Dillon scale sticking

[shoots45s]

I have a Dillon triple poise beam scale for weighing powder.

While checking powder loads for 223 (26.0 gr BLC-2), I thought I was getting some light loads as when I poured the powder in, as the beam didn't move. I later found that if I lightly tap the beam, it'll move and settle to near zero. So it seems that the beam is sticking and I'm getting good weighs. I've learned to tap the beam if it doesn't move before assuming the load is light.

When I was loading for .45 with 4.7 gr of TiteGroup, I never had this issue.

I cleaned and inspected the pivot and the area where it sits with no help here. I even tried putting some graphite lock lube with no effect.

The TiteGroup pours directly out of the 45 case and has some momentum as it pours into the pan, but the BLC2 takes a second or two to pour out of the 223 case mouth. Still the beam should not be sticking like this.

Thoughts on the issue? Thanks,

 

[rcmodel]

I'd wash the graphite off the bearing surfaces ASAP, as it is slightly abrasive.
Scales shoud never be lubed with anything.

Wash the bearing blocks and knife edge completely with Q-Tips and rubbing alcohol.

Then make sure the beam is centered in the blocks and the knife edge is not rubbing on one end or the other.

Then make sure the bench is level side to side and front to back.

If it still sticks?
Send it back to Dillon for repair or replacement.

rc

 

[LiveLife]

+1 absolutely!

The agate stones the triangular knife edge pivots on should be clean/dry with nothing else. The stones are supposed to "free-float" to align with the knife edge - if they don't float free, they may bind and not zero consistently. As rcmodel posted, make sure the knife edge is clean without damage.

If you added anything to the pivot/stones, I would disassemble and clean the area. This is my Ohaus 10-10, but should be similar on Dillon Eliminator.