QUESTION
Can a damaged load cell be repaired or does it need to be replaced?
ANSWER
If the load cell was crushed and its zero-load offset reading is beyond 2% it must be replaced. This means the load cell has plastically deformed. A 2% or less offset can sometimes be taken out by the software.
If a wire was broken it can usually be repaired. If the load cell underwent known crushing forces beyond its full-scale capacity and is reading an offset it is likely plastically deformed and not the result of a broken wire.