Pocket watch working balance slow??

[nuno]

Hellomy friends,

I clean my pocket watch Longines and now I assembly the movement. But the balance moves slowly. If I shake the watch he moves very good. But pass 1 minute or two I loose the amplitude and working very slow?

I don't now if before cleaning is working very good because I not tested

Please do you know if is problem cleaning? Or problem of balance?

 

[Skutt50]

Do you have very poor swing of the balance?

Could be a dirty balance that is hardly moving..... Did you remove and clean the balance jewels?

 

[Kevin W.]

Could be over oiling too causing a problem.

 

[MrRoundel]

Hi nuno,

I think you've had some great suggestions above. I suspect that you cleaned the watch by hand, true? Not that it can't be done well, but the agitation of machine cleaning or an ultrasonic might have loosened more of any old oils, etc.

What does the end-shake look like on the balance? If it's not noticeable, or barely noticeable, it might be too tight. You might also check and see if by pushing down, with pegwood or a fingertip, on the outside edge of the balance cock. Depending on how flush it is between the balance-cock and pillar-plate, you might get it to lever up a touch. Sometimes a watch is restaffed and gets a staff that is longer than what it's replacing, making it too tight between top and bottom. If so, you might cheat a touch (Shhhh....) and put a little piece of watch-paper on the pillar-plate and inside the balance cock screw. This may get you enough to reduce the friction at the jewels.

BTW, if you happen to have an image of the movement after the upper plate and bridges were removed, but before removing the lever that interacts with the stem, I'd appreciate seeing it. I have a Longines movement that looks to have the same keyless mechanism as yours, a caliber 19.71, and it is missing a part or two. I just don't know what they look like exactly. It would help a lot if you have and image that you could share. Private message is OK, or you could add it to my thread on movements with 3rd wheel over center-wheel. Thanks, and good luck. Cheers.