worn pallet stone

[GandalfPC]

When the impact face of a pallet stone is worn down is it time to replace it, or can the face be polished to the correct angle? If so, what is the correct method of polishing it?

[GandalfPC]

When the impact face of a pallet stone is worn down is it time to replace it, or can the face be polished to the correct angle? If so, what is the correct method of polishing it?

[GandalfPC]

Perhaps it isn't worn - I was assuming that. It may just be that the impact angle is too shallow (wrong stone chosen?) or maybe a previous botched repair has it in backwards? The face appears to be nearly 90 degrees - I will post a picture of it in a minute...

[This message has been edited by GandalfPC (edited 10-01-2002).]

[GandalfPC]

http://jasongoldman.com/elgin-pallet2.jpg

[GandalfPC]

http://jasongoldman.com/elgin-pallet3.jpg

[GandalfPC]

Well, I can see it's not in backwards - the other end is perfect 90 degrees...

A push on the balance wheel with a finger will make it tick a few times, then it comes to rest with a tooth (any tooth) from the escape wheel sitting on the entry stone impulse face.

The locking on both sides is just a bit deeper than I would like also, not so much to stop the movement, but I will need to move both stones back a bit. Not sure if I fixing the impact face will have any bearing on this though...


[This message has been edited by GandalfPC (edited 10-01-2002).]

[GandalfPC]

Yes, I have checked the action of the lever manually as you described (recommended by DeCarle - good enough for me) - The escapement will work if you wind it a bit and move the lever manually, its just that the impulse face of the entry stone isn't giving the balance enough of a push - even more than that, it must be giving it practically no push it all for it to be coming to rest with a tooth on the impact face.

[This message has been edited by GandalfPC (edited 10-01-2002).]

[GandalfPC]

The watch is in beat. Purchased on Ebay to practice repairs on.

There does appear to be a bit of residue on the impact face of each stone. The impact faces are certainly darker than the nice clean sides of the stones.

The banking had been opened all the way up by a previous owner or repairman in an attempt to fix the problem (butchering the banking screw badly in the process) - It is possible the pallet isn't original.

Both entry and exit stones have just a bit too much lock - which could be caused by a lever that is a bit too long (hoping this is not the problem :smile:) or by the stones being too far out...

At least I thought they had too much lock, but after examining some strong running watches I have that have been professionally serviced I see that the amount of lock is fairly acceptable...

[This message has been edited by GandalfPC (edited 10-01-2002).]

[BrianC]

Looks to me like you have a wrong stone there. The one without the angle seems to be the culprit.
Brian C.

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[GandalfPC]

I checked the position of the guard pin when each stone is about to come off lock, the guard pin is farther towards the rim of the jewel hole when coming off the entry stone. This might mean that the lever is bent slightly, or it may just be a symptom of my jewel being incorrect...

[GandalfPC]

Very kind of you, thank you.

In your picture I notice that the entry stone definately has a greater angle than mine...

[jim88]

GrandalfPC, I must commend you on you efforts thus far on your practice repair. What you're trying to tackle with the pallet assembly is a little more advanced but I would encourage you to stay with it. Be sure to clean those pallet stones, especially the impulse faces with cleaners and pegwood. If you decide to try to move the pallet stones just take it slow and careful. Jim.

[GandalfPC]

Thank you for your kind encouragement.

Slow and careful is how I am taking it :smile:

As a matter of fact, a little too slow it would seem. I was going along with Donald de Carle's book and I was checking out the action of the pallet before I cleaned it. The information in the book about the depth of locking made it sound like it should be much more shallow than I now understand it should be. Also, my thinking that the impulse face was at too small an angle was based upon my discovery that the movement always stopped with a tooth of the escape wheel stopped on the impact face of the entry stone, and that the stone itself (being quite small) appeared to have a near 90 degree angle for it's impact face.

Well, since I had found out as much as I could I gave it a good cleaning, made extra sure that it was exactly in beat, and gave it just the right amount of oil.

It's ticking away like a champ right now, and I haven't even oiled the escape teeth and pallet stones yet.

I have learned alot, and have alot to learn...

Thank you everyone for your help with this, and I will be sure to give a full exam, a cleaning, and another full exam in such cases in the future. And I will always assume that the pallet is fine until it is absolutely proven to be otherwise.