Atmos Equilibrium

[Karl Burghart]

I've got a 519 that stops after several weeks. If I let it stop for a few days it will run for another week or two. I've been through it twice and the problem persists. I've done 6 other Atmos clocks without issues. It takes about 13 pushes winding to reach equilibrium. From the Gerry Jaeger class I understand that it should only take 8-10 to reach equilibrium. I'm pretty sure this is where the problem is. Perhaps the wrong return spring or a weak mainspring? Has anyone had this problem? I'd like anyone could share some thoughts before I start throwing parts at it.

The bellows was bad and has been refilled. Verified still good and tried one from a different clock.

It was also shipped with out the pendulum being locked. I don't see any issues from that but I have not replaced the suspension spring as I don't feel that this is the problem but it could be something related to the shipping.

Thanks,
Karl

 

[Ed O'Brien]

Has it been cleaned and serviced? One possibility is a dry mainspring.

 

[Karl Burghart]

Yes its been cleaned properly. I've cleaned and serviced 6 other Atmos clocks with no issues. Mainspring is cleaned and properly lubricated with synthetic oil.

 

[Ed O'Brien]

Fork poised and roller balanced?

 

[new_hampster]

If it was shipped without locking the pendulum, there may be damage to the fork, roller, or roller spring.

 

[Karl Burghart]

Fork and roller are poised. I don't see any damage. It will run for several weeks. Once it stops it won't run again unless I let it sit for a week or two or manually wind it a little (like just touch it). Then it will run again for a few weeks.

The equilibrium is definitely not right. It takes way to may pushes to reach it. I'll try switching out the bellows return spring then the mainspring and return spring.

 

[Ed O'Brien]

If it runs after sitting for a while, almost seems it's catching up on winding. Sounds like possibility of a bellows issue, not keeping the mainspring fully wound. However, manually wound fully, the Atmos should run for months.

 

[Karl Burghart]

Bellows is good. Why does it take so much to reach equilibrium? That would seem to be the winding issue?

 

[Ed O'Brien]

As to the spring pushes to reach equilibrium, not sure I'd worry. Sounds like possibly a winding issue however. Maybe the small bellows spring is somewhat collapsed and not able to pull the chain adequately. Seems you are winding, just too slowly to keep up, but enough to recover if the clock left not running for some time.

 

[TQ60]

Stupid question...is the locking pin in the correct hole?
If not the stroke on the spring may not be correct.

If bellows is fine it should be winding daily unless ambient temperature is not moving enough.

Even if it takes more strokes to wind it would seem that it should still wind to same point unless the small spring that counters the bellows action in the front is weak or not correct.