Seized up Lyman 6 turret press.

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Captain Quack

Captain Quack

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I've dug all my stuff out after it spent 5 years in the shed and my Lyman 6 turret press is seized up. Doesn't move at all. Any suggestions or am I just done and need a new one?

Captain Quack
 
Is this a manual turret? If so take the nut off, gently tap the turret off and clean it up. Also check the support lug on the back to make sure it’s not screwed too high.
 
My personal penetrating oil is PB Blaster. Soak things liberally. Tap on things with a plastic hammer or something similar. Take as much as possible apart, things will come loose eventually. Any pictutes?
 
My brother in.law cashed in his chips a year & a half ago. I got all his ammo and a RCBS press that was out in thier garage for atleast twenty years. It was siezes up and I played a little with it and never got it to move. I already had five or six RCBS presses so I gave this siezed up press to Troy Fairweather. It didn't take him long to get it unfrozen and in useable condition.
I'm sureTroy will chime in on this subject.
 
Highland Lofts said:
My brother in.law cashed in his chips a year & a half ago. I got all his ammo and a RCBS press that was out in thier garage for atleast twenty years. It was siezes up and I played a little with it and never got it to move. I already had five or six RCBS presses so I gave this siezed up press to Troy Fairweather. It didn't take him long to get it unfrozen and in useable condition.
I'm sureTroy will chime in on this subject.
Click to expand...
Atf mixed with mineral spirits, and little heat were it needed it.
 
Again kroil and a light hammer. don't beat on anything just tap on frozen parts lightly. After applying the oil liberally you want to set up vibrations to help the penetrant get to where it needs to be. Last attempt is propane torch. Depending on how corroded it is it could take some time so be patient.
 
If there is visible rust you could try evaporust but I would be nervous about using it in areas where I couldn’t easily wash it out and neutralize it once things are moving again. I would call that a last ditch attempt.
 
treat it like stripping a Mosin from its cosmoleen.

Boil in hot water, add oil, and start stripping
 
I have a Lyman Spar-T and it’s a pretty simple machine.
Douse it liberally with your favorite penetrating oil, give it some light taps, and be patient.
It’s a good press and worth the effort
 
>> Heat applied to the press body with a hair dryer or heat gun will help your Kroil or PB Blaster soak in.

>> When the parts break free you'll have a nasty looking rust spot. You'll be tempted to sand that particular place down, but I'd use a Scotch Brite pad to remove extra scale, not extra metal. Everything will be fine if you'll wipe the moving parts with chassis grease and then get going.

>> Or, if you simply want great press lube without getting your hands messy, then try spray motorcycle chain lube, such as THIS. It penetrates easily into tight spaces, then thickens with a very high adhesion. It will also prevent more rust from forming.

Hope this helps.
 
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When people say hammer I believe we all mean plastic or rubber for agitation. I have a lead hammer also. Machined surfaces and cast iron dont handle big impacts gracefully. Time is the key. Submerge the entire press in mineral spirits or one of the other concoctions. Slow progress meas less damage.
 
You guys are just fantastic! I'm now thinking just a big plastic tub and a gallon of penetrating oil (I am assuming WD40 is not a good choice here). It doesn't appear to be rusted at all. Just fine crud around all the pivots and the shaft. This is the press I learned on and it does have some sentimental value as well as being what I load my wife's '06 for her Garand and my .303 British on. I'll check and see if our local auto supply place has any of those oils recomended. I supposed this is a good time to get a dead fall hammer as well. Thank you all for your help!

Captain Quack.
 

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Captain Quack said:
You guys are just fantastic! I'm now thinking just a big plastic tub and a gallon of penetrating oil (I am assuming WD40 is not a good choice here). It doesn't appear to be rusted at all. Just fine crud around all the pivots and the shaft. This is the press I learned on and it does have some sentimental value as well as being what I load my wife's '06 for her Garand and my .303 British on. I'll check and see if our local auto supply place has any of those oils recomended. I supposed this is a good time to get a dead fall hammer as well. Thank you all for your help!

Captain Quack.
Click to expand...
WD-40 is a GREAT choice for this job
 
I was totally sure in my mind you meant the turret was froze up!:confused: Yep like everyone said, soaking in penetrating oil will get it done.
 
Looks like some light rust on exposed surfaces. I highly doubt the ram and bore are rusted inside. Most likely whatever lube is dried out and is sticking the parts together. You definitely want an oil with a solvent to dissolve the old dried out grease. PB Blaster is good. WD-40 is also a good solvent for this.

I'd spray with penetrating oil and let it soak. Then take a tooth brush or brass bristle brush and clean the ram and around the bore so it doesn't drag old rust back and forth into the bore when you start moving it.
 
I freed up one just like that. It's a good press! Fill the hole for the primer with penetrant and using pressure in a downward motion on the handle tap the bottom of the ram up with that dead blow hammer you are going to get. It'll be freed up in a short time. Use steel wool and the penetrating oil to clean off the rust after you get things apart.
Forgot that you need to clamp it to your bench to do this. Mine was the old Spar-T as well.
 
The way I would proceed after seeing the pictures would be to wet it down heavily with a penetrant then disassemble the linkage from the ram. From there wet it again and wipe /scrub the ram and body with a Scotch-brite pad, then with a dead blow or heavy brass hammer start to tap it back and forth to loosen it up. Those parts do not look to be corroded together so it should come apart relatively easy.
 
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