Is this old Lyman 450 worth fixing?

[Vindicated]

Hi guys. Today I met up with a nice fellow on Craigslist who was selling his old reloading & casting equipment. Originally I was only interested in his RCBS 505 scale and a box of 1,000 Winchester Large Pistol Primers, but he also had a Lyman dipper, ignot mold, No. 50 powder measure, a 2 cavity, 4 cavity mold, and a 450 lube sizer.

I ended up breaking my rule of only buying what I need and know about, but he said $140 for everything and it seemed like a good deal, so I bought it. So now the question is, did I just buy a bunch of paper weights or do I get a good to fair deal?

I'm really curious about the Lyman 450. The arm raises and lowers fine, but there is a lot of play, and I noticed that part of the handle is broken. If that's the only issue, it doesn't seem like a big deal as a new handle goes for $10 on Lyman's site. I'm thinking I might need a few other parts too, like the ratchet wrench and linkage, and tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems it wouldn't be to much work to restore it. Problem is, I'm not a super handy guy. Was thinking maybe I could send it to Lyman and have them restore it. Do they even do that or would they want me to buy a new one?



Anyway, so any advice would be most appreciated. Oh and the molds were rusty, so I cleaned them with a tooth brush, hot water, and dawn dish soap. Pics of them attached below. After cleaning and greasing them (didn't have motor oil handy so used Canola oil to hold me over) I looked at the cavities with a jeweler's loupe and I see a lot of pits. You think it would be a big deal come casting? I believe molds are for 38 special, but I've yet to confirm that for a fact.

[trying2learn]

I would say to atleast try it. Soak it in a rust removal solution and clean it up. I love my 450 and would probably at least give it a shot to clean it up. Not like it can hurt. Heck if you decide to trash it let me know. I would love to try a clean up on one.

[No_1]

Looks good to me. Order a handle and while you wait for delivery clean up the lube sizer, spray a coat of paint on it then post pics when you are done. As a suggestion, once you break it down boil the body in a pot of water to clean out all the old bullet lube.

[Leslie Sapp]

Good Buy! New price on the the molds and handles alone would have been close to that.
What are the numbers on the molds?

[GP100man]

Shine YEAH !!!

Heat it up (I like using a heat lamp)& pop the die/pressure plunger out & let the rest of the loobe run out.

Clean the rest with whatever means , some will say boil it ,but the 1 time I boiled 1 it caught on fire when some of the loobe splahed out ,if I boil 1 again it`ll be in a turkey fry depth pot.

Anyways clean it up , replace the O-rings on the pressure plunger, place a peice of 1/2"pvc 3/4" long over the pressure screw to keep the plunger from running off the threads.

I used the older toggle system for a bit ,but the upgrade is much better & resonably priced !

Here`s a pic:

[dbosman]

VERY well worth fixing.

[Vindicated]

Thank you! Any tips on removing the Reservoir Cover? After the body is warmed up do I just keep turning the ratchet and raise the piston or do I have to use a spatula like tool and pry it off?

[Vly]

Definitely worth cleaning up! Some elbow grease on the sizer and the molds and you will have some fine casting tools. Good score for $140.

[Vindicated]

Oh and the mold numbers are 429421A (four cavity mold) and 358477J (two cavity).

[Leslie Sapp]

429421 - .44 cal 245 gr Keith Boolit = Yeah, you done good!
358477 - 150gr .38/.357 Boolit

[462]

Note:
To raise the pressure nut, turn the pressure screw (9) clockwise. Once the pressure nut has cleared the top of the reservoir, turn it counter-clockwise and off the pressure screw. Check the two O-rings for wear (probably a good idea to order two new ones).

[Hardcast416taylor]

An excellent after market tool to have for use on the 450 is a sizer die nut wrench. It will save damage to the retaining nut by both starting the nut squarely and seating correctly. The "perfessor"whom makes and sells these tools is a regular on this site. Nice find on all the "stuff". Don`t be overly concerned by the appearance of the bullet mold cavaties, they may cast perfectly.Robert

[oldtoolsniper]

I have one and I will be adding pictures and doing a write up on cleaning and putting it back in service. A note on ordering from Lyman, they are not kidding on two weeks to process an order. It's more like three weeks. Pressure screw, plunger and o rings took one month, I am at three weeks now for the upgrade handle for the 450 and it has not processed yet. There is a guy selling them on Ebay at three times the cost, I can wait. Sounds like you can too.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm really curious about the Lyman 450. The arm raises and lowers fine, but there is a lot of play, and I noticed that part of the handle is broken. If that's the only issue, it doesn't seem like a big deal as a new handle goes for $10 on Lyman's site.....

Was thinking maybe I could send it to Lyman and have them restore it. Do they even do that or would they want me to buy a new one?

even on a 450 in very good condition, the old style handle and linkage are kinda loose/sloppy, that is normal and no big deal.
BUT check for looseness in the ram...if that is sloppy, your alignment won't be very good...a definate MINUS if you want to size rifle boolits, but will still work for flat nosed pistol boolits using a "universal" flat nose top punch.

The crack in the handle can be "redneck" fixed by welding a washer in place on that hole.

That handle linkage design is a weak one, I'd definately order the handle upgrade kit instead of just a replacement handle.

the reservior cap will just lift off when you heat it up...gentle prying maybe necessary, but if you need more than fingernail pressure, you need to apply more heat...and maybe some mineral spirits to soak the old dry lube.

ALSO...the die retention nut is easy to strip out when reinstalling a die (when that happens, youre' screwed !!!) ...Be sure to clean the threads on the nut as well as the casting very well, I use a thinner like mineral spirits to clean the threads, starting the threads with your "fingers only" works, BUT, a BIG PLUS ! for theperfessor's nutdriver/wrench http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ver-for-Lubers
I would NOT use Lymans wrench or a standard wrench for the die retention nut !

Good Luck,
Jon

[Gliden07]

Def fix the 450 these are selling for what you paid for the whole lot!

[GP100man]

If the bore for the ram is worn & alignment becomes an issue we have a stiky by Buckshot addressing that !!

& it works!!

[Vindicated]

Thanks Jon for the tips. Ram feels very tight and solid. I'm definitely going to get the upgraded handle and extra o rings. Is there anything else on the 450 that's prone to breaking?

Oh and what was that about cutting PVC pipe. What was the reason for that again? Thanks.

[GP100man]

To keep the pressure screw from runnin off the threads at the bottom.

[462]

The 4500 comes with the plastic spacer that goes under the pressure screw, and should be available to order.

[Shakey Jakey]

Clean the moulds using electrolysis. Dont touch them with a brush. There is a recent thread in this section.