Scale problem

[Stew0576]

I'm using a 5 0 5 scale in every charge, I've noticed that when I have a charge just below what i want if i bump the tray the arm will swing over the zero point and then read high and stay there, if i remove a couple grains of powder it will drop below zero then i add it back it will go back to original position, any thoughts?

 

[DLrocket89]

I have a 5 0 5 that came with a kit of RCBS's bought. I'm not gonna say it's junk, but dang. I put oil on the pivot points to start. Then I tug the beam back and forth and release and let it kinda "settle" into a natural center point.

I bought a $20 digital on Amazon and haven't looked back.

 

[thomas15]

I would not put oil on the pivot points, clean it with alcohol

The 5-0-5 scale is a nice scale make sure it's set on the pivots correctly. There are numerous youtubes on this scale check them out. If cannot get it to work call RCBS

 

[Stew0576]

The direction say never use lubricant, will check out youtube

 

[doubleh]

Take it apart, clean with alcohol, re-assemble dry and it should be OK. I've had to do this a couple of times with mine over the years and it was good for quite a long time. I keep it covered except when in use.

 

[santacruzdave]

I have a 505, it's been a great scale. After I cleaned up the pivots the scale has been flawless; bought used off ebay. I also keep the scale covered when not in use. Crud, dust or anything in the pivots is going to affect the scale in a negative way.

 

[LiveLife]

Do not oil agate stones meant to operate dry. The agate stone bearings need to "free float" on posts so knife edges align themselves and pivot for repeatable zero.

Instead, take off the covers and clean the posts/stones (especially "V" notch) with alcohol - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-and-discussions.778197/page-4#post-9893632

This is my QC test for beam scales (sensitivity and repeatability).

• After cleaning, place the scale on a level surface (Use a bubble level).
• Make sure windows/door/air vents are closed to eliminate air movement.
• Once zero is set, scale should repeat zero.
• Place 1-2 pieces of 1/4"x1/4" of 20 lb copy paper (About .05 gr each) and scale should be sensitive by moving pointer.
• Scale should register around .1 gr with 2 pieces.
• Verify scale with check weights, especially in the powder charge range being used.

Ohaus 10-10 showing around .1 gr reading (Each mark is .2 gr) with 2 pieces of 1/4"x1/4" of 20 lb copy paper - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-busting-digital-scales.821449/#post-10551544

 

[MEHavey]

Operate Dry
Hard-tap your middle finger on the table next to the scale as it settles.

It will settle quickly, reliably and consistently to the same point -- even if you nudge it to swinging again.

 

[Stew0576]

Thank you for the help, promised the wife i would take the night off from reloading so will be cleaning the scale tomorrow

 

[Dudedog]

promised the wife i would take the night off from reloading

Warning:
Spouses asking you to stop can be a sign of addiction

I have a 5-0-5 and like it great for rifle when trickling charges.
For spot checking charges I like my Digital Frankford DS750 about $30 various places.
Quick for checking, but not good when you need to trickle.
It runs on batteries, and when the batteries get weak it can behave strange,
no big deal for me but something to be aware of.
BDS had a "Myth busting" thread on Digital scales here which might be worth a look if you haven't seen it.

 

[GT1]

I think what happens is people let these beams sit out when not in use. Those agate stone bearings don't like anything getting on them, even specks of dust. I cover my whole bench when I'm not reloading, and if it is a longer period the beam goes back in the box.

 

[Stew0576]

My scale came out of the original package for the first time a week ago, i disassemble and pack it away after every use, my reloading area is in my bedroom for right now and my kids have access so everything is secured when not inn use

 

[gwpercle]

Operating a 505 , like any other, has a learning curve to it. Scales sometimes stick, so you have to work out a method...tapping the table , touching the beam or whatever works for you. The scale is a mechanical balance , proper operation must be learned along with the tricks to weighing .
I make sure my pointer is free and moving above and below zero , then let the magnetic damper stop it . If the beam seems hung up, I touch the beam or pan to free it and get it swinging again.
Cleaning all the contact points and bearings helps a lot.
Gary

 

[Stew0576]

Followed your recommendations, same results, grrrr think in getting good weights, reweighed a couple charges and they came out correct but don't like they way the scale acts, will try recleaning tomorrow

 

[RecoilRob]

Have you checked the table top for level? Doesn't take much to cause the beam to bind a little. And I think I read somewhere of the magnetic damper paddle becoming magnetized which could cause some sticking...maybe. Might be worth checking just to be sure it won't attract anything and if it does....demagnetize it.

 

[Stew0576]

That i did not do, i will check that, thank you for the reminder

 

[joed]

OMG, I thought I was the only one that went through this! I know exactly what you're going through. I bought a 5-0-5 scale new years ago and had the exact same complaint. The scale would seem OK as it got close to zero but all of a sudden would go over the charge when adding powder. It would tend to stick and almost always end up over the zero. It drove me nuts for about 2 months, I tried cleaning which did nothing. Took me awhile to find it but there was a burr on the knife edge of the arm. I used a jewelers file and cleaned up the edges ever so slightly. Since then it has never given me a problem and I would trust my life to this scale.

 

[Stew0576]

I will inspect that, verified level and still acting up

 

[joed]

It was 10 years ago when I went through the same thing. I may even have cleaned up the V in the stones with a fine jewels file too but can't remember. I was at wits end with that scale as I could not trust anything it weighed.

I remember I would get close to zero and trickle the remaining charge only to find that it would jump to at least a tenth over zero most times.

 

[Stew0576]

Seems to have worked, ran my finger nail over it and it would get caught, it might still be the sighted bit off but i think it might be my imagination at this point, thank you

 

[entropy]

Also if you have a fluorescent light over it, that can interfere with it, since the scale has magnetic dampening. I put an LED shop light over my reloading bench, which has a 505, and not only is it brighter and uses less wattage, I don't have to worry about electromagnetic interference from it.

I use Lee dippers with mine. I choose the dipper just under the charge weight, dump a full one, then put a little in and shake it out carefully until I get it on zero. Not the fastest method, but it is very consistent. I re-zero every couple hundred rounds or if I suspect it has wandered. Yo do have to be sure the beam is sitting in the pivots correctly.

 

[mdi]

I have some Q-tips and pencils on my bench and occasionally I'll dip a swab in alcohol and clean the bearings on my scale(s). The pencil comes into play when I use the eraser end to clean the knife edge/pivot. I keep my 5-10 out on it's "table" but cover it with an inverted plastic shoe box when not in use...

 

[H&R Glock]

Someone suggested that I get a can of "air" like you get for keyboard cleaning so my scale would settle down.
I swear by that now. Blow out the agates before loading and you will not have this problem.

 

[Biggs300]

Stew, I have an older, US made RCBS 505 that rivals my digital scales for accuracy as verified by check weights. I have a newer RCBS 1010 that zero's easily, but doesn't say there after a couple of loads. My reloading desk is perfectly level and I did some minor retuning to level the scale base when at zero. This helped, but it still looses zero after a 5 or 6 powder throws. I'm guessing, but I think the fact that my 1010 was manufactured in the US may be part of the problem. Check the bottom of the box to find out where yours was manufactured. The stamped metal on the inside of the base is NOT an indicator. Mine says "Manufactured by Ohaus Scale Corp, Florham Park, NJ USA" and the bottom of the box indicates Mfg. in Mexico. I understand that some of the newer scales are made in China.