I have an old RCBS powder scale probably made in the 70's. It has not been used for years as I went to a dispenser/digital scale setup. I have been having problems with my digital scale and decided to check it against the old boy, but it will not work. Is there any place that will repair it?

i'd like to hear the details of what/how on failure mode

but have you tried
https://rcbs.com/warranty/#

How is it not working ?

Me, three.

Hard to figure how it wouldn't work.

They're pretty simple machines.

Is a part missing or broken?

Unless there is a broken part it should be pretty easy to get working. It probably just needs a good cleaning.

I was going to ask if you had remembered to release the lifter to lower the beam knife edges onto the agate pivots but I don't think the 510 has this feature. Maybe one of the agate pivots has fallen out or they have become gummed up with crud from sitting unused for a while?
Other than that I can't see what would go wrong with a simple beam balance scale like the 510.

Thanks everyone for the replies. The problem with the scale is that I cannot get it zero balanced. I set both adjustments to zero, then thread the leveling leg at the other end up or down until the arrow aligns with the mark and it is zeroed. There is not enough leg adjustment to align the marks, i thread up the leg and the beam stays above it until I run out of adjustment. I can see no broken parts. I cleaned every point on it that i felt needed it. It looks so simple but I am at a total loss.

I had an RCBS 1010 scale go bad. I forget what was wrong, but I figured a new beam would fix it. RCBS made me send in the entire scale. They sent me a brand new RCBS 1010 scale no charge. I wish they had fixed my old, original one.

quote:

Originally posted by coyhunter:
Thanks everyone for the replies. The problem with the scale is that I cannot get it zero balanced. I set both adjustments to zero, then thread the leveling leg at the other end up or down until the arrow aligns with the mark and it is zeroed. There is not enough leg adjustment to align the marks, i thread up the leg and the beam stays above it until I run out of adjustment. I can see no broken parts. I cleaned every point on it that i felt needed it. It looks so simple but I am at a total loss.

Is your bench or what ever the scale is sitting on level? If not then you may well run out of adjustment as scales are normally calibrated to zero with the scale bar being level.

PS Also check the magnetic dampening vane to see it hasn't bent and is dragging on the scale housing.

This is an update on my powder scale issue. I contacted RCBS and this reply:
Good morning Raymond, this never makes any sense but when these balance beam scales have sat a long time with out use things change. Take the little tub off of the pan support and remove a small enough weight to get the beam to come down so that you may recalibrate it.
I removed two tiny pieces of what looks like lead shot from the pan after taking it apart and the scale works fine. I still cannot believe that worked, but there it is.

quote:

Originally posted by coyhunter:
This is an update on my powder scale issue. I contacted RCBS and this reply:
Good morning Raymond, this never makes any sense but when these balance beam scales have sat a long time with out use things change. Take the little tub off of the pan support and remove a small enough weight to get the beam to come down so that you may recalibrate it.
I removed two tiny pieces of what looks like lead shot from the pan after taking it apart and the scale works fine. I still cannot believe that worked, but there it is.

That sounds real hokery pokery but obviously worked.
I just can't see how the pan end of the balance beam would increase in weight over a period of non-use, or for that matter the graduation end of the beam decrease in weight which would cause the beam to tilt upwards beyond the levelling range of the adjustment.
Is it possible that there is a small growth of oxidation on or in the uncoated aluminium pan or tub? This would increase the weight of the pan end of the beam which is remedied when some of the small calibration weights are removed from the tub. Most simple beam balances used for reloading have these weights in the tub under the pan, you can here them rattle around when shaking the pan.

There has to be a logical explanation for this phenomenon.
My Lyman scales do show some oxidation discoloration on the pan tub but no actual growth.

I quit using mine and went back to my ancient oil dampened Redding. Thinking about just throwing the RCBS away.

I broke mine a item fell off the shelve above it landed on the beam.

Called RCBS they hand me send it into OHAUS the maker.

Great turn around time.

No charge.

quote:

Originally posted by shootermetal:
I quit using mine and went back to my ancient oil dampened Redding. Thinking about just throwing the RCBS away.

I used those Redding scales too for years, they give some good readings when a small insect decides it's time for an oil bath