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I've got a Lyman 1000 beam scale that has served me well for maybe 8 years. Last night I was trying to weigh powder charges (about 50gr) and I noticed that the beam was "sticky" in its movement. Normally the pointer on the beam would fluctuate, dampened my the magnets and then settle. This sticky movement is very problematic for continuing to use it. I did brush off the pivot points and bearing surfaces with a soft toothbrush, but no improvement. Checked for visual contamination - Nope. Tried lubricating the bearing points with some fine powdered Mica that I use for neck lubrication - No better. When I re-zero the scale, it will come to zero, but is still a sticky in its movements. Any ideas? I'd hate to throw the scale out if I could get it working normally. | ||
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I had an RCBS 10/10 scale that had similar troubles once . I finally replaced the pivot points inserts and all was well still . I'm not familiar with the Lyman scale and don't know if this info will help . Shoot Straight Know Your Target . ...  | |||
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i had a similar problem with my 505, and naturally went straight to the pivot points. After no avail, i noticed that the plate attached to the beam that magnetically dampens had become slightly bent and was hitting the frame of the scale. After adjusting the plate, all was well. Auburn University BS '09, DVM '17 | |||
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I did check the scale beam, pointer and such for rubbing contact and didn't see anything. I guess I'll call Lyman and see if I can get some new bearing points before dropping the money on a new scale. Thanks | |||
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You might check the approach to zero spring and see if it is rusty. When rusty it will drag on the bottom dampener blade as it comes up near zero. | |||
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If you had a RCBS it would have a life time Warr. and FREE REPAIR from Ohaus. | |||
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I believe the pivot points on a beam scale should be clean and dry, no lube whatsoever. I'd use alcohol to clean off 8 years of dirt and debris. If still sluggish, then spring for new parts. I'm sure they're still available. | |||
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 I have this problem when a fan or air conditioner is on.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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OK while you all have your thinking caps on, can someone remind me how the magnetic dampner works. And then is it possible for the magnetic field/s to change/weaken/strengthen, and what effect that could have?? I know I had to have a plane Degaused or something so the compass could be calibrated. | |||
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passing a conductor through a magnetic field induces electric potential. in the metal dampener plate - the conductor - the electric potential generates eddy currents. those eddy currents conflict with the magnetic field, causing drag. like when you put load on a generator or alternator. the rotor drags against the stator or field. | |||
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Um, thanks delloro. (I think)  | |||
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Figured it out. The plate that passes through the magnetic field has become a little loose. It if gets too close to one magnet or the other, it doesn't get just dampened, it gets sticky via magnetic attraction. I had Lyman send me some new agate bearings and replacing them was a major aggravation that ended up requiring a propane torch. After all the aggravation I ended up ordering an RCBS 750gr electronic scale. I don't trust my beam scale anymore.  | |||
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Old age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Well damn. I knew it didn't look like steel or iron, more of a copper color. It still seem that when it moves slightly closer to one magnet that is when the scale gets sticky. Wouldn't removing the vein alter the balance of the scale more than the zero adjuster could account for? I'd be more than happy to ship it to you Bartsche, just PM your address and I'll drop it in USPS to you. Thanks | |||
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I have had a Ohaus 10-10 Scale and powder measure for some 25 years. It seems to me that mine has always been "sticky". What I have always done is place the powder in the pan and place it one the scale. Then I set the powder and pan swinging a little bit. This causes the beam to oscillate on the scale about one graduation or two above and below on the scale. In about two or three seconds it will settle down. I always add powder via powder trickler to the pan while the beam is still oscillating until it stops at 0. | |||
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Well you won't have beam balance trouble anymore . . . Just electronic trouble. And the beams are easier to see when/if they actup. The electric are ball-faced liers. Keep your check weight handy. | |||
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Hysteresis, ALL scales I`m familiar with exibit it to some degree, digital and balance. From the online dictionary hys·ter·e·sis Audio Help /ËŒhɪstəˈrisɪs/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[his-tuh-ree-sis] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun Physics. 1. the lag in response exhibited by a body in reacting to changes in the forces, esp. magnetic forces, affecting it. Compare magnetic hysteresis. 2. the phenomenon exhibited by a system, often a ferromagnetic or imperfectly elastic material, in which the reaction of the system to changes is dependent upon its past reactions to change. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Origin: 1795–1805; < Gk hystérésis deficiency, state of being behind or late, hence inferior, equiv. to hysteré-, var. s. of hystereÇn to come late, lag behind, v. deriv. of hýsteros coming behind + -sis -sis] ------------------------------------ The trouble with the Internet is that it's replacing masturbation as a leisure activity. ~Patrick Murray "Why shouldn`t truth be stranger then fiction? Fiction after all has to make sense." (Samual Clemens) "Saepe errans, numquam dubitans --Frequently in error, never in doubt". | |||
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I just traded my Dillon Ohaus scale for a new one when I was at Dillon's shop yesterday. I had the exact same "sticky" beam movement. Mine was almost 20 years old, and I chalked it up to the pivot blocks wearing out. They replaced it no questions asked. Good for another 20 years now. Si tantum EGO eram dimidium ut bonus ut EGO memor | |||
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 The Redding beam balance I've been using for over 50 years is as free moving today as it was new. It is stored with the Knife edge out of the bearing (jewel) if you will and covered when not in use.Periodicly it is inspected , honed a little and cleaned. There never has been ANY lubricant used on the pivot or jewel, in an effort to eliminate crude contamination.  I have a spare I have never used.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Didn't we used to call this "counter-electromotive force" in the old days? Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I recall back-EMF, but those were old days. . | |||
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Right ! right ! Just to throw a little shit into the game; It can be looked at as a 1 turn transformer and be called an induced reverse Electro-Magnetic Field in opposition to the permanent magnets. Same effect.A rose by any other name. rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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I got tired of the way beam scales wiggle and waggle up and down, so I got an RCBS digital. It's faster, shows the progression toward the load I want as I trickle powder into the pan and I have confidence in it. My beam would show a grain or half a grain difference in every throw of powder. I have never looked back... | |||
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also make sure the beam is center in the V notch, otherwise the ends of the pivot rub on the frame. | |||
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