setting time on key wound pocket watch

[FredWJensen]

Can the time be set on key wound pocket watches while the watch is running? The key is inserted over the center square keyed minute hand, right.
When you turn the key, I can feel the balance racing. Afraid to turn to set feel resistance?? Is a cannon pinion too tight???? or something like that????

[rrwatch]

Fred,
As long as the hands turn, it should be OK. When you turn the hands (forward) you increase the torque on the gear train, causing the balance to "race". The balance will slow down as soon as the additional pressure is released. If you turn the hands backwards it will either slow the balance down, or stop it completely.
If the cannon pinion is too tight, setting the hands can actually strip off the gear teeth on the minute and hour wheels, rather than setting the hands.

[John Pavlik]

Fred,

Along with what Ed has said... Has the watch been serviced recently ?? I have always felt, that if you need enough pressure that the balance races, the cannon pinion is to tight..It needs to be removed and adjusted.... Some keywind cannon pinions are a bugger to get "just" right..

[FredWJensen]

It seemed too tight on this recently acquired watch. Thanks for the caution. I will have to clean it first and check the tension in the cannon pinion. You saved me from making a mess.

[Jon Hanson]

clean and oil the watch--possibly poor prior storage has caused the problem

[M. Cross]

A quick followup question if I may....so, for a properly serviced watch that is running fine, is it better to set the hands forward when setting the watch, or does it matter which direction they're turned?

I've read old advertisements where they said it made no difference, but what is really best for the watch?

I only own one KW Illinois 11j that I had completely overhauled last year that runs and keeps great time, but everytime I take it out and prepare to set the hands, this question crosses my mind. So far I've only set forward in practice, but what is the conventional wisdom?

Regards! Mark

[Kent]

The hands of any ordinary (no complications) American-made pocket watch may be set in either direction with no harm to the movement whatsoever.

[M. Cross]

Thanks Kent!:D

Regards! Mark

[Don Dahlberg]

The reason that it does not matter which direction you set the hands is that the cannon pinion slips on the center wheel arbor. So ideally you should not be putting any significant force on the train when you set the hands. If the watch has not been surviced, then any oil between the cannon pinion and the center wheel arbor has hardened and may be dirty. Maybe a previous "watchmaker" over tightened the cannon pinion, or it got rusty, but my money is on dirt and degraded oil.

There are watches with different escapements where it does matter which way you set the watch. For example, a watch with a detent escapement. That is why Kent said "ordinary American watches".

Don Dahlberg
NAWCC volunteer