I've just bought an OLD RCBS.... how to clean up RUST?

[Jicko]

I just picked it up from craiglist... it is a good deal... 80s Rock Chucker w/ uniflow, with 5.10 scale, and other "kit accessories", and with a 223 die set, even with 500 223 55gr FMJ with cannuellure.

The owner last use this setup in early 90s (he said 91!!)....

Now it has rust everywhere....

Any ideas how to clean it up? Remove the rust? etc....

Any good chemicals to use? Or "steel wool"?

When I pull the handle, it didn't go up and down smoothly neither... :-(

[grammaton76]

Full disassembly, and ask an auto shop if you can get 'em to stick it in their parts washer.

Maybe some 000 or 0000 steel wool scrubbing after it's had a good soak.

If you don't wanna go that route... give it a few applications of WD-40, an hour or so apart, wiping it down after each one. Should remove the corrosion pretty well without harming the metal underneath.

[Budd]

I thought everyone touting RCBS said their customer service was top notch - and if something didn't work properly to send it in to them to fix????

I know this is caused from neglect - but will they still work on it?:confused:

[Jicko]

I think I will try the WD40 route first.

Now, after i cleaned out the rust, do I need to apply lube to the main ram? If so, what should I use?

[xrMike]

I thought everyone touting RCBS said their customer service was top notch - and if something didn't work properly to send it in to them to fix????

I know this is caused from neglect - but will they still work on it?:confused:Yeah, if RCBS cust. service is as good as everyone says it is, I'd give them an exploratory call and maybe they'll ask you to send it in and they'll replace it with a new one, or refurbish it or something.

[Jicko]

I thought everyone touting RCBS said their customer service was top notch - and if something didn't work properly to send it in to them to fix????

I know this is caused from neglect - but will they still work on it?:confused:

I kinda want to know if they will help me too. Too bad their customer service is only open Mon to THUR!!!

Also, the 5-10 scale can't be zero too... :-( I'd need to set it to 2.0gr before it will zero.... removing beas from the pan support assembly won't work neither, either it is too "heavy" or too "light"...

[Budd]

I also did not say this as a jab to RCBS - I am in the market for a single stage - either Rock Chucker or the Lee. I have used the Lee and it works great - but if the service over time is really THAT good - it may sway my purchase. FYI.:)

[Budd]

I think I will try the WD40 route first.

Now, after i cleaned out the rust, do I need to apply lube to the main ram? If so, what should I use?

I would just lightly oil it with motor oil or gun oil. (Motor oil is cheaper):D

Just put some on a cotton rag - let it soak in and wipe it down. Do this every once in awhile to maintain it.

[grammaton76]

I kinda want to know if they will help me too. Too bad their customer service is only open Mon to THUR!!!

Also, the 5-10 scale can't be zero too... :-( I'd need to set it to 2.0gr before it will zero.... removing beas from the pan support assembly won't work neither, either it is too "heavy" or too "light"...

Not quite sure what the issue is here. You need a 2gr weight in order to zero it? Drop me a PM, I'll meter you out 2gr of sand or something with my Dillon scale and then you can calibrate your 5.10, if that's what you need. I thought you already had a scale before, though?

[30Cal]

There's a wheel on the left side of the scale that you use to zero it.

[Jicko]

Not quite sure what the issue is here. You need a 2gr weight in order to zero it? Drop me a PM, I'll meter you out 2gr of sand or something with my Dillon scale and then you can calibrate your 5.10, if that's what you need. I thought you already had a scale before, though?

I've a dillon scale too. :D

I picked up this old RCBS, as a package, last nite. I am planning to also get into .308 reloading, and having to keep switching caliber isn't all that "nice" on the 550B.... that's why I try to get another single stage setup.... I also want a send "powder measure"....

All those for $70... unbeatable... :D

[Jicko]

There's a wheel on the left side of the scale that you use to zero it.

:D

When I said, it can't be zero, I did turn the wheel till it max'ed out and the screw is off the scale.

Basically, when I take 1 bead out, it bottoms out. If I put the bead back in, it tops out.

Gram's "sand" idea would work.... or... maybe i can measure 2gr of RL15 and put it in there.... :D

[Technical Ted]

:D

When I said, it can't be zero, I did turn the wheel till it max'ed out and the screw is off the scale.

Basically, when I take 1 bead out, it bottoms out. If I put the bead back in, it tops out.

Gram's "sand" idea would work.... or... maybe i can measure 2gr of RL15 and put it in there.... :D
I don't understand. To zero a balance beam scale you set the balance beam weights to zero and adjust the wheel until the pointer points to the O hash mark.

Is it possible the arm is warped?

