Adjusting the Lyman 450 push out rod?

[THG]

So far I have been unable to get my 450 to push a bullet far enough up to remove it from the die. I’m putting a 1/2” stick between the knockout link and the push out rod to get the bullet up and out.
I’ve got the manual, I’ve watched four different U tube videos to no avail.
It’s got to be something simple. As of now I can only think that I need a longer push out rod.
What am I doing wrong?

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Is the "I" portion of the Die, the same length as the "H" portion?

[THG]

Not sure of “I” “H” designation. This inside rod portion is slightly shorter, about 1/16th. All the dies look to be the same.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

The inner portion of the die is "I"
the outer portion of the die is "H"
If the "I" is same or only 1/16" shorter, then you should have no problem with the Push Rod pushing the "I" far enough, to push the boolit out of the die.

[THG]

Another potential solution would be to drill and tap the knock out link and thread in a bolt to get the extra 3/8ths inch to get the bullet out.
I was hoping for an easy answer. I try and call Lyman tomorrow.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

you should have plenty of adjustment to get the Push Rod all the way up to the "H"....which will push the "I" that far, to push the boolit all the way up.

If not, there is something wrong or something missing or something bent?

Do you have the adjuster in backwards?
Is the Knockout link bent?
Has the Push rod been modified? or shortened?

I'd been easier to help you, if you posted a photo.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'll be interesting if you can get through to anyone at Lyman via Phone...Covid limited workforce.

[billyb]

Remove the jam nut on the bottom of the threaded guide rod and run the threaded guide up until flush with the casting. Harder for me to try to explain than it is do. See if this will get you the extra lift you need. Bill

[Bazoo]

Sounds like the push rod has been shortened to me. Mine is 2 15/16" long. It wouldn't work if it was much shorter. Be easy enough to find a cap bolt the right size, or a carriage bolt and flatten the head to make an impromptu rod.

[THG]

[onelight]

Did you buy your 450 new and are your dies Lyman . Just wondering if it's possible to have a sizer die that is not proper for your 450 installed in it.

[THG]

Everything is Lyman bought new12-15 years ago.

[THG]

Sounds like the push rod has been shortened to me. Mine is 2 15/16" long. It wouldn't work if it was much shorter. Be easy enough to find a cap bolt the right size, or a carriage bolt and flatten the head to make an impromptu rod.

My push rod is 2 15/16 as well. It very much seems that this is "operator error".
The cap bolt idea is an excellent idea. That will be my solution if I can't figure it out.

[metricmonkeywrench]

I think what your saying is that the knock out rod (T piece) does not have enough travel to touch the bottom of the die on a full upstroke. Most likely with a short or small bullet

my 450 has a nut vs the thumbscrew, and on my 450 the nut is on top of thumbscrew to get a full range of motion as my adjuster seems kind of short compares to my 45 and 4500.

[THG]

I found a four inch bolt of suitable diameter and cut it to 3 3/16". Works perfect and I'm back in business cranking out 45 Colt bullets for the wife and daughter.

[C.F.Plinker]

Remove the jam nut on the bottom of the threaded guide rod and run the threaded guide up until flush with the casting. Harder for me to try to explain than it is do. See if this will get you the extra lift you need. Bill

Then put the jam nut on from the top. This will give you about 3/8 inch more movement in the up direction.

[onelight]

I found a four inch bolt of suitable diameter and cut it to 3 3/16". Works perfect and I'm back in business cranking out 45 Colt bullets for the wife and daughter.

Well I am glad you found a solution it's a mystery to me as to why that was happening , I have the older grey model I bought new , it has always been trouble free.

[Mike W1]

I had a somewhat similar problem with the RCBS LAMII and don't know if I can help or not. Somewhere in the transition to WIN 10 the file I had seems to have vanished. Whoever suggested the fix is thus lost to time now. Anyhow he put a bushing onto the push rod enabling a little more "reach" and that took care of things. Seems like there was something to do with shorter bullets. Anyhow I remember doing the fix way back and it worked. Since then my gunsmith BIL made a 1/2" longer bullet ejector screw for the RCBS and never looked back. If I can sometime locate that file I'll post it. Maybe it's on the older computer where I can find it. I realize you're talking a Lyman but I'd assume they're similar to the RCBS.

[Larry Gibson]

Remove the jam nut on the bottom of the threaded guide rod and run the threaded guide up until flush with the casting. Harder for me to try to explain than it is do. See if this will get you the extra lift you need. Bill

I would bet this is the problem, especially if the jam nut is on the underside of the 450 frame body.

[Mike W1]

Found that file on the old computer. FWIW

Lyman 45 and short bullet quick fix.
If you've ever tried to lube a short bullet (H&G 68, BD45, 358345,
etc) in a lyman 45 you know you run out of adjustment well short of the depth needed.
People have advised plugging all but the top hole in the H&I die
with lead shot and I've had varying degrees of success with that,
but still wanted a way to get the machine to insert the bullet to
the same depth every time.

I was wandering through Lowes looking for some screws for another
project when I saw a drawer in the hardware cabinet labeled Steel
spacers and there it was, a 1/4 x 3/8 x 3/4 steel tube for $1.15.

I bought one - went home removed the H&I Die, pulled the stem out
the hole where the die had been, put the sleeve around the stem and reinserted it, then reinserted the H&I die and viola!!! Now I can adjust the sizer until it only allows 1mm travel for gas heck
seating or any depth greater than that for bullet sizing without
having to plug the holes. If I need the extra depth, it takes about 30 seconds to remove the sleeve and I'm back in business.