RCBS Rock Chucker Press Refinishing

Nonus

Nonus

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Good day.

I managed to pick up an old RCBS Rock Chucker press for the price of a couple beers, which I stole from the family anyways.

The issue is that there is a lot of rust on the handle (not that much of an issue) and the ram has rust and some minor pitting. The frame of the press has seen better days too.

So my question is what should I do to insure that the thing will be in correct working order when I reassemble it. I have done some quick hand sanding with emery cloth to remove the vast majority of rust on the handle and ram. However I would probably have to strip the paint from the frame and the linkage arms. I just plan on painting the non moving parts with spray paint afterwards.

Also for replacement parts, it isn't a rock chucker supreme and that is the only parts list I can find on their site.
 
Call them. RCBS customer service is second to none. They've often been known to send replacement parts for free.
 
Very true but I don't think they are gonna send him a new press. If you got the rust off then I suggest a quality paint for the arm and press body. Oil the ram and keep it oiled. other than that I don't know what else you could do besides replace parts. My Rockchucker is only 2 years old and rust was already showing up below the plastic bulb on the end of the arm. I have since oiled every unpainted part every few months.
 
I am certainly not the first owner of this press and it has to be atleast 10+ years old, probably more.

The hardest part I think will be the frame where the ram runs through. I might be able to just put some steel wool on a something or other and then run it on a drill with some oil to clean it out.

I am just afraid to sand too much off and have the thing become useless. I have some parts soaking in Simple Green right now to remove some grime.
 
As far as the handle and body go that is cosmetic. I have a new rock chucker and it has lots of play in the ram and cylinder. I might get a Forster or take it to a machine shop and get them to fix it. They could make a blank threaded shaft to thread in where the dies go. make it a bit longer to true it up with a dial to align everything. Bore out the cylinder, install a sleeve and surface grind it to .0005" clearance of the ram. Then you would have a precision press with no free play to push your runout out when you cam it over. It would not be cheap though.
 
No that wouldn't. I have no idea how much play is in the press as I got it disassembled and it remains that way.

I guess I will just proceed as plan and hope things don't explode :D
 
Why not use some rust/blue remover used for gun refinishing? That will strip off the rust and then you can get it neutralized and oiled to stop further oxidization.

Furniture refinishing goo (Circa 1895) worked great for taking the butt ugly black/silver hammered finish paint from my Lymans, it is worth a try for the RCBS too. Mine aren't getting repainted though, they are staying in the black cast. With proper care you should never see rust again.
 
I have some spray can paint stripper that would easily remove the paint. I haven't cleaned the frame yet so hopefully it is just caked on grease/oil and not rust. The paint is falling off on some places so might as well remove it all.

I managed to get all the pins cleaned and polished up though. I am going to work on the ram later and let the frame soak in some Simple Green to clean it up.

Any tips on priming in cool weather? ~0C with some rain/snow right now. I can warm the pars and primer up inside and then paint outside quickly then have it dry inside.
 
I have nothing to make rounds yet. Going to be a couple months until I buy a rifle and the reloading components for it. So might as well do this stuff now.
 
Nonus said:
I have nothing to make rounds yet. Going to be a couple months until I buy a rifle and the reloading components for it. So might as well do this stuff now.
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Perfect timing then.
That gives you a couple months to hit the books and study the heck out of 2 or 3 different reloading manuals.
Even the books as old as your press is have tons of good info and tips.
 
Sad news, I think the ram is messed up and might need replacing or a tonne of work. The guy I got it from said he had to use a press to take the ram out cause it was seized in there good. I guess in the process of doing so he mangled the linkage point on the ram. The pin will not go into the hole nor will the toggle block fit into the ram. Everything else fits fine and works it is just the ram that is messed.

I guess I should email up RCBS and then find out the astronomical price for the ram.
 
.... A lot of the Powder manufacturer's offer FREE reloading Data Pamphlets for their products. So, this is a good time to send away ( e-mail ) for what you can get. ...... I'm using a used, RCBS "Rockchucker" that I got way back in around 1977/78 and it's still going fine ! The handle was never painted, but if you have a lot of rust on it, perhaps it would be worthwhile to have it hit with a fine power polishing along with the ram. The frame, depends on really just how deep and widespread the rust is. Rather than stripping it completely, perhaps a wire brush on the worst patches followed by a shot of something similar to Rust-oleum ( Hammer finish spray can ) in as close to the original color as you can get. Maybe, just Maybe, RCBS could tell you the closest matching color, as previously posted, their Customer Service is excellent ! ........ If possible, try to decide which calibers you are interested in, and keep your eyes open on the EE for used dies and shell holders. Also, you can never have too many reloading Manuals,and even the really old ones come in handy ! Used Bookstores and Garage Sales are your friends ! ...... David K
 
Nonus said:
Sad news, I think the ram is messed up and might need replacing or a tonne of work. The guy I got it from said he had to use a press to take the ram out cause it was seized in there good. I guess in the process of doing so he mangled the linkage point on the ram. The pin will not go into the hole nor will the toggle block fit into the ram. Everything else fits fine and works it is just the ram that is messed.

I guess I should email up RCBS and then find out the astronomical price for the ram.
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I bet you could really use those beers now? :p
 
jdman said:
I bet you could really use those beers now? :p
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Heh, Nah gave up drinking a long time ago and never looked back.

I might be able to take ye olde dremel to it and open up the holes a tiny bit then grind a bit from the ram and the toggle plate thing. It is only like a couple thousand off, just enough to where it doesn't want to move freely. I can always find some thin brass washers or something to fill up a gap if there is any.

As for the paint, it doesn't have to be stock, even a good couple coats of primer would do the job good. I just want to remove the rust and have it stop rusting even more. I cleaned up the frame and the hole where the ram rides in isn't rusty at all, after some use it will work itself clean. The nut that holds the handle on is rusted badly and the piece where the die screws in looks in rough shape too. Also it is missing the large primer holder for the priming tool.

But an excellent press for 3 beers (which I stole anyways) and some elbow grease is not a bad deal. The money I would save on this can easily be used to buy some reloading components.
 
Presses do wear out,they use cast iron as a bearing material. The grit from the primer pockets can chew up the soft iron. You don't want add to the looseness, so be carefull with your cleaning. I would use a ball of steel wool and oil with a drill to spin it to clean the bore. For the ram ,I would take a one inch strip of 600grit wet-dry and buff like a shoe shine boy would.Here is where you want to carefull,you can remove a fair bit of metal quickly,even with 600.Good luck.
 
Put it in the exchange of all other stuff and sell it as a unique anchor, put the money towards a new or used working press
 
Well after some hardcore dremeling I managed to get it working. Had to grind some of it off and voila, good as used :) Now all I have to do is strip the paint cause it is very flaky right now, then grind off the rust and prime/paint. Everything is soaking in some CLP right now to hopefully loosen up any more rust/dirt.

RCBS presses are rock solid which is why they offer a lifetime warranty on them.

Now what is a good primer/paint combo from Crappy Tire to get, something that will last and not chip off.
 
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