Dead 4500

[blaser.306]

Lyman 4500 just quit!:-( C-Red lube with heat . The pressure screw just pulled up thru the base :shock::shock:? any fix for it ? HELP!!!!!

[Reload3006]

did you look at the bottom of your press is the housing broke or did the end pop off the pressure screw, If the end popped off the pressure screw you can get online at lymans site and order a new pressure screw. if the casting is broken check out the threads on here some where someone did a thread on making a new base for his 4500 using washers and counter-boring a hole in a steel base looked like it would work pretty good. If its new enough write Lyman. Hope you have better luck with their customer service than I have.

[blaser.306]

yup, did a post mortem and the ( and I mean rough ) casting inside the bottom pulled out ! One side of the casting was about 3/16" thick and the other was less than 1/8" Perhaps it is a sign! Time to buy a Star!!! Will check with lyman for repair parts Warranty (doubtfull ) Will see tommorow.

[jdgabbard]

I would buy a star... But I just can't bring myself to pay that much for a sizer...yet.

[shooting on a shoestring]

Get the Star, fix the Lyman. I have both, had the Lyman for decades, bought the Star about a year ago. The Star has brought me more happiness than another revolver. It will probably last more than my lifetime. I wish I had bought one years ago instead of whatever gun I bought that year. Do it. You won't regret it when you see how fast and good you can lube pistol boolits.

[buyobuyo]

Mine did the same thing last year. I started working on it and then realized it was beyond my machining expertise, so the machine shop at work is finishing it up for me when they're slow. I'll post up pictures of it whenever I get it back. I'm going to go by tomorrow to check on it. Maybe it will be done.

Here's the link to the thread I started when mine died: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=135308 It has pictures of the fix that Reload3006 mentioned.

[blaser.306]

I figured out a way to fix my 4500 ! I had some cast off spring/detent ball assemblies from work that already had a holr bored part way thru them. A few minutes at a friends lathe and cut a recess in the bolt / hex portion , then faced the thickness down to 3/16" . the plug is threaded 9/16 unf and just by chance the 9/16" unf tap starts real nicely in the factory hole the jack screw was originaly in. I set the sizer body upside down on the drill press at work and used the chuck to be sure that the tap started straight, then ran the thread into the cast.. To allow for the added thickness I cut a plate out of aluminum and bored 3 holes 2 for the mounting bolts and 1 for the new rod holder . I will be mounting it up right away , I will report back with the results. If anyone needs a copy of this set up PM me .

[dubber123]

I welded the chunk back in mine when it busted out. Lots of fun with all the lube residue... Fire! :)

[dominicfortune00]

IIRC, thePrefessor did a write up on how he fixed his 450 or 4500 a couple of years ago.

[blaser.306]

Update ! Sucsess , It works just like the day it came home Perhaps even better!

[45-70 Chevroner]

Lyman has a complete kit for the lube sizer, new pressure rod, new bottom plate and pressure washer with O-Rings.

[Bret4207]

This is why I never recommend a 4500. The 45 was great, the 450 pretty good. The 4500 is a series of stories of failure after failure. Lyman doesn't care.