Dillon scale won't zero

[SteelyNirvana]

I've got a Dillon eliminator scale that I've been using for about a year now. No problems until now. Just went to zero it and for the life of me it won't zero. The pan is basically still and the pointer acts like it wants to stop on zero but then it all of a sudden jumps to the top and then back down. It rocks back and fourth until it almost stops then does the process all over again. I've never had any problems out of this scale. I always check my zero before and after charging a batch of cases and it always been right at zero or +0.1 after I'm done.

Could static be the problem? What about humidity? I live in NC and the temp is supposed to be 100 today. We do have the A/C running in the house though.

Thanks in advance

 

[rcmodel]

A Magnetic Anomaly / Black Hole parked right over your house?
Or Poltergeists?

Seriously, I would suspect:
Air currents from the A/C blowing on it.
A fluorescent light ballast too close to it giving off magnetism.
Dirty / dusty pivot bearings and beam knife edge.

If it's static, get a can of Static Guard at the grocery store laundry section and hose everything down.

rc

 

[Bruce H.]

Brian, have you recently removed the beam to clean the scale? I believe that the beam is magnetically dampened. The copper colored metal part that sticks out of the back of the beam near the pointer end is part of the magnetic dampening system. I remember one time I took the beam off of mine and when I replaced it I didn't have the beam sitting correctly on the knive edge and it did weird things. Lift the beam up and then set it back down onto the knife edge to make sure that it is positioned correctly.

 

[SteelyNirvana]

Update

Just wanted to update this. After bickering with the girlfriend to cut off the A/C and ceiling fan with her not giving in I moved everything to the kitchen table. No A/C, no fan blowing air around. Problem solved. Apparently although I couldn't feel it, air was blowing on the scale in the living room causing the weird fluctuations. Just glad it was an easy fix .

 

[billybob44]

Bickering with Girlfriend??

Hay if that gal lets you load ammo in the living room, you need to keep her!! I've been married for over 36yr., and I load in the deep darkness of the basement.!!