I apologize if this has been asked before but my Lyman 450 Lube / Size has developed quite a big leak. Before I go tearing into it, I thought I should consult the collective wisdom here. The lube is leaking from the bottom bushing / plug where the base bolts to the bench. It appears to have a plate that is staked in place, I am guessing that there is some kind of bushing under it that holds the head of the long threaded rod that is tightened to put pressure on the lube reservoir.

Unfortunately I picked up the sizer 2nd hand so I do not have an exploded view and Lyman’s web site didn’t provide much in the way of help.

If you have any experience repairing a leaking 450 or if you can provide some recommendations before I try my hand, it would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Scoutmaster

It sounds as though the previous owner did a repair like the in link I'm including:

http://www.usi.edu/science/eng...n450LuberRebuild.htm

The bottom plug of the 450 is a crummy design.
Take a photo of the bottom where it is leaking and ask Lyman about it. They might fix it for free, except it will cost you $15 to ship it back.

If we are talking about the same leaking problem that mine developed, then I did a temporary repair that has held up over ten years so far with no sign that it will ever need anything permanent done to it. I took a piece of 1/4 in aluminium and cut out the shape of the lubrisizer base ( mainly because my benchtop is not hardwood) and then placed an O ring just larger than the lube chamber between the base and the plate and bolted it back down to the bench. Problem solved.

Von Gruff.

Mine developed the same problem many years ago. After fixing it the second time I noticed that the staked plug is set deeper than the bottom of the main housing so it wasn't supported by anything except the staking. I found a flat washer that would fit against the plug and put it between the plug & the bench when I bolted it down. It's stayed fixed since.

I have doubts about Lyman fixing it free---they charged me to repair a mold. Good reason to buy RCBS.

I bolt my 450 Sizer down tight to a bench which has an overlay of replaceable thin smooth fibre board (so it can be replaced when dirty or damaged). When removing the sizer at any stage there is only ever been a very slight leakage of lube but nothing to worry about.

many just place a piece of an innertube under theirs and bolt it down.
the staking and washer ideas could work also, or a combo with the rubber.

At least complain to Lyman or they will never fix this dumb design.

Get an RCBS Lube A Matic. It works with Lyman dies.

I also got an RCBS Lubrasize but still keep my Lyman 450.Yes,the sizing dies will interchange which is why I am totally tied to this system (having every die + top punch imaginable). Got a Star Sizer W/ dies for .45 + .44. Not interchangable with the RCBS or Lyman. But as I load w/ an XL 650 Dillon, I want fast results. Check out the Star,you can size + lube easily over 1000 in an hour.(+ NO I don't own stock in the company,just a tip for those concerned.)

My Lyman 450 is 30 years old, has never missed a beat, doesn't leak, nothing has broken, and it sizes bullets straight.

I prefer the Lyman sizer dies as they have two or more rows of round holes for the lube to go through and you don't have to push a longer bullet in them as deep as the RCBS style, plus I don't like that inner ring RCBS has inside the die to link up the lube holes.

Brothers....what ever press you use...continue to use it.The USE is the point.R.