RCBS Chargemaster HELP

[littlebang556]

My 16 month old RCBS Combo is not behaving itself.

I have included a copy of the email I sent RCBS rather than retyping the same.

Dear RCBS

I read on your website (http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructi ... Manual.pdf) and in my manual that warranty is 2 years from date of purchase and then conflicting print (http://www.rcbs.com/general/warranty.aspx) which states just 1 year.
I offer this point of interest because I purchased my Chargemaster Combo in July 2008 and although it has been an absolute dream of a machine (and have told many others just how good it is resulting in another club member purchase) it recently started doing some wierd stuff.
The unit switches on and counts down from 999999 to 111111, will calibrate although with an extra button press along the way but then I place pan on machine and press zero and it wants to calibrate. If bypassing zero and inputing manual load data, screen output and dispensed load do not correspond with numbers pressed. Eg: 25.4 gr will read and dispense (still acurately) 36.5gr and other key are similar.
I was lucky to have stored a load in memory that was current and limped along to load 33 rounds before it went into some sort of pause mode that continued when I pressed (zero...I think it was) for just 2 more rounds.
If you are not happy replacing my unit (which would upset me greatly) is there a way to reset the machine to factory settings to rectify this or do I just throw my hard earnt cash in the bin an purchase something else designed in the dark ages.
My other problem is that it would cost around $100 Australian to pay for postage to and return should you decide warranty is valid or for a service (plus parts) if not covered...that is assuming you even fix them.
Just for interest, my Combo has only been used by myself reloading just one calibre and has not been moved from orriginal placement out of its box.
I have no flurescent lights or mobile phones or electronic devices nearby and opperate it from inside my home and not in a shed. Void if removed stickers are still inplace on underside pending your reply.

If you have any questions please do ask.

Please advise me as to my options.

Kindest Regards

My question is, has anyone else come across a similar problem and if so how was it rectified.

Cheers

Rob Alman.

[Peter Hulett]

I don't know much about the chargemaster (my Lyman works really well and has done for 6 years) but I don't think that an email like this is the way to approach the americans. Usually the aftersales service on american stuff is excellent and they will bend over backward to assist you.

Your email was probably fine for aussies who are used to straight talking but you have a cultural difference here. I spend a fair bit of time in the USA and I would never use that approach. Just explain the problem and ask for a solution. You will usually get it.

If you get sh**tty with them or speak forcefully they will close up and you will get no assistance as nobody wants to be inolved in any further business with you in case they have to wear further flak.

The USA is an interesting cultural mix and everybody is very sensitive

[littlebang556]

Cheers for the heads up Peter but I don't really think that my message included much more than pointing out the differences in warranty and the difficulty in trying to use it in its present state.

I did say that their product was excellent (just not mine) and sought the possibility of a way to fix it if there was no service available or warranty was not to eventuate.

Cheers

Rob

[IanP]

I remember reading on a forum in 6mmbr.com that a number of Chargemasters had a key pad problem. The owners of these faulty machines received replacement units.

Post your problem on 6mmbr.com and I'm sure you will be given the facts about when the bad batch of key pads were discovered. When you have the info about the problem phone NIOA (RCBS Importers) and get them to replace it.

Ian

[Dazza]

Rob,

I remember talking to a dealer, who told me that some of the power supplies for these units can be dodgy. A lot of them failed straight out of the box, but some failed later on, doing weird things like yours is doing...

Try getting on to the distributor(not sure who that is), and see if you can get an upgraded power supply(wall wart!). You may be able to get one from Dick Smith to try, if it doesnt work, return it and get your money back.

Best of luck!

Dazza

[littlebang556]

Cheers Dazza,

Checked my power supply and for some insane reason it is pumping out 15.5V (about 70% extra) so I went to Dick Smiths' and purchased a supply within specifications at 9.2V (just 2% extra) and found no difference in the opperation of my chargemaster.

Does anyone have a contact email address for RCBS as I have been over 1 week now without a response from them and wondering if an alternate contact may help my cause.

