*Solved* Is Lyman support any good?

[Sourcenemy]

Hi im about to try and get started with reloading and i just got my hands a used older Lyman T-Mag kit almost complete. But after goin over it and checking online how to assemble and use it ive noticed that im missing the adapter 7/8x14 thats needed to mount the No 55 Powder Measure on the turret and the small drop tube now thats not the end of the world. ill just order new parts but i was hoping to hear from those of you that have had anything to do with Lymans support, do they have a active and helpfull support? service minded? and how long guarantee do they offer on their products? becouse when i got it all sent home there was a accident and when i unpacked it all the "feeder arm" on the No 55 was broken...just clean off and since thats one of the parts that is the metering system and any repairs on that they recommend sending the No 55 back to Lyman for repair. And i cant get it to Zero it stops 1-1˝ markings outside the zero mark..... the reason im asking if Lyman is any good to deal with when it comes to their support is that i live in Sweden and if they have a track record of say 50/50 if they accept all returns fixes it and ships back no matter how old ect the items are or if they hardly answers e-mails and wont help at all unless you can show every last paper and recite then i wont waste my energy to try and get it sorted.... considering the prices you can get a new one for today its just not worth ones energy and time if theres to big of a chance you'll have to fight the company to get help....


Stay safe //Matt

[twoshooter]

I don;t know about answering emails, but they make very good products. I ordered kits to recondition some of my reloading equipment that was mfg in the late 1950's, they had all the parts I needed, priced very reasonable, and shipped to my door quickly. I called though, not an email. They still produce and have parts for some equipment that has a patent date over 100 years old.

[Sourcenemy]

yeah been messing around with my kit i got last week while i wait for my dies and need to get me a scale. But yeah its properly made their stuff that T-Mag weighs a freaking ton;) gonna sort something for that broken feederarm and ill look around eventually ill find me that adapter 7/8x14;)

[Siskiyou]

 I assume that you are writing about a broken handle on a Metering Cylinder Assembly.  I have two Model 55’s in use.  I dropped one after having it for close to 40-years.  I took it to a welding shop and for $15.00 (US) they weld it back on.  I then repainted the unit.  It works great. 

I purchased an optional 7000 grain reservoir and had to call Lyman support for direction on installation because it was not thread.  I talked to a very helpful and wise gentleman who provided directions.  I could not ask for better customer service.  I have a number of Lyman reloading manuals and the latest I had at the time did not have data on a new powder.  I called Lyman and was told that they were working on a new manual and data was still being developed.  Again I was pleased on how my question was addressed.

Recently I cut a powder baffle out of aluminum sheeting to use the powder reservoir.  I have only tried it with two different powders but I believe the consistency of charges dropped has improved.
http://www.amazon.com/Lyman-7767758-Powder-Baffle/dp/B000NTNJ8S

I am please enough that I am going to cut another one for my second Lyman 55.

Instructions on how to cut you own baffle.
http://home.comcast.net/~h.callahan/baffle.pdf

[Siskiyou]

 
“And i cant get it to Zero it stops 1-1˝ markings outside the zero mark”
 
The issue of lining up the marks might be in the assembly of the Metering Cylinder Assembly and the Micro Slide.  There is a small tit of metal on the bottom of the Micro Slide (top slide) that fits into a slot in the adjustment screw a few threads back from the end.  If it fails to line up try cleaning the unit with alcohol and then lube it with dry graphite.
 
I have a number of Lyman Reloading Manuals and of the manuals I have only #42 has a chart of the powders at that time for adjusting the #55.  All the adjustments are approximate.  I recommend that all adjustments of powder weights be verified on a reloading scale.  http://www.bonanzamarket.co.uk/listings/Lyman-Reloaders-Handbook-42-edition-1960/58521871
 

 
If I need to adjust the #55 to drop 57.0 grains of H4831 I will first measure 57.0 grains of H4831 on my scale.  I will pull all three slides back and making sure they are even with each other.  I will then drop the charge down the reservoir shaking the powder into the opening at the end of the three slides.  I will then push the three slides so they close on the powder.  This will get me close to the 57.0 charge weight I need.  I will the drop a couple of charges and weight them.  I will then adjust the slides with the adjustment screws.  Normally they do not require much adjustment.  I then lock the locking screws.
 

 
If you are doing light loads for a pistol you can keep the lower slides closed and just use the top one.
 

 
After I have the unit adjusted I will weigh every 10^th load if I am doing handgun rounds.  If I am loading rifle rounds I weight every round.  Many people do not wiegh every round, but I prefer to do so for accuracy and reliability.
 
I always check the charged cases setting in my loading block to insure they have powder in them.  Back in the mid-1960’s I was contacting a lot of deer hunters and validating deer tags.  About once a year a hunter would tell me that his rifle did not fire because the round did not have a powder charge and he was looking for a rod to drive the bullet out of the barrel.
 

 
My friend Gun Runner has a Dillon progressive press and he checks every ten rounds to make sure the charges are consistent.  This has always have been part of the safety protocol.
 

 
My bottom line is that if you can get your #55 to drop consistent charges that check out on a reloading scale the alignment of the numbers on the slides are not critical.