Balance Wheel Clock Runs Slow

[David 62]

I have a balance wheel timepiece that runs slow even when set to the max. rating.Is this a difficult fix? Thanks,
Davids

 

[David 62]

I have a balance wheel timepiece that runs slow even when set to the max. rating.Is this a difficult fix? Thanks,
Davids

 

[shutterbug]

Not too hard, but if you haven't worked with hairsprings before you may want to pass on this one. Easy to mess things up More than likely this is caused by dirt unless this is a new balance wheel. If new, it needs to be shortened and then put in beat again. That's the tricky part

 

[David 62]

Thanks for the advice. I will have to look at it when I take it out of the case to clean.The Movement was made by Hubble and is in a Timby Solar Timepiece.Is it very involved to put it in beat after shortening the spring?Thanks,
Dave

 

[Smudgy]

No, its not too involved to put it in beat. It does take a while to get the length right. Here's a link to a current discussion about old ref::Hair Springs that involves the same information you seek. I would be reluctant to shorten the spring until you know for sure that that is the problem. The only way that the spring would be too long would be if the clock has always had a spring that was too long and has run slow it's entire life, or if someone replaced the spring and didn't adjust it correctly. The problem is more likely to be the need for a cleaning as stated in an earlier post. If you cut the spring short and find later that you shouldn't have, you'll then be needing to find and vibrate a new hairspring for the clock.

 

[David 62]

Thanks much.That sounds like very rational advice.I will read up using the link that you provided.It's nice to now know that it may only need cleaning.I'm glad that I asked.
Dave