I recently purchased a used RCBS RC press, it is an older press made in 1972 with the green wrinkle finish. It appears in used but not abused shape, no rust issues, a couple of paint chips. I went to mount the press on the bench and I noticed that when the handle is pulled down there is lateral play in the toggle links and toggle. Is this normal? It causes some minor rotation of the ram due to the play. Any one have a rock chucker they could check out for me?

Thanks.

I have a newer Rock Chucker Supreme and it has the same movement you describe. I has loaded thousands of rounds without issue.

My RC was made in 1971 and has seen very hard use. When the handle is in the full down position it has about 1/8" wiggle which to me seems very tight. If you have a worn out RC it might be the first on record.

quote:

Originally posted by 7x57hunter:
I recently purchased a used RCBS RC press, it is an older press made in 1972 with the green wrinkle finish. It appears in used but not abused shape, no rust issues, a couple of paint chips. I went to mount the press on the bench and I noticed that when the handle is pulled down there is lateral play in the toggle links and toggle. Is this normal? It causes some minor rotation of the ram due to the play. Any one have a rock chucker they could check out for me?

Thanks.

Sounds just like mine, and mine works just fine.

This one has just over 1/8" at the end of the handle. Do you think I should get parts to fix it, or is that acceptable?

I would simply use it. I checked mine and it has the same small amount of play. It has never been an issue. Heck it was probably that way when it was new.

Thanks for the input guys, I guess I will just load up some rounds and find out.

I'd call RCBS and see if they consider it an issue. If they do, they'll take care of you. If they don't, you will be the first person on the planet to report them not handling a problem. 530-533-5191 should be a good number for them.

Keep in mind that play in the handle does no necessarily mean the cylinder with the shell holder is loose.

I have a 1974 version Rockchucker that has loaded many 10,000s and it still works great.

That little play on the RC is something you do not need to worry about.

Reload, be safe, have fun, repeat. No worries.

I went to reload some 32-20 ammo yesterday and I noticed play in the ram as well. At full stroke the ram can rock 0.025".

.025", I have 4 rock Chuckers, two of them are used with Piggy Back presses. When talking about the Rock Chucker I avoid terms like cam over, none of my Rock Chuckers cam over, they jam over, cram over, lock up or go into a bind, anything but cam over. I can alter/modify the linkage to obtain cam over but that would create a problem for the one way clutch on the two Piggy Back presses.



To tighten a shaft in a bore, the bore can be knurled and then reamed and or honed, when a shaft becomes loose the problem is at the top and bottom of the bore meaning the bore/hole is worn in the shape of an hour glass.Bushings in the bottom and top of the bore will restore the fit between the ram and bore. So? There is a fix.

The Rock Chucker linkage has a limiter to prevent cam over, when the press goes into a bind the ram is kicked back at the bottom (hour glass), this causes the ram to kick forward at the top. You said you were going to load some 30-20, I will assume you raised the ram with a 'no-load condition, meaning you did not have a case in the shell holder.

In all of my presses the case is part of the alignment between the press, die and shell holder.When I have a case in the shell holder the case aligns the ram with the die. the case prevents the ram from 'kicking' forward and or backwards.

Someone playing with handles at Cabelas raised the ram on a Rock Chucker and noticed the ram kick at the top, SO? They focosed their camera on the ram and posted the video to YouTube.

The reaction was predictable among 'the sky is falling' crowd, imports from China etc.. Then there were the bashers.

I have no less than 7 Herter presses, all of my Herter presses cam over.

F. Guffey

Yes it appears that the bore is worn in an hourglass manner like you mention. It does slightly cam over but I think this is due to the worn condition. You are right no die in press, lowered the handle and there was a distinct rock in the ram forward as it hit the bottom of the stroke.

"It does slightly cam over but..."

7mm57hunter, I have presses that cam over, cam over applies to the ram, the ram on a cam over press goes to the top of its travel then stops and changes directions. The amount of cam over can be measured with a dial indicator.

The RCBS Rock Chucker linkage gets tangled up under the press, instead of camming over the linkage hits a stop. Meaning, the linkage stops against itself instead of stopping against the frame.

1 800 533 5000, call RCBS, it is not likely they will argue with you, I called them and informed them an elephant steped on it. The next time I called they did not ask about my elephant.

F. Guffey

I guess I used the term cam over incorrectly. It does not cam over but the toggle links go past vertical. I will call rcbs.

My Rockchucker is the very first edition with green sparkly bicycle grip. It has loaded 10's of thousands of rounds and has no noticeable play.

I called RCBS, they need me to ship it to them then they will quote me on a rebuild. Anyone have this done before? I really don't want to pay $20 in shipping to find out it will cost more than a new press to fix.

Thanks.

Send the press to them. they will fix or replace it cheaper than you can buy a new press if they charge you for the repairs at all.

Why are you worried about it? As many have said theirs does the same thing and does not cause any problems

You have nothin' that needs fixin'.

The idea that we need a "tight" press to jam things together precisely is a common fallicy. A round case will precisely self center itself in a round die hole UNLESS the press prevents it.

The toggle block is the "cam". When the lever is pressed, the block rotates. It pivots on the swinging twin toggle links and cams the ram fully up. If the block contines to rotate passed full up the ram begins to move down because the toggle block has "cammed over" top-dead-center. Thus, cam over occurs mechanicaly with lever operation and has nothing to do with any pressure or even if there's anything in the press. Cam over under pressure has no benefit other than as tactile feed-back insuring the user he has indeed raised the ram fully up.

RCs are okay presses. I have one myself but it's no better, stronger, well made or lasts any longer that any other iron press of its type. If I had to replace it tomorrow I'd get a Lee Classic Cast because it's just as good in every way and has much better user features; like Lee's adjustable lever is nice and the spent primer catcher system actually works! (I HATE tossed primers and the abrasive grit they deposit right against the ram hole.)

A few things that wear out on the RC.

The 3/8" pin from the toggle to the ram will egg shape, the older pins were not as hard as the ram. Once they replaced the pin with a hardened on then the ram hole would wear egg shaped.

The older presses, did not have the beville washers beteen the toggle block and the toggle links, to take up the side to side slack.

The older toggle blocks had a screw pressed in it for the toggle links, while the newer ones have a hardened pin held in place with a E clip on both ends.

The newer toggle blocks have the handle offset at about a 6 degree angle so the handle will clear the Piggyback loader.

Yes the ram in the press will at one point in time wear enough to see movement at the end of its travel, but the case will self align to the die, or if you have a pre 1981 press then make a new ram from a piece of one inch T&G ETD 150 steel and do not look back.

J Wisner

This is first time I've heard of RCBS charging except on electrical products.(digital scales and melting furnaces) I hope you send it in so we can get the rest of the story (at your expense lol)

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/Parts_Book.pdf

F. Guffey

Send that wore out press to me for evaluation and testing. I will test it to failure now this may take some time 15-20 years but don't worry we will be diligent in our testing.
Bill