Rcbs 5-0-5 scale won't stay zeroed

[Mopardoctor]

Every time lately when I get to the loading bench my scale won't zero out. Tonight I had to add 2 #8 pellets to the pan holder to get it to zero. Leveling screw is all the way in and it was still light on the pan end.

Mopar Doctor
Got Ammo?

[Mad Charlie]

Make sure all the fans are off, no air currents.
No sources of static electricity or magnetism.
Clean the V blocks with a cotton swab and denatured alcohol, same with pivots.
Closely examine the pivots with a loupe or other magnification device.
If you see any dings or nicks or burrs on the pivots you will need a very fine stone to recondition the pivots.
You just want to knock off the burrs while maintaining the pivot angles, again, you need a VERY fine 1/2x1/2x6 stone. or similar.
I keep my scale on a 3 legged leveling plate to make sure the scale is sitting on a level surface. All the legs are adjustable.
I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do NOT start playing with adding or subtracting shot to the pan holder.
Get a good set of check weights, if you do not already have some, and use them.
Make sure your poise slider is not bent and the pan hanger is not hanging up somehow.
Get a new scale.
If none of the above solves your problem, you live in an alternate universe and gravity has failed you.
That's all I can think of before coffee.

[Mopardoctor]

I have test weights and used them. I also use a bullet of known weight for a quick check.
Maybe just bad karma last night. it was very hot yesterday.

[ClutchAutomatic]

get it calibrated by single kernel scales?

[LR1955]

I have test weights and used them. I also use a bullet of known weight for a quick check.
Maybe just bad karma last night. it was very hot yesterday.

MD:

Sounds to me like the platform the scale is on isn't level -- maybe. I have a 1010 scale that is on a perfectly level surface and it is off by about .2 grain. I zero it using a 168 Match King bullet and it has stayed zeroed for about three weeks now.

If your scale is in a relatively calm and unchanging environment -- no air movement or out of the ordinary magnetic phenomena (power lines for example), it should hold a zero very well.

LR55

[Mopardoctor]

I went and bought a Hornady G2 1500 electronic scale to check the 5-0-5 scale. It was only around $30. Both scales are reading the same.

Mopar Doctor

[NugginFutz]

So, you are saying that neither the 1500 or the 505 will hold zero? Just sayin', because I don't read anywhere that you've resolved your issue...

[roor]

[Mopardoctor]

The 5-0-5 is working ok now. I bought the electronic scale as a way to double check.

[Mad Charlie]

What did you do to fix it?
Did the time/space continuum gate let you back through or did it fix itself? (I love things that fix themselves, except that I don't know what caused the malfunction)

Glad it's working, nothing worse for a handloader than a wonky scale.

[Mopardoctor]

Add 2 pellets of #8 shot to the pan holder.

[Mopardoctor]

THE SOURCE OF THE "BAD GRAVITY" ON MY 5-0-5 SCALE HAS BEEN FOUND!!!!

The pivot pin is loose in the beam and the pin was turned off center. I'll get some superglue tomorrow and see if the pivot pin will firm up in the beam.

Mopar Doctor

[Mad Charlie]

Just me, but I would send it back to RCBS. Get it fixed right and calibrated. Come back good as new.

Glad you found the problem, never saw that before, but still glad you found it.

[Mopardoctor]

This scale is 35 years old. Its not even made by RCBS anymore. It's been banged and bumped around a few times. I may replace it with one of the electronic scales.

[LR1955]

This scale is 35 years old. Its not even made by RCBS anymore. It's been banged and bumped around a few times. I may replace it with one of the electronic scales.

MD:

Best thing you can do is replace it. When you get a decent scale, you will wonder why you held on to that 505 for as long as you did.

LR55