trouble getting balance to start on it's own

[FredWJensen]

small Ingraham clock 8 day movement with balance wheel.
The clock runs fine but balance must be started to get to run.
Also as you advance the minute hand that hour hand won't proceed.
When the clock is running the hour and minuet hands will work fine?
any suggestions

 

[FredWJensen]

Here are the photos. I forgot to add them above

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2508/3682925544_83562ed0db_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2643/3682009817_a058b5e1a6_b.jpg

 

[shutterbug]

My guess is that your minute hand is actually turning on the arbor instead of turning it. Maybe a loose bushing on the hand. Could also be a weak or cracked pinion gear, allowing the arbor to spin without moving the hour wheel.

Often, a balance wheel set perfectly in beat will not start on it's own. You might have to set it just a smidgen off to get it to self start.

 

[FredWJensen]

it's funny, If I let the clock run the minute and hour hand work normally and the clock keeps good time?

 

[Smudgy]

You actually want the balance to be as close to perfectly in beat as possible. You'll need to rotate the hairspring collet on the balance staff to do this. Let down the mainspring and with no power on the train the pallet fork should align so that the pallet fork runs a straight line from the pallet pivot to the balance staff. When the balance is in beat the escape wheel teeth will strike the pallets with the impulse face no matter which pallet strikes first. If you can't get a good look to see the alignment put some power to the train and get the balance to hang, then find which way the balance needs to rotate to start and adjust it away from that side.

 

[shutterbug]

it's funny, If I let the clock run the minute and hour hand work normally and the clock keeps good time?

Yeah - not much pressure there during normal running. But the problem would show up when you're applying power from your finger

 

[FredWJensen]

Should the balance be slightly out of beat above the pallet so that when winding begins gravity will help the balance kick off

 

[shutterbug]

Should the balance be slightly out of beat above the pallet so that when winding begins gravity will help the balance kick off

It's sure worth trying if it won't start on it's own. It only takes a little bit to give it a nudge during winding - you shouldn't be able to detect a 'galloping' of the escapement when it's running.

 

[Smudgy]

Fred, no. The balance should be fully in beat. When the escapement is in beat the escape tooth that first strikes the pallet will hit the impulse face regardless of which pallet is struck first. If the escapement fails to start by itself on winding the escapement is probably out of beat, although there are some other possible causes. If an escapement is only a little out of beat it may not start randomly, but will always lock to the same side. If the escapement seems to be in beat but fails to start, check which side the balance needs to move and that will let you know which direction it is out of beat.