RCBS Jr press

hornetguy · March 9, 2011, 09:28 AM

I asked this question on another forum, but thought I'd try it here, as well.
I have an old RCBS Jr press that I used for about 30 years before "retiring" it. I quit using it because the arm would not stay in the "up" position. Last night, I dusted it off and tried it again, and remembered how annoying it is when the arm slowly drops back down when released after the upstroke.
Anyone else had/solved this problem? I'm going to replace the wavy washer in the lower linkage, but I don't have high hopes of this making a huge difference.

I had forgotten, however, how butter-SMOOTH this press is. I love that part of it.

So, opinions.... is it just worn out, or should I re-engineer it to have a spring hold it in the up position?

dlb435 · March 9, 2011, 09:43 AM

This has actually been covered before. Yes, they all flop down. I made a counter weight for mine and now it balances well. Use the up-stroke handle hole and use it to mount a 1"X3" plate. Mount any kind of weight you can find to the back end of the plate. This will balance the handle and stop the JR flop problem. Good luck!
Let me know if you need pics.

hornetguy · March 9, 2011, 12:52 PM

I guess I should have done a "search" on it... I just wasn't aware it was common. (thought I was "special"

)

I'll look at it, and see what I can come up with. If you don't mind posting pictures, I'd appreciate it... no point in re-inventing the wheel.

TATER · March 9, 2011, 12:53 PM

I use a big Rubber Band when not in use, I like the counter balance idea...
I'm going to work that out tonight.

See if I can find an old window weight.

crowbeaner · March 9, 2011, 02:29 PM

I have 2 of those presses. One the handle stays put, and the other the handle drops down on. It IS annoying, but since a new Rockchucker is out of the question right now, I live with it. I like having 2 presses, especially since I can mount them side by side and size in one and seat the bullet in the other. I just make sure the flopper is mounted where I can catch the handle when it drops.

Jerry45 · March 9, 2011, 02:36 PM

I also have one that is 30 + years old. The handle stays up. I believe if you replace the spring washier it will stay up. You can also adjust the tension on the washer by bending it. It can be a pain in the arss to get into place when it has enough tension but it can be adjusted to keep the handle up.

hornetguy · March 9, 2011, 04:00 PM

I plan to find a new washer this afternoon on the way home. It might even work to use two wavy washers together, to increase the thickness and tension.
If not, it's the counterweight mod for me...

dlb435 · March 9, 2011, 09:20 PM

Here are the pics of the counter weights.

I just used what ever old iron I had laying around. Lead would also do very well.

hornetguy · March 10, 2011, 01:05 AM

That looks sort of like a Greenlee hole punch... kind of an expensive counterweight...

I appreciate the pics... that gives me a direction to go on mine, if the washer tweaking doesn't work.

I'm stoked! Gonna get my Jr back in operation!

dlb435 · March 10, 2011, 07:27 AM

That is a Greenlee hole punch. It's just what I had laying around. If I find a chuck of iron at the shop I'll put that on and throw the old punches back in the tool box.

howlnmad · March 10, 2011, 07:11 PM

As has been suggested elsewhere, go with new tension washers.

dlb435 · March 10, 2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

As has been suggested elsewhere, go with new tension washers.

Sorry, this does not work. I tried it and got nothing for my efforts.

hornetguy · March 11, 2011, 12:07 PM

I replaced my original wave washer with TWO wave washers from the local hardware store. It was a little tricky getting them both in place, but finally succeeded.
The arm now stays up! I don't want to jinx it, but I cycled the arm up and down probably 60-70 times, and it stays in the up position now. It offers only slightly more resistance than before, but is still smooth... just takes a little more force to raise and lower. I need the exercise, anyway

I am curious as to what, if anything, will happen once the washers have been in long enough to "take a set" ... or if they will at all.
I suppose I should have taken pics of the washers first, but didn't think about it. They were just standard wavy washers from the hardware store, 1/2" ID, probably 1/4" wide, and relatively thin (.02-.03" ??.. guessing).

The original washer was thicker material, and only had one "wave"... these had maybe 4 "waves"..

Time will tell, but I'm pretty happy with it, so far.

F. Guffey · March 11, 2011, 11:23 PM

Apply the leaver policy, if the leaver wants to move down on it's own, leaver down, turn the ram around etc., and install the leaver in from the bottom, when the leaver is raised the ram raises, I have a kit for mounting, the kit includes a wedge, the wedge kick the top of the press back.

Call RCBS 1 800 533 5000 to see if they still make the wedge and or offer it for sale, again, when using RCBS shell holders on a kick back press cases must be guided into the die, the slack in modern shell holders allow for alignment by allowing the case to guide itself in to the die, the slack in the shell holder can allow the case to lean back.causing the reloader to align the case with the die (on some but not all cases).

Then there is the Herters 'fix', drill a hole, tap the hole with a seat drilled into the ram, then install the detente ball, install the spring, install a set screw, tighten the screw to increase tension on the detente ball, then secure the set screw with a locking nut.

