Cannon Pinion Tool Help

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

Hello!

I recently purchased the very useless Bergeon cannon pinion removal tool! yay. I was unaware at how pointless it is at the time of purchase

I decided to take it apart and the parts flew everywhere and now I'm struggling to reassemble it correctly. I think I may have lost a part or I'm missing something when putting it together because it doesn't work.

Could someone shed some light on this for me please

 

[HectorLooi]

There should be a ball bearing on top of the spring. About 4mm diameter.

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

Just now, HectorLooi said:

There should be a ball bearing on top of the spring. About 4mm diameter.

Thanks Hector! I wonder how far it went 

[HectorLooi]

You're welcomed. I bought an equally useless vintage one.  Some of our members suggest putting a sheet of plastic or foil over the cannon pinion to get a better grip. I've not tried it.

I'm actually in the process of shaving down the sides of the collet so that the jaws can close down further. I'll post an update if it works. If not I'll be machining a new collet from scratch.

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

7 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

You're welcomed. I bought an equally useless vintage one.  Some of our members suggest putting a sheet of plastic or foil over the cannon pinion to get a better grip. I've not tried it.

I'm actually in the process of shaving down the sides of the collet so that the jaws can close down further. I'll post an update if it works. If not I'll be machining a new collet from scratch.

This is the reason I tried to dismantle it, I'm hoping to file it down.

Any chance you could give me the diameter of the ball bearing?..I've scoured the workshop and it's long gone.

[HectorLooi]

Mine is about 4mm. I'm not sure about a Bergeon. It should fit loosely in the barrel of the tool on top of the spring.

[clockboy]

The ball bearing is 4mm. It sits on top of the spring.

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

21 minutes ago, clockboy said:

The ball bearing is 4mm. It sits on top of the spring.

Thanks!, I'll pick up a replacement. 

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

It's fixed! \o/
But still useless...

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[HectorLooi]

Have you tried filing the jaws yet?

I got mine to be able to grip a 0.9mm wire. I could probably get it down to 0.8mm.

If you look at the photo of my puller, it has an extra pin and spring. I think it would work even without this extra pin.

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

Have you tried filing the jaws yet? I got mine to be able to grip a 0.9mm wire. I could probably get it down to 0.8mm.

If you look at the photo of my puller, it has an extra pin and spring. I think it would work even without this extra pin.

 

I don't have a file thin enough to get in there unfortunately [emoji17]  

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[jdm]

Just now, ThrobinsonCrusoe said:

I don't have a file thin enough to get in there unfortunately

You can do things like that sliding emery cloth or or emery paper over the blade of a feeler gauge.

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

19 hours ago, jdm said:

You can do things like that sliding emery cloth or or emery paper over the blade of a feeler gauge.

Thanks for the tip, this worked perfectly! I just slid some emery cloth between the teeth and now it works on much smaller cannon pinions. 

[jdm]

2 minutes ago, ThrobinsonCrusoe said:

Thanks for the tip, this worked perfectly! 

You're very welcome and to provide feedback consider using the like or thanks button, or the upvote and resolved mark in the watch repair section only.

[nickelsilver]

I wonder if Bergeon was afraid of jaws breaking and made everything thicker at the expense of grip size? The collet in the first pic is quite different from Hector's above, and here you can see mine; the slits are quite big, and the jaws are shaped down to a sort of point. I have two and both will grip a 0.5mm screwdriver blade very well, both are at least 40 years old and neither are broken. Someone could make replacement collets and make a bit of cash maybe selling to those who can only find the crappy Bergeon version!

 

 

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

The new collet is actually very fragile, your old one looks much more robust. Mine actually cracked whilst I was filing it as it's wafer thin at the top, and the whole thing distorts very easily.

I think Bergeon are just producing a cheaper tool now but still charging a premium.

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[Colditz]

I have just purchased a new cannon pinion tool from Cousins. Tried using it on a ladies pocket watch movement and again same as you guys its too big. I will need to get a collet with a smaller hole or grind down the slots so it will close about the cannon pinion. At £59 it an expensive tool that is not much use as it is.

Is there a smaller collet that is available. I seem to remember Mark having this trouble in a previous post and I cannot remember his solution.

 

[ThrobinsonCrusoe]

3 minutes ago, Colditz said:

I have just purchased a new cannon pinion tool from Cousins. Tried using it on a ladies pocket watch movement and again same as you guys its too big. I will need to get a collet with a smaller hole or grind down the slots so it will close about the cannon pinion. At £59 it an expensive tool that is not much use as it is.

Is there a smaller collet that is available. I seem to remember Mark having this trouble in a previous post and I cannot remember his solution.

 

I filed down the gaps between the collet teeth with emery cloth. You have to be careful though at it's quite fragile.

I would have returned it if I hadn't lost the ball baring, so be careful when taking it apart.

[Colditz]

Thanks TC

I will give it a go. I will be informing Cousins as well.

Cheers