How to keep Lyman sprue plate pivot screw set?

Boolit Master Join DateJun 2008Posts700

I was lucky enough to get a recent four cavity 452374 mold that drops excellent boolits of proper size. Life is good. But, that sprue plate pivot screw keeps moving with the plate as I close the plate, thus getting too tight and binding. What is the best method of keeping this screw set to proper tension?

prs

There is a socket-head setbolt in the side of the left block that intersects the sprue plate pivot bolt at 90 degrees. Remove the setbolt, install a piece of lead shot, reinstall the setbolt, adjust the pivot bolt for desired sprue plate tension, and lock it down with the setbolt.

Gear

You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something. --Stephen Adams

Being able to separate the wheat from the chaff has always been a valuable skill in all of life's activities. --Bwana

There should be a set screw on the side of the block. The screw might be missing.

Also, make sure that there is a spring washer under the pivot screw, to hold the correct tension.
Jeff

Another fix I've used is to mark the sprue pivot screw after you have it set where you want, then remove that screw and grind a flat so the lock screw contacts the flat.

You cannot discover new oceans unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore

On his four-cavity mould, the set screw is located in the right mould block.

Two-cavity moulds have the set screw located in the left block, as pictured

+1 on a better washer under the pivot screw head. Lyman used to use a spring that was more like a lockwasher than a spring. The sharp ends would dig into the block and scar it and into the screw head, which loosens the screw when you move the sprue plate. I use a plain washer, others use a wave washer, anything beats Lyman's "spring".

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On his four-cavity mould, the set screw is located in the right mould block.

Two-cavity moulds have the set screw located in the left block, as pictured

You're right if you use Lyman handles. I'm cheap and modded scissor-type handles to work with the 4-banger blocks and mount them with the sprue plate pivot end toward me, on the left. I've been doing that so long I forgot how they're supposed to be oriented with the intended handles, good catch.

Gear

You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something. --Stephen Adams

Being able to separate the wheat from the chaff has always been a valuable skill in all of life's activities. --Bwana

Boolit Master Join DateJun 2008Posts700

I had forgotten all about that set screw. Yes, it is right there where it was the first time I tightened it. If it had shot under it, it has melted while on hot plate.

prs

Cut a tiny bit off of a piece of solid copper wire such as the ground wire used in Romex that's used for wiring houses. Put that in the hole. It will give the setbolt something to tighten against without crushing the threads of the pivot bolt and making the pivot bolt difficult or impossible to remove for sprue plate maintenance. The copper won't melt on your hotplate.

Gear

You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something. --Stephen Adams

Being able to separate the wheat from the chaff has always been a valuable skill in all of life's activities. --Bwana

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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