This is probably no longer an issue but on one of those ancient 4.5 sites running on load balancing, forcing SSL messed up with distributed calls with an "Error refreshing a node in the distributed list" message related to the redirection of cacheRefresher.asmx

In case this helps someone still dealing with legacy Umbraco sites, our solution was to setup 2 URL rewrite rules:

<rule name="Ignore HTTPS Web Service" enabled="true" stopProcessing="true">
        <match url="^umbraco/webservices/cacheRefresher.asmx" ignoreCase="false" />
        <conditions logicalGrouping="MatchAll" trackAllCaptures="false">
        </conditions>
        <action type="None" />
    </rule>

    <rule name="Force HTTPS" enabled="true">
        <match url="(.*)" ignoreCase="false" />
        <conditions>
            <add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" />
        </conditions>
        <action type="Redirect" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}/{R:1}" appendQueryString="true" redirectType="Permanent"  />
    </rule>

This allowed calls cacheRefresher.asmx to continue responding on HTTP and therefore to work.