Issue with a balance wheel.

[edteach]

Size 16 Elgin pocket watch. I took it apart and cleaned it, It ran find before I did. And togeather it runs fine also but for one thing. When I get the balance wheel in line and put the screw in it runs by it self no starting and runs fine. But the last turn of the balance cock screw and the wheel stops. I mean a quarter turn from free wheeling to stop. I took it apart and used a tooth pick to get into the jewels, Oiled it and then used a bit of rodico on a tooth pic to get out any thing the oil loosened up. Same thing again. Runs great till the last quarter turn. Any help appreciated.

 

[Bila]

Could be a few things (list not exhaustive, but a few things to look at), incorrect Balance staff (not correct length), incorrect jewel depthing (jewel mounting lip to shallow), bent balance-cock (seen a few over the years). What model Elgin is it, do you have a picture or serial number?

 

[edteach]

22978068 serial

 

[roughbarked]

It is possible and don't quote me but sometimes it may occur that when lifting the balance cock off, that one can make a mark which can cause such a problem?
Perhaps I should ask the question; Are there any new marks on the main plate or cock that could theoretically cause this issue?

 

[edteach]

Not that I know of.

 

[Skutt50]

Probably obvious but the screw for the balance cock seems not to be screwed down in your pictures.`Just to be on the safe side the screw in your pictures seems to grip the balance cock in the front which would cause such behavior.

It may have a slight tilt before properly seated.. When you screw down the cock, just before the balance stops, squeeze the back of the balance cock against the main plate and turn the screw.

I have had some balances come to a halt just before the balance cock is tighten down fully. When you do the last quarter turn is that to finaly tighten the screw or is there another quarter turn before fully tightened? Such last quarter turn may well raise the balance to free the balance wheel.

Sometime

 

[gmorse]

Hi edteach,

When you cleaned the jewels, were they fully dismantled?

The balance cock screw certainly looks odd, and it's worth trying to install the cock without the balance wheel, (to prevent any possible damage to pivots), and see if that screw will seat fully. A close look at the balance cock foot may reveal that the steady pins have been altered. Another question is whether that's in fact the correct screw.

Regards,

Graham

 

[edteach]

In those pictures I had not screwed in the cock screw at all. It was just to show the movement. No I did not take out the Jewels. I don't think I want to try that, it makes me nervous. But I did use a small 25 gauge needle and syringe and pushed alcohol into the bearings to flush them out. It seems to be working OK now. Its run all night and is still running. Thanks for all the suggestions

 

[DeweyC]

22978068 serial View attachment 765980 View attachment 765981

Remove the the pallet fork (after removing power). Install the balance (with or without balance spring).

Give the balance a puff and check for a difference in motion between dial up and dial down. If the balance is tight (not free) the issue is endshakes. Either the balance bridge was distorted or something is wrong with the jewels (toothpick debris?)