Jump to content

How to wind or release power when ratchet wheel and click are hidden

pubudeux
 Share

Recommended Posts

pubudeux Watch Enthusiast

pubudeux

Posted
Posted

Hey all!

I have a question today that came up for me when disassembling/reassembling an Elgin 6s pocket watch (pictured below).

On most movements I've seen so far, the ratchet wheel and screw go on top of the barrel and arbor facing up on the train side (back) of the movement. The exposed screw allows you to wind the mainspring and along with releasing the click control release of power.

On this movement the click is in a groove sitting under the barrel complete. The barrel would seem to me to be "face down" compared to other movements. I can't see or get to the click as there is a bridge set on top of the barrel.

Is this just the result of a cheaper or more simplistic type of movement or is there some other way to get around this? 

IMG_20200710_080046.jpg

pubudeux Watch Enthusiast

pubudeux

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
10 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

Would you show the other side of the movement?

Sure, here it is!

You can see the bottom pivot of the barrel at 6 o. clock near the center.

IMG_20200710_095426__01.jpg

Edited by pubudeux
Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted (edited)

So the click isn't on the rocker arm side? 

You plan a full disassembly?

Edited by Nucejoe
or near rocker arm, can't find where it sits
Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted

You can always release barrel power through the fork,  Remove balance and cock, fork bridge screw, insert a took pick in spoke of a gear to keep it from turning, lift the fork bridge and lift the fork out.

Normally with the old rocker arm, you need to turn the crown towards winding to relieve torque on the clcik, release the click off of ratchet teeth and let crown free to unwind.

  • Like 1
pubudeux Watch Enthusiast

pubudeux

Posted
  • Author
Posted
22 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

So the click isn't on the rocker arm side? 

You plan a full disassembly?

Not sure what is meant by "rocker arm?"

I have disassembled and re-assembled this one a couple times. The click spring, click, and ratchet wheel are all seated on the main plate, barrel placed on top of them and then barrel bridge placed on top of that. With that setup, not sure if the click can be manipulated?

In this case, winding is more of an issue for me than releasing power, as I received this movement with no stem. Looks like I will need to find a way to engage the winding pinion without a proper stem.

Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted

You see the big screw in second picture( dial side) ?  It is holding the rocker arm, rocks to wind position and to set position. You will find three gears mounted on it.

  • Like 1
pubudeux Watch Enthusiast

pubudeux

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Just now, Nucejoe said:

You see the big screw in second picture( dial side) ?  It is holding the rocker arm, rocks to wind position and to set position. You will find three gears mounted on it.

Ah, so no the click is not on the rocker arm side unless I'm missing something. I managed to wind it without a stem by physically holding the rocker arm to engage the ratchet wheel rather than motion works and rotate the winding pinion with a screw driver.

There is a visible spring on the dial side but I believe that may be the setting lever spring? Not sure, but it seems to me like what is missing from my winding/setting mechanism is 1) a stem and 2) a mechanism for switching position between winding and setting.

Next time I will look for a more complete movement.

  • Thanks 1
MrRoundel Super WRT Addict

MrRoundel

Posted
Posted

If you have the Chicago Watchmaking School set, video or hard copy, you might find your answer on page 5 of chapter 5. There they show an Elgin 18s full-plate watch that has the click accessed through the side of the watch. I'd be looking there. If you think you've found it, give your let-down key a clockwise twist and watch for the movement of the click. A piece of small pegwood might get in there to let it down. If not, use whatever fits. Just make sure you have a good hold on the let-down key before committing. Good luck.

 

JohnR725 Distinguished Member

JohnR725

Posted
Posted
11 hours ago, MrRoundel said:

Elgin 18s full-plate watch that has the click accessed through the side

usually on American pocket watches were the click is not visible there will be a hole on the side near the mainspring barrel. With your bench key in and a little pressure the click will release. then with something inserted into the hole I usually use a screwdriver. You can hold the click out then the bench key slowly rotating your fingers and let the power off.

  • Like 2
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • JohnR725
      A lathe with indexing that won't break the bank?

      By JohnR725 · Posted

      interesting video nice to see the machine what it can do now I wonder what it costs and I'm sure it's not in my budget. Plus the video brought up questions but the website below answers the questions? What was bothering me was the size of his machine 4 mm because I thought it was bigger than that? But then it occurred to me that maybe they had variations it looks like four, seven and 10. With the seven and 10 being the best because way more tool positions in way more rotating tools. Although I bet you all the rotating tools are probably separate cost https://www.tornos.com/en/content/swissnano   Then as we been talking about Sherline. Just so that everyone's aware of this they have another division their industrial division where you can buy bits and pieces. I have a link below that shows that just in case you don't want to have the entire machine you just need bits and pieces. https://www.sherline.com/product-category/industrial-products-division/   Let's see what we can do with the concept I explained up above and bits and pieces. For one thing you can make a really tiny gear very tiny like perhaps you're going to make a watch. Then another version the center part is not separate it is all machined from one piece. Then fills gear cutting machines have gone through multiple of evolutions. A lot of it based on what he wanted to make like he was going to make a watch unfortunately eyesight issues have prevented that. Another reason why you should start projects like this much sooner when your eyesight is really good or perhaps start on watches first and then move the clocks then local we have from the industrial division? Looks like two separate motors and heads. Then it's hard to see but this entire thing is built on top of a much larger milling machine as a larger milling machine gave a very solid platform to build everything.   Then like everything else that had multiple generations are versions the indexing went through of course variations like above is one version and the one below was the last version. Now the version below I mentioned that previously and somewhere in the beginning to discussion and somebody else had one in their picture. As it is a really nice precision indexing. Then I wasn't sure if I had a the watch photos here is his unfinished watch. No he wasn't going to make a simple watch like none of his clocks were simply either what would be the challenge and that.    
    • Titanium
      Lab Coats

      By Titanium · Posted

      Use a Portwest Howie lab coat. They are the biological type so they have tapped cuffs so you don't end up getting the loose cuffs of normal lab coats catching everything. 
    • Titanium
      Chinese tools debate

      By Titanium · Posted

      Some of the Chinese tools ae great and can be purchased at a fraction of the price of Swiss ones, some are complete garbage and some I'm convinced are coming out the same factory as the branded ones.
    • caseback
      Calendar work certina 25-651

      By caseback · Posted

      I found this string about this problem. I've not gone through it all, but I believe it also mentions making a spring. If not in this string, the info is online.
    • tonydagee
      Calendar work certina 25-651

      By tonydagee · Posted

      No, I now realise it’s broken😥 ive looked for one online, but v. Expensive! im going to service as is, in the hope that  one turns up. Thank  you.
×
×
  • Create New...