Here are the instructions for download:
https://shop.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/,DanaInfo=www.rcbs.com+Model510ScaleInstructions.p df

RCBS also offers check weights:
https://shop.rcbs.com/WebConnect/,DanaInfo=shop.rcbs.com+MainServlet?storeId=webcon nect&catalogId=webconnect&langId=en_US&action=ProductDisplay&screenlabel=index&productId=2995&route=C08J026

[Jicko]

I don't understand. To zero a balance beam scale you set the balance beam weights to zero and adjust the wheel until the pointer points to the O hash mark.

Is it possible the arm is warped?


It is strange to me TOO!! Something that is supposed to be so simple and trivial.....

I have tested with my Dillon too, on the same location, to prove that the surface is level.

Basically.... when everything is set to "zero", and with nothing on the pan.... when I max'ed out my "wheel" adjustment, the "needle" is still topped out. I actually need to manually lift up that side of the scale probably for another inch or 2 before the needle will point to the O hash mark!!

If I compensate it with 2.0gr on the dial, I can easily achieve ZERO. And after than, it does WORK, and measure correctly.... I weight a bullet on my Dillon and compare it on the RCBS.

I guess, I'll call up RCBS, and either send it back to them, or to add weight to the bottom of the "pan assembly".

The arm didn't seem warped. The ONLY reason I can think of is that it is a wrong PAN, but the original owner don't think he changed that at all..... (yet it was like 15yrs ago, that he last used this setup)


PS. thanks for the links, I actually checked them out earlier too, to see if there are updates..... i also have the original manual....

[grammaton76]

I've a dillon scale too. :D

I picked up this old RCBS, as a package, last nite. I am planning to also get into .308 reloading, and having to keep switching caliber isn't all that "nice" on the 550B.... that's why I try to get another single stage setup.... I also want a send "powder measure"....

All those for $70... unbeatable... :D

Ah, I see. Sounds neat.

Personally, I just picked up the RCBS Chargemaster automatic scale/powder dispenser combo... only thing I could find that'd toss out DTC-sized piles of powder without a bunch of scooping. :)

If it were me, I'd probably just spend the $125 for the 550B caliber conversion, keep the 308 dies and the RCBS press (for operations such as primer pocket swaging when you get a crimped piece in your 550), and sell off the rest of it. You could probably get enough out of it all, to reduce your overall expense to $75...

[Jicko]

Too bad it didn't come with a .308 die.... or else it would be.... PERFECTO!!

I can see that I will be reloading a lot of 223s and 308s... so I would have to keep switching them :-(

I think that if I can set up 2 different power dispenser, that would be nice (that's why i jump onto this deal... to get a 2nd press and a 2nd powder measure)

It would be *nice* to get the Lyman DPS electronic scale and dispenser.... yet, I'm just not *ready* yet....

In order to get the whole dillon thing, i would need to get the dillon dies and conv kit (that's like $100)... then i would need to get the square mounting thing.... and kinda need to get another powder dispenser.... and all those will "add up"....

I think I will try to setup this RCBS to do "low quantity" precision loads.... .308... and then use my 550B to do 223s and 9mm

[grammaton76]

Too bad it didn't come with a .308 die.... or else it would be.... PERFECTO!!

I can see that I will be reloading a lot of 223s and 308s... so I would have to keep switching them :-(

I think that if I can set up 2 different power dispenser, that would be nice (that's why i jump onto this deal... to get a 2nd press and a 2nd powder measure)

It would be *nice* to get the Lyman DPS electronic scale and dispenser.... yet, I'm just not *ready* yet....

The Lyman may be cheap, but it's not that great. Check this out:
http://www.6mmbr.com/powderdispensers01.html

That's the article that influenced me to go RCBS for my dispenser.

In order to get the whole dillon thing, i would need to get the dillon dies and conv kit (that's like $100)... then i would need to get the square mounting thing.... and kinda need to get another powder dispenser.... and all those will "add up"....

Ah, thought you had the dies with the package press you picked up.

Total price, including powder dispenser, for the caliber conversion and quick change set (including powder measure) is $125. The dies are an extra $57.95.

I think I will try to setup this RCBS to do "low quantity" precision loads.... .308... and then use my 550B to do 223s and 9mm

Makes sense.

[8200rpm]

I used CLP and 0000 steel wool to remove the rust on my RCBS RCII. Took the rust right off.

[Gunsrruss]

I have one of those balance beam scales and .308 lee dies if you want them. Now I don't know if that scale is any good, I've never used it. Your welcome to them if you drive up to Alpine:cool2:

I will be shooting the Palma match at Dulzura tomorrow, but I should be home after 12:00PM. Let me know, or Sunday;)

[Jicko]

Thanks Rus! I'll call you. And let me think about tomorrow's Palma.... I am very tempt to swing by...

[Mnort10x]

This is the best stuff to remove rust without doing anything but soaking.

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1083&title=RUST+and+BLUE+REMOVER

[Budd]

Jicko - you call RCBS today? If so, what did they say?