Lube-A-Matic II Modification

[JWinAZ]

A trip to the LGS yielded a RCBS Lube-A-Matic II for a decent price. I have no idea how old it is but suspect that it came in from an estate and not used much at all. The lube in the threads of the die retainer and reservoir cap was hardened and it took a tap with a hammer on the wrench to break them free. Everything looked good after that except the sliding rod to feed the lube was bent. I like the ability to use a ratcheting box end wrench on my Lyman, and thought that would be a good modification to the RCBS.

The shaft was just long enough to protrude through a 5C collet enough to mill a hex. I sawed it off at the hole and installed it in the collet block and milled a 7/16 hex. Mounting it on a clamp board completed the job. Some grease on the ram and linkages and lube-a-sizing we go.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Excellent modification/repair.

 

[smokeywolf]

Mighty fine machining Sir.

 

[Ian]

Nice. I think the Chapman wrenches are still available if you want a smooth wrench with only one ratcheting end and a nice handle.

Those collet blocks are the berries, but I keep finding other things to spend money on. I get by with a rotary table and chuck for now.

 

[JWinAZ]

@Ian Thank you for the suggestion.
I use the Chapman wrench on the Lyman, unfortunately they seem to only offer 1/4". I'm ok with what I have now, but am thinking about buying a 7/16 ratcheting combination wrench and cutting off the open end.

I bought the collet blocks before I retired, but the imports were not too expensive. Mine came from Little Machine Shop, as well as the collets. They are pretty nice; not much clearance so it can take a bit of finesse to get the collet seated. Almost "slip fit no shake".

 

[Matt_G]

Nice work!
I've been wanting to do that with my Lube-A-Matics but I don't have the tools to do the necessary machining.
Why RCBS doesn't just make them this way to begin with is beyond me.

 

[Walks]

Being as slow as I am, I took a couple of months for it to dawn on Me that the ratchet in My new Chapman screwdriver kit was the same as the one for My Lyman lubesizer. That was back about 1976.
Both tools working fine these 48yrs later.