Scale problem

imakmst

imakmst

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Here's the deal: I had bought my RCBS 5-0-5 scale second hand at a gun show. It was a very reliable scale that I loaded with for several years until the little zeroing wheel in the base got stuck and wouldn't work. I sent the entire thing to RCBS for work and they sent me back a scale that was basically a whole new base and maybe looks like a new arm, but not sure.

I worked with it last night and it acts funny. I set my weight and start to meter in powder from a scoop. It hardly moves the pointer no matter how slow I add powder, then, all of sudden I shake in one flake and the pointer leaps up and swings past zero as if I had dumped a whole grain in the pan.

I'm at a loss on what to do. Any help/suggestions would be nice.

Thanks
 
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I guess I'd just make sure the beam swings freely with or without a load in the pan, Take off the beam and check the pivot for any dirt, burr, etc. that may interfere with beam movement. I also use a "powder dribbler" so I won't get any "surprise dumps"...
 
After you clean and dust it off, try using a zero weight to confirm it is doing what it should and also to zero out the scale or adjust it to zero. They see what happens.
 
What #2 said. Sounds like debris or roughness in the beam pivots.
 
Hate to say this but that's pretty much what mine does. I thought that's just how they are. All of a few bits of powder and plop it's too heavy. I started using a small Lee dipper and tap my finger on the handle so hardly anything comes out. That seems to work best when I'm trying to hand measure a load. I have three scales I check against each other so I know they all work.
 
Don't know if this will help, but "back in the day", I used an oil-damped Pacific scale.

There was always some sort of friction or somesuch, when the pan was empty. I put a small piece of neoprene tubing on the guide, in the bottom where the beam contacted the aluminum guide when the pan was empty. That way, the metal beam did not come into contact with the metal guide, and when I got into the condition you describe, there was no problem of sticking or pointer leaping over one flake. It showed slight movement with each flake.

Just something between the beam (when at rest) and the guide or base. Wouldn't recommend anything sticky, like tape, but maybe some sort of insulation/shock absorber.

Flash
 
One more thing to check. The only time my 505 went bad, acting much as your scale does, I found the metal frame surrounding the pointer had gotten bent and was touching the pointer. I guess it got mashed when I put it back into the box. A simple "unbending" cured it.
 
Do the parts that make up the magnetic dampening look like they are in proper order and alignment ?
 
Funny how none of these beam scale "features" come up when folks are railing against electronic scales.:D

Okay, okay, I'll back away slowly....;)
 
A beam scale's beam should swing freely, from stop to stop. When adding/powder "just a little bit" can very easily be a full grain, depending on the powder used.
 
1. Take the arm off the scale then use a Q-tip to clean all the nooks and cranny of any dust, dirt, grime etc.
Solvent if really bad but wipe off and leave a dry surface.

2. check scale and beam for damage and wipe down the arm
and place back into the scale and make sure that the hinge pivot pins are in the slots correctly and the arm swings free with the powder pan in place.

3. Zero
I had to tape one lead #8 pellet to my pan to make it zero out........copper will work if you don't have access to lead.

4. Every now and then for some odd reason the scale will act silly..... I just grab the arm and wiggle it lightly and reset it back into the notches and see if it moves freely again.
You will be surprised at all the "Micro dust" and items that are floating through your rooms, that is unnoticed.
If you ever get a ray of light coming into a room, look at it and notice how there are tons of particles floating in it !

I love my 505 !!
 
An old mentor of mine used to use a #2 lead pencil and scrub the balance point and it's pivot trough with the lead end of the pencil. He swore by this method of "lubrication".
 
Instead of all these vooduo antics, I prefer to press the ON button for my electronic scale and weigh enough charges to get 45 to 60 grains of powder. I use the average value as my charge weight.
 
The most common reason that scales fail is that owners leave them in the set up condition. This causes the contact points to "take a set' and cause inaccurate readings and non repeatability problems.

Call RCBS and I'll bet they will help you out!

Don't leave the scale set up (if you do it at all).
 
If you 505 is at all like my 502 the "pivot" is a knife edge on a piece of aggate (flint). This is about as friction free as a pivot can be made. However, there is another area that can cause a problem like this and it's not at all obvious. That is the the magnetic damping for the scale. Believe it or not Florescent lights can interfere with the magnetic field damping. If you have a manual for your scale read it VERY carefully and you'll find that their scale be at least 4 feet from any florescent light fixtures. I used to have my scale darned near right under one of these lights and the scale "sticking" was a constant problem. Now I have it positioned right between 2 lights that are 8 feet apart and the scale is a LOT more responsive. However it will sometimes still "stick" so I've made it a habit to puff into the powder pan to get the beam moving and then put a case in my press while the scale re-settles. If both readings match I feel I've got an accurate reading, if they don't I do the puff drill again to confirm and scoop up any powder required to get my charge weight.
 
Nevada Ed said:
Why should I pay for batteries or run my electric bill up when...........

gravity is FREE ? !

If the power goes out I can still load by candle light................
Click to expand...

I like the way you think!

But be careful who you remind that gravity is free or they'll be wantin' to get in my pockets every time I fall down! :D
 
Yep, I have 5 scales (I guess I can't pass up a deal), including a Jennings Mack 20 (a pretty good digital). The one I wind up using the most is my Ohaus/Lyman D5 balance beam scale. My Jennings is too accurate and my OCD doesn't allow me to ignore the .01 grain increments. Drives me crazy. Also my digital needs to be "tared" often especially when weighing a lot of charges with a few seconds between them, removing and replacing the pan...

But I don't think I'll be loading by candlelight any time soon. :cool:
 
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