Problems With Lyman Gen 6

[Poconolg]

I used to have a Lyman 1200 DPS for many years and then it stopped working had it close to 10 years. After it failed since I was happy with it so I replaced it with a Lyman Gen 6 dispenser. Nothing but problems. In 2 years there have been numerous phone calls about it to Lyman. The problem is always the same, it won't zero. It has been sent back to them and when it was returned they said there was nothing wrong with it but it worked. I turned it on today and the same problem won't zero. Called and they told me what to do but no luck. They took the serial number and then said it was an older model. Still waiting for a call back. Very disappointed with their customer service. Have already ordered a Harrels powder measure and stand. Maybe older technology is better. Has anyone had problems with Lyman customer service?

 

[ronemus]

If you're one of the "buy once, cry once" crowd you might want to think about the A&D FX-120i/AutoThrow setup. It's more expensive than other electronic dispensers, (and manual powder measures), but it's more precise and very fast.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I`ve owned a Gen6 for a few years and have never experienced a failure to zero. I don't know if this will help but, I usually turn my Gen6 on for a minimum of 1 hour before i use it.

 

[piie]

Check for electronic interference- other devices nearby, powerlines/cables/extension cords etc, and fluorescent lighting can all cause issues with scales.

 

[Poconolg]

This machine was sent back to Lyman 2 times already.

 

[LHSmith]

I would put it in the classifieds and state "came back from Lyman with a clean bill of health". Optics sellers do it all the time on here. Recommend RCBS Chargemaster unless you shoot LR competition. Lyman does / did make decent muzzleloaders. Every Lyman reloading tool I have used has been replaced- not ready for prime time.

 

[Rtheurer]

I have had every version of the Lyman DPS from Gen one too Gen 6. The two worst ones where those two. Gen one and Gen six. The best one they put out was the Gen five. I run two at a time or at least I used too anyway. let them dispense then take that charge and put it on a real Lab scale to confirm. I had one of the two Gen six that was true piece of Crap. Much like yours.
Since then... I purchased the Auto Trickler V3 and never looked back. A true work of art that ACTUALLY WORKS right down to the kernal of powder and is faster than any of my DPS's. One of those tools a guy buys over time that you say to yourself " how did i get along without this?"
Do yourself and favor and get an Auto Trickler.

 

[Bill Rodolph]

I have a Gen 5 and I would like to sell it to someone I don't like.

 

[spclark]

Wish you'd posted this six months ago. I had a Gen 1 1200 I woulda shipped you for the postage. Bought it new, tried it for a few weeks, didn't care at all for its 'uncertainty quotient' or the labor involved when changing powders. Major PITA to clean the powder hopper & feed mechanism.

I tried to sell it, then give it away, finally took it to a local range where I left it in the clubhouse thinking maybe someone would take it home for a try-out.

Last I looked it was still there....

And I'll second Russ' comment on the AT. I have a Gen 1 of those too, love it to death.

 

[LHSmith]

I lied in post #6. I use Butches Bore Shine- a Lyman product. But they screwed that product up too. I just learned to live with it rather than change at this late stage of the game.

 

[PA.Frank]

I had a Lyman Gen 6 given to me by a close friend. He used it without a problem for a couple years before he gave it to me and I Have been using it now for about 3 years and have never had a problem.
Do you have florescent lights over your bench where you use yours? I know that they can sometimes interfere with the electronics of these scales especially if your lighting fixture has and older ballast. Worth looking in to..

 

[Rsadams]

The main problem with any digital scale which I have three is static electricity.... Any time mine start acting crazy I wipe them down with a dryer sheet.... Solves the problem most of the time.... I reload alot of shotshells and when you remove a new group from the plastic tub they are in they will have static electricity on them and you need to wipe them down with a dryer sheet or it will transfer to the scale.... Wearing rubber bottom shoes on carpet will transfer it also... I only reload bare foot now because it's so bad down here because the A/C runs all the time.... Try shutting it down and wiping it down then turn it on about twenty minutes before you reload and see if that fixes it....

The other day mine was so bad because of the nylon bag I keep it in to keep the dust off any time I moved the weight close to it the scale went up on its own while trying to calibrate it.... I wipe down with a dryer sheet solved the problem... I screwed with it for 30 minutes before catching on I was soooooo pissed.... Now anytime i start I wipe them down.... I also added a battery back up line conditioner for my scales and charge master that also helped but was $200... The dryer sheet you probably already have... I keep one inside all my powder throwers also when their empty...

 

[Timon]

I had a Gen6 from right around when they first came out, until last year. Never had any issues whit it at all. I did let the Gen6 throw a charge then I tweaked it on another scale to verify the throw. Went from a Gempro 250, to a Gempro 300, to an A&D something 123, then finally to an A&D FX120i. Should have bought the last one a long time ago. Anyway, last year I sold the Gen6 and picked up a AutoTrickler V4 to go with my FX120i scale. This is an incredible set up. Again, not one complaint on the Gen6 that never missed a beat for me, first throw, to the last.

 

[Rocketvapor]

My second hand Gen 5 is easily a +/- 0.1 grain device (except for an occasional throw outside that ).
I set it for repeat, transfer to a good scale (A&D EJ-54D2) and add or subtract a few granules of ball powder then seat a bullet. I'm pretty confident that this gives me charge errors that just don't matter.
Had to clean supports/seals once, and they don't seem to be in stock.
Paid $357 shipped for the scale, $95 shipped for the used Gen 5.
Cheaper than the FX120i setup without having to use a line conditioner or surface plate.
Slower but cheaper.

Before you throw out that Gen 5 or 6, I'll pay shipping

 

[boltman13]

My first powder throwing machine was a Lyman 1200 DPS II. It worked fine had an overthrow about twice in 50 cycles with Varget or H4350, and fewer with ball powder like Win. 748 or 760. My only complaint was it was slow and you had to press the button every time you put the pan back on the machine. It had some drift that I got much improved by getting rid of a florescent light and going to LED. Wanting a machine that auto started I bought a Hornady. It was a POS, never zeroed, I couldn't give it away and finally put it in the trash. Then I bought a Lyman Gen 6. It zeroed reliably, but 3 out of 4 throws were over shoots.I then started throwing 1 grain under and trickling up to my final weight on, first a RCBS 505 scale then a GemPro 250.Very tedious but for 1K F-Class doable. I finally bit the bullet and went with the FX120i and Adams Gen 2, Gen 3 and now Gen 4 Systems with a TripLite Line Conditioner. I still use the 1200 DPS II to load practice amo for myself and 2 grandsons. When I get around to it I may try the Gen 6 with the TripLite to see if it improves the overshooting problem. Using the TripLite stopped the drift on the 1200 completely.