RCBS OHAUS 5-10 help

[Sb1911]

Need some feed back from THR on this scale. My wife bought me this scale at a yard sale for $1 back when we lived in Corpus Christi and it was missing the pan. This week my digital scale went weird and I used my Lee balance beam instead of my digital. I was thinking about buying a new scale and remembered I had this old RCBS Ohaus 5-10. I used 2 pans from another manufacture and some split shot weights to get it what I think is zeroed. From the pictures does this look zeroed correctly? how old is this scale (I think it may be older then me)? Where can I get the replacement pan or are they even made anymore?

I measured 5.6 grains on my lee then dumped on to the RCBS and dialed it in to 5.65 so I think I may be onto something.The scale is dirty and needs a good cleaning but seams like it is very sensitive and if calibrated right will be dead on and possibly be my go to. I would appreciate and feed back.

 

[TenDriver]

There is an OEM pan on eBay right now, and I think you can find the at Midway and such as well. Might be worth the purchase.

 

[plmitch]

Contact RCBS. They will get you a pan for free. I got one last year for just a phone call.

 

[LiveLife]

Here's the instruction pdf for RCBS/Ohaus 10-10 but zeroing the scale should be the same for 5-10 as they have the same large and micrometer (drum) poise - http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/Model_10-10_Scale_Instructions.pdf

To ensure accurate and reliable performance from your scale, make sure the knife edges are clean and without rust. Also, remove the covers for the agate stones with a Phillips screwdriver and make sure the stones/posts are clean and stones are able to freely "float" with the knife edges (see picture below).

 

[Sb1911]

thank you for the PDF information bds very helpful.

 

[gamestalker]

I bought my 5-10 from a yard sale more than 20 years ago for like $5, and it has always been spot on.

In your picture I can't see if the roller weight is on dead zero, but my eyes aren't all that great. Other wise yes, if it is at zero, and if you've verified it's weighing correctly, you should be good to go.

And yes, RCBS makes replacement pans, I see them in most of the shops locally, and the RCBS web site also.

It also looks like the beam knives might be crusted in rust, might just be an optical illusion though. Just don't do much to those knives, as in filing or sanding on them, or your scale will start hanging on rough or uneven spots and will never be accurate.

GS

 

[Rule3]

Call RCBS, amazing customer service. Only sure way to check is with some check weights. It may zero but if it is not the correct weight well then......

 

[oneounceload]

My 5-10 is about 35 years old and works perfectly today as it did 35 years ago. As others have said, call RCBS and they'll send you the pan (or have Ohaus do it)

 

[oldcelt]

I have been using this same scale for many years and when I check it with weights it is always precise. The setting always matchs the check weights exactly.

 

[Sb1911]

thanks for all the info. I may go by Sportsman's ware house and look for a replacement pan. I was also thinking of taking some alcohol swabs to the knifes and cleaning it up. Any thoughts or best practices for cleaning it up?

 

[LiveLife]

Many posted automatic transmission fluid (ATF) does a good job of removing/preventing rust.

How about ATF and swab/fine steel wool so as to not round the knife edge?

 

[JimKirk]

SB ... put the large slider weight in the Zero position... roll the wheel type weight until it is inline with the Zero position ... if the beam is setting below the add a few small lead shot to the pan get it to the Zero position ... you may have to cut one with cutters to get it to zero... once you have it balanced perfectly ... you will need to take the pan hanger off the scale and look underneath ... there is a small cup like devise that has a screw holding it to the hanger .... unscrew it and be careful that the shot that are already in there are not lost or left out ... put the shot you add to balance the beam in with the ones already there... screw it back to the pan hanger with loosing any of the added shot .... your scale should then be balanced near perfect... check your scale with check weights to make sure it is correct....

 

[dickttx]

I bought one just like yours from the junk bin for a gun shop for $10 about thirty years ago. It was missing the complete hanger, pan, etc.
A call to RCBS resulted in the complete assembly at no cost within a few days.
If the knife edges on your beam are rusted a call to them would probably bring a new one at little or no cost.
I don't use much RCBS gear now (just the Lock-out die) but their customer service is outstanding.

 

[brutus51]

Been using the exact same scale for 35 years and I trust it completely. I use an electronic as a double check but the balance beam trumps the electronic every time. After all these years check weights are still spot on.

 

[1066]

The 5-10 is an excellent scale, in fact I think it's one of the best, along with the Lyman M-5 and the RCBS 304.

If you get a replacement pan you will probably still need to rest your zero by adding or removing lead shot from the weight pan, all the pans are slightly different weights.

This is one I tricked up recently for a chap to use at the F-Class world championships in Raton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVtYglAd9Dc