Mechanical WW Aw, nuts.

[GeneJockey]

Looks like I'm gonna have to go through this one again.

 

[Rob P.]

Could be worse, it still runs.

 

[GeneJockey]

3 hours of fiddling, and one balance complete and one pallet filched from a parts movement later...



First try with this balance, the beat error was 9ms! The wandering upper trace is still there. Not sure what causes that.

 

[roughbarked]

Which watch? Would be the first question.
Have you demagnetised the hairspring? Have you specifically hand washed the hairspring?
Why haven't you adjusted the beat better? The two lines should be closer together.

 

[gmorse]

The wandering upper trace is still there. Not sure what causes that.

Loose pallet stone?

 

[GeneJockey]

Loose pallet stone?

That was my thought. That's why I replaced the pallet with one from a spare 554. But I get the same semi-random 'dropped' points in one of the traces with the new one. It's not as bad as the old one, but it's still there.

 

[GeneJockey]

Which watch? Would be the first question.
Have you demagnetised the hairspring? Have you specifically hand washed the hairspring?
Why haven't you adjusted the beat better? The two lines should be closer together.

Because I'm a fumble-fingered amateur?

 

[roughbarked]

No need to feel inadequate. It will however improve the reading if you do make adjustments.

As for loose pallet stones. Old dry shellac may have loosened on more than one set of pallets. Worth while checking and resetting if needed.

 

[GeneJockey]

I got it down to 1.6ms (after turning the collet the wrong way so it was 9.9ms!). I think I'll let it run in a while.