up against no pressure or friction.

Loosen the set screw in the orange bottom piece and turn the black collar up a few turns. That should allow the return plunger to push the boolit out of the sizing die. If it doesn’t, even turned in all the way, a small hex nut on top of the return plunger will push the “I” plunger in the die high enough to eject the boolit.

Loosening the hex screw on the front of the die holder, and, if necessary, putting a larger hex nut on the return plunger, should allow you to push the “H” die and “I” plunger out of the lubrisizer with the lever return stroke. If the lube is old and congealed, a hair dryer can be used to soften it, or just leave the whole thing out in the sun a few hours.

There should be a number on the lip of the “H” sizing die which more or less denotes the nominal diameter it sizes to. Get a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook and check the mould numbers. Moulds are designated by nominal diameter (first three numbers) and top punch (last three numbers). That will get you the boolit your sizer was originally set up for.

[Jal5]

Thx bent for the suggestion. Got the boolit out after applying just a little heat. And adjusting that rod.

Sized and lubed about 30 RN 115 boolits and a few 358429s i had and it works fine.

Now to clean it up some more and put new lube in it. Sure beats tumble lubing and Lee push thru dies. There’s probably a use for both depending on the boolit and circumstances though.

[Roundball]

I use a Lyman 45 for my BP rifle bullets. Installing sizing dies and top punch really are features I miss in the 450's and 4500's. I had to do the pot with boiling water to get the fossilized lube out of the machine. That old dried black lube is ugly stuff.

[sharps4590]

I've had two Lyman 45's. The first one was $20.00 at a gun show....35 years ago? I think the last one was $35.00 just a few years ago and I know they've gone up. I use the 45 more than my RCBS. Good score!!

[Jal5]

This cleaned up ok. Has some kind of reddish/brown lube in it. Not really hard.

I will use this luber on 358429s and if I find another lube die some 223 boolits. My other boolits all use a TL design with 45-45-10 no need to change those.

If this die will work on a 125 RF boolit used in my 9mm that would be fantastic. I shoot more of those than anything.