I am still looking for some way that I could reset my machine if possible.

Regards

Rob Alman

[littlebang556]

RCBS have updated all warranty information on their website and the Chargemaster is now clearly just one year warranty.
I have also been offered a resolution from RCBS regarding my Chargemaster that is most satisfactor and will leave me with a large smile.
RCBS equipment is of a high standard and if there are any problems you can rest assured that they will act in the most proffessional way to discover a solution. You as a customer will not be forgotten.
My reloading bench has many RCBS products and will for many years to come.

Regards

Rob Alman

[littlebang556]

My replacement unit arrived yesterday...(same day I returned from holidays)..awesome timing.
I open the box with large smile in anticipation of getting back into some speedy reloading...plug it in and it is doing similar stuff as the one it replaced.
RCBS actually tested the unit prior to its departure from the states and all was fine.....This is a worry on its own that they then turn up dead.
I will wait until after xmas new year for reply from RCBS but it really has me scratching my head regarding electronic reloading equipment...might even save up for a Harrels as a back up.

Regards

Rob

[Razer]

I would be p***** of in your situation but if the unit was tested OK in US which is 120volts is it possible that it is still on 120v and hasn't been switched to 240v. I have recently seen quite a few RCBS chargemasters for sale second hand with no takers!! You are not alone with your problems it seems. Don't give up on electronic scales as they are also perfect for batching cases/loaded ammo etc. I have a Lyman,now 6[?] years old, that has been knocked off bench [by cat] and still has given no trouble, and if it failed tomorrow I would consider it owes me nothing and buy another Lyman.
Ray.

[Chopper]

G,day Rob, could it be your power supply, try another power point maybe ? just a thought, Chop.

[Chopper]

I have had my rcbs i guess close to 10 years, the first model and its still going fine, the only prob was when i would spill powder on it and try to blow it off and some would go inside under the tray and and end up under the weight sensor, this gave me erratic readings, when it was taken apart and cleaned away it went again , this can happen to the current model as well, some others i have seen pulled apart have had bits of green plastic floating around inside them also, its just a matter of a few screws underneath to take it apart and make sure it is clean, transport and getting thrown around doesn't help them , THEY MUST BE CLEAN, even the new ones, i think the grit comes from the screws when they are assembled, Chop.

[littlebang556]

I have tried another power point previous to post chopper and should not matter as is connected to UPS (uninteruptable power supply).
Otherwise there are no switches to flick as per many other power supplies and unit supplied does state 9v 230v but output is actually 13.5v...previous one dished out 15.5v.
If unit was beyond warranty period I would undo it to have a bo-peep but load sensor appears to be working fine but keypads are confused.
I will not give up on my combo because when working is a marvelous machine that saves me MUCH time at the reloading bench and will also be purchasing an RCBS Trim Pro Power Trim Kit...they do have great tools...many of them leaders in the market.
Even tried static wipes without result.
Will have to wait and see what RCBS say.

Rob.

[VickiMcc]

I have one as well that had confused keypad. I was using the supplied power pak from the Australian distributor at the time. I compared the original power supply with the aftermarket supply and there was a difference in the ratings. I got a travel adaptor from KMart and plugged in the original. From then on, no more problems.

Paul

[Triplejim]

My 16 month old RCBS Combo is not behaving itself.
is there a way to reset the machine to factory settings to rectify this
Cheers Rob Alman.

There is a factory reset for the RCBS scales see:
http://www.triplej.com.au/graphics/RCBS.gif

I've no idea if this works on the Chargemaster, JC

[littlebang556]

It was worth at try James but alas...no cigar.
My scale does not read test at any point and cant say that my previous unit did either. On a similar note, my previous unit did once display the word LEARN...no idea how this happened.
Instruction may even be for the Rangemaster???

Further testing of my replacement reveals that the keys with errors are indeed all keys on left row...1-4-7-GN/GMS...will forward same to RCBS.

Regards

Rob Alman