F. Guffey

hornetguy · March 12, 2011, 03:27 AM

Actually, the Herter's idea doesn't sound too bad, either. A little more work, but interesting.
The only problem I have with that is that ball detents tend to wear a groove in the moving part. Probably wouldn't hurt, unless "stuff" tended to accumulate in it. (primer residue, grit, etc)

March 9, 2011, 09:28 AM	#1
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	RCBS Jr press I asked this question on another forum, but thought I'd try it here, as well. I have an old RCBS Jr press that I used for about 30 years before "retiring" it. I quit using it because the arm would not stay in the "up" position. Last night, I dusted it off and tried it again, and remembered how annoying it is when the arm slowly drops back down when released after the upstroke. Anyone else had/solved this problem? I'm going to replace the wavy washer in the lower linkage, but I don't have high hopes of this making a huge difference. I had forgotten, however, how butter-SMOOTH this press is. I love that part of it. So, opinions.... is it just worn out, or should I re-engineer it to have a spring hold it in the up position?

March 9, 2011, 02:29 PM	#5
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I have 2 of those presses. One the handle stays put, and the other the handle drops down on. It IS annoying, but since a new Rockchucker is out of the question right now, I live with it. I like having 2 presses, especially since I can mount them side by side and size in one and seat the bullet in the other. I just make sure the flopper is mounted where I can catch the handle when it drops. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

March 9, 2011, 02:36 PM	#6
Jerry45 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2000 Location: Metairie, Louisiana Posts: 890	I also have one that is 30 + years old. The handle stays up. I believe if you replace the spring washier it will stay up. You can also adjust the tension on the washer by bending it. It can be a pain in the arss to get into place when it has enough tension but it can be adjusted to keep the handle up. __________________ Guns are not dangerous! People are! RKBA!

March 11, 2011, 11:23 PM	#14
F. Guffey Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2008 Posts: 7,249	Apply the leaver policy, if the leaver wants to move down on it's own, leaver down, turn the ram around etc., and install the leaver in from the bottom, when the leaver is raised the ram raises, I have a kit for mounting, the kit includes a wedge, the wedge kick the top of the press back. Call RCBS 1 800 533 5000 to see if they still make the wedge and or offer it for sale, again, when using RCBS shell holders on a kick back press cases must be guided into the die, the slack in modern shell holders allow for alignment by allowing the case to guide itself in to the die, the slack in the shell holder can allow the case to lean back.causing the reloader to align the case with the die (on some but not all cases). Then there is the Herters 'fix', drill a hole, tap the hole with a seat drilled into the ram, then install the detente ball, install the spring, install a set screw, tighten the screw to increase tension on the detente ball, then secure the set screw with a locking nut. F. Guffey Last edited by F. Guffey; March 12, 2011 at 10:30 AM.

March 9, 2011, 09:43 AM	#2
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	This has actually been covered before. Yes, they all flop down. I made a counter weight for mine and now it balances well. Use the up-stroke handle hole and use it to mount a 1"X3" plate. Mount any kind of weight you can find to the back end of the plate. This will balance the handle and stop the JR flop problem. Good luck! Let me know if you need pics.

March 9, 2011, 12:52 PM	#3
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	I guess I should have done a "search" on it... I just wasn't aware it was common. (thought I was "special" ) I'll look at it, and see what I can come up with. If you don't mind posting pictures, I'd appreciate it... no point in re-inventing the wheel.

March 9, 2011, 12:53 PM	#4
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	I use a big Rubber Band when not in use, I like the counter balance idea... I'm going to work that out tonight. See if I can find an old window weight.

March 9, 2011, 04:00 PM	#7
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	I plan to find a new washer this afternoon on the way home. It might even work to use two wavy washers together, to increase the thickness and tension. If not, it's the counterweight mod for me...

March 9, 2011, 09:20 PM	#8
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	Here are the pics of the counter weights. I just used what ever old iron I had laying around. Lead would also do very well.

March 10, 2011, 01:05 AM	#9
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	That looks sort of like a Greenlee hole punch... kind of an expensive counterweight... I appreciate the pics... that gives me a direction to go on mine, if the washer tweaking doesn't work. I'm stoked! Gonna get my Jr back in operation!

March 10, 2011, 07:27 AM	#10
dlb435 Senior Member Join Date: January 26, 2009 Posts: 654	That is a Greenlee hole punch. It's just what I had laying around. If I find a chuck of iron at the shop I'll put that on and throw the old punches back in the tool box.

March 10, 2011, 07:11 PM	#11
howlnmad Senior Member Join Date: April 29, 2009 Location: Harriman Tn Posts: 424	As has been suggested elsewhere, go with new tension washers.

March 11, 2011, 12:07 PM	#13
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	I replaced my original wave washer with TWO wave washers from the local hardware store. It was a little tricky getting them both in place, but finally succeeded. The arm now stays up! I don't want to jinx it, but I cycled the arm up and down probably 60-70 times, and it stays in the up position now. It offers only slightly more resistance than before, but is still smooth... just takes a little more force to raise and lower. I need the exercise, anyway I am curious as to what, if anything, will happen once the washers have been in long enough to "take a set" ... or if they will at all. I suppose I should have taken pics of the washers first, but didn't think about it. They were just standard wavy washers from the hardware store, 1/2" ID, probably 1/4" wide, and relatively thin (.02-.03" ??.. guessing). The original washer was thicker material, and only had one "wave"... these had maybe 4 "waves".. Time will tell, but I'm pretty happy with it, so far.

March 12, 2011, 03:27 AM	#15
hornetguy Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2011 Location: on the north side of DFW Posts: 970	Actually, the Herter's idea doesn't sound too bad, either. A little more work, but interesting. The only problem I have with that is that ball detents tend to wear a groove in the moving part. Probably wouldn't hurt, unless "stuff" tended to accumulate in it. (primer residue, grit, etc)