Bent Banking Pin

[bluerich]

Currently working on a Gruen Guild, Semithin, 16 jewel, 12s that is in nice shape for it's age. Seemed like it was just dirty and dry but I've found what might be a problem with the banking pins. One of the pins is bent over quite a bit and has a gouge on the pallet fork side of the pin that pretty clearly shows it was bent over on purpose. The other pin looks a little bent too but not as much.  I don't know if I should clean and lubricate the movement and see how (or if) it runs or try to straighten the bent pin while reassembling. The roller jewel seems to line up between the pins but the fork swings much further on the side with the bent pin. 

One thing I've never done, as I've pursued learning watch repair at my hobby level, is try to adjust banking pins on any other work I've done, and I have very little knowledge of checking the run to banking. The pins appear to be pressed in to the plate and not adjustable. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[oldhippy]

I would see how it goes first. From the look of the pallet bridge and the screw it has had some very bad treatment. Banking pins are not the sort of thing to play around with, all sorts of problems can happen in and around the escapement. 

[watchweasol]

Hi What Old Hippy says is good advise  clean it up check the running and if ok leave alone. They definitly look as though they have been deliberatly bent for a reason.

[bluerich]

Thanks so much for the advice. This is what I thought to do since I didn't see the watch running. I'm hoping it will run reasonably well as it does seem to have been treated roughly over the years.

[nickelsilver]

They didn't leave the factory like that. See how it runs, will probably have a big difference in horizontal performance dial up and down.

[rduckwor]

WOW!  I can't think of a single thing that should be that close to the escapement that would do that.  As with the others, I suspect deliberate (klug) activity by a prior servicer.

RMD

[AndyHull]

That has the look of "apprentice marks".

I wonder if the palette bridge gouges and the bent pins are part of a nasty apprentice + screwdriver related incident.

Maybe the screwdriver was applied with a little too much youthful exuberance to the screw and afterwards said apprentice checked it still ticked, hastily buttoned it back up and gave it back to the customer. "Nothing to see here sir. Working fine now.  That will be fifty bucks. Thank you sir and have a nice day."  per the instructions above.

Edited July 28, 2019 by AndyHull

[watchweasol]

Right on Andy  I recognise the flow chart from my working days in the computing industry  How true.

[DavidMasters]

If you try to straighten the banking pins they will surely break off. Old watchmakers had some crazy stuff they would do and I suspect this is an example of those crazy fixes.