Beam Scales

[SteveUSA1]

Just picked up a Hornady beam scale Model M and reading instruction set up it states that Hornady suggest that when scale not in use to remove beam from contact bearing support to relieve unnessecary bearing wear.

Been reloading for over thirty years and never heard of this suggestion.
Any of you hardcore beam scale users do this.

[Barstooler]

I have been reloading for over 30 years as well and have had 2 beam scales.

The first was oil dampened so I had to remove the beam and cap the oil every time I stored it and never had a problem.  I gave that scale to my dad and bought a new one of the similar manufactor, but it was not oil dampened.

I left it for several years stored on the knife edges and then began to notice that it was beginning to "stick" and become unreliable.

Read on another forum that that would happen and could be corrected by resharpening the edges and storing properly.  Did that and it immediately fixed the problem.

Barstooler

[SteveUSA1]

That would explain why I finally had to replace my RCBS 500. It started to stick also. Learn something new every day. Thanks For your input.

[Haywire Haywood]

My RCBS 10-10 sticks sometimes when it's pegged on the bottom, I just bump it off the stop and it reads fine.  It's only 2ish yrs old.  It stays set up most of the time.  Maybe I better stop being lazy and put it up properly.

Ian

[ricciardelli]

I use an RCBS 5-0-5 and RCBS 10-10...have been since the 1960's, and the only time the beam comes off the scale is when I have it packed-up for a move.

[Chuck White]

I've had my 5-0-5 since 1974!

The first few years, I had to pack it away when not in use!
(the old "kitchen table thing" ya know!)

After that, when I would get finished using it, I would slide the weight over to the 500 end to prevent it teetering back and forth, but leave it set up!

No problems yet, still works fine!