Brocot Escapement Adjustments

[derwiener]

Below is a photo of a Brocot escapement on an Ansonia clock. I need some advice how to adjust the pallets. Pictures that I have seen of other Brocot escapements have the two pallet arms separate up to the anchor so they can be separated or moved together. Here, there is no such arm separation until lower, when they separate to go to the right and left side of the EW. They seem very delicate, and it seems they could break if I tried spread or close them. Also, there is no eccentric bushing at the top of the anchor to adjust the exit pallet. None of the screws have the ability to be adjusted - one position only. I would appreciate any advice what to adjust here as it appears to me everything is in a fixed position.
Thank you!
Paul

 

[R. Croswell]

My advice is do not make any adjustments unless you are absolutely sure that someone has messed with it. It was set at the factory and there should be no need to adjust anything unless it has been damaged, or someone as messed with it, or replaced one of the pallets. If the escape wheel teeth have normal lock on the pallet face it should be good to go.

RC

 

[derwiener]

Thank you for the reply and diagrams. About 12 years ago the clock was professionally overhauled, and it worked perfectly until recently. Then it would periodically stop. I did the usual cleaning, polishing, bushing, etc maintenance on it, but it would still stop periodically. I observed the escapement for about 5 minutes and notice that every several revolutions of the EW the exit pallet would get stuck for only a split second on an EW tooth, never the same one. However, there was usually enough movement from the pendulum to free it, and the clock kept going. However, this didn't always occur and the clock stopped. The EW teeth are all straight and in good condition, and the pallets were polished and appear in good condition. Somehow the exit pallet seems to have gotten too close the teeth, and sometimes gets stuck on one of them. I'm not sure how to fix this.
Paul

 

[shutterbug]

You should be able to heat the shellac at the base of the exit pallet and turn it just a little toward the less lock side, according to the illustrations above. It will only need a very tiny amount. Then let the shellac cool and try it again.

 

[derwiener]

You should be able to heat the shellac at the base of the exit pallet and turn it just a little toward the less lock side, according to the illustrations above. It will only need a very tiny amount. Then let the shellac cool and try it again.

Thank you! I never thought of that approach.
Paul

 

[R. Croswell]

If the bridge pivot hole is worn, or if it has been bushed a bit off center that could cause the problem. The question, what has changed?

RC

 

[R. Croswell]

You should be able to heat the shellac at the base of the exit pallet and turn it just a little toward the less lock side, according to the illustrations above. It will only need a very tiny amount. Then let the shellac cool and try it again.

Not positive, but these Antonia’s used steel pallets and I believe they were pressed in (no shellac). Perhaps someone can confirm.

RC

 

[derwiener]

Not positive, but these Antonia’s used steel pallets and I believe they were pressed in (no shellac). Perhaps someone can confirm.

RC

Not positive, but these Antonia’s used steel pallets and I believe they were pressed in (no shellac). Perhaps someone can confirm.

RC

You're right, they are steel pallets. In that case, how would any adjustment to the pallets be made - just turn the pallet or would I have to loosen or take the pallet out of the pivot hole first, and then adjust it? I imagine it could easily be broken.
Thanks!
Paul

 

[R. Croswell]

You're right, they are steel pallets. In that case, how would any adjustment to the pallets be made - just turn the pallet or would I have to loosen or take the pallet out of the pivot hole first, and then adjust it? I imagine it could easily be broken.
Thanks!
Paul

I seriously doubt that it needs to be adjusted unless it has been messed with. You could easily end up with two problems. If the lock is excessive (post #2) you need to adjust the verge to escape wheel depth one way or another.

RC

 

[derwiener]

I seriously doubt that it needs to be adjusted unless it has been messed with. You could easily end up with two problems. If the lock is excessive (post #2) you need to adjust the verge to escape wheel depth one way or another.

RC

Thank you. Now I'll have to figure out how to do that.

Paul

 

[Willie X]

From the looks of that extended pallet arbor bracket, it has been well monkeyed with already.

You can often make a slight up/down adjustment by simply loosening one of the screws.

Note, try to find a better screwdriver than the previous repairer/s.

Willie X

 

[derwiener]

From the looks of that extended pallet arbor bracket, it has been well monkeyed with already.

You can often make a slight up/down adjustment by simply loosening one of the screws.

Note, try to find a better screwdriver than the previous repairer/s.

Willie X

By "extended pallet arbor bracket" are you referring to the left arm holding the pallet? If so, I think that might just have been the position of the arm when I took the picture. I'll try the screw adjustment. Hopefully that will be a simple but effective adjustment.

Paul

 

[Willie X]

The bracket would normally look like this, except for the damaged screw head ... Willie X

 

[shutterbug]

If the pic is current, it shows very excessive lock at the exit pallet. The pallet assembly needs to be raised. As Willie said, someone has been fiddling with it a lot. Probably had little experience in how to adjust it. The pallets look pretty good where they are, as RC expected.

 

[derwiener]

If the pic is current, it shows very excessive lock at the exit pallet. The pallet assembly needs to be raised. As Willie said, someone has been fiddling with it a lot. Probably had little experience in how to adjust it. The pallets look pretty good where they are, as RC expected.

That was a bad picture. The clock was leaning against the crutch when I took the picture which made the exit pallet look like it was excessively locked. Normally it looks like the position of the pallets in the picture Willie X posted yesterday. Sorry for the poor photography. As Willie said, maybe a slight adjustment loosening the screws will help. Otherwise, to my inexperienced eye, everything looks "locked in place" and difficult to adjust when the pallets are not separated and there is no eccentric bushing. I'd rather not fiddle with the steel pallets themselves unless as a very last resort.
Paul