balance wheel assembly installation

[arron]

Hi Folks,

 

i hope you all are doing well.

i am working my way through the watch repair course and am having trouble installing the balance wheel assembly. Either i can get the bottom pivot in the hole or the top pivot, but not both.  I am afraid i may already have messed up the hairspring trying.  of course on the lesson video it looks awfully easy.  any tips/tricks (besides practice a lot ).  the movement is the one recommended in the lesson: ST3620 6498 (Unitas 6498 clone or Seagull 3620).   thanks. arron.

 

[Nucejoe]

One practical advatage I see in getting both pivots in holes simultaneously, is avoidance from collecting tiny hair or dirt that might be present around the hole, yet priorities go to hairspring and oil if applied to impulse pin, so all I try to get the pin inside the fork horn and am careful with the hairspring, once the pin is home safe, I push on the bridge gentle enough not to damage pivots in case I happen to be pushing on them, drive the bridge screw half way down so to allow raising the bridge to slide pivot in holes.

If simultaneous getting of both pivots came by practice or experience over time, so much the better but safe handling of hairspring comes first. 

Best wishes Joe

, 

[Klassiker]

Take the pallet fork out and practice without interference from that to begin with. Locate the lower pivot into its hole. Put the cock onto its locating pins then push down gently with your tweezers or a toothpick and at the same time lift or push down on the rim of the balance wheel at different places until you feel the upper jewel drop onto the pivot. Use a blower to set the balance wheel spinning, and tighten down the screw, checking that the wheel remains free. Once you are confident doing this, put the pallet fork back in and try again.

[wudce]

21 hours ago, arron said:

Hi Folks,

 

i hope you all are doing well.

i am working my way through the watch repair course and am having trouble installing the balance wheel assembly. Either i can get the bottom pivot in the hole or the top pivot, but not both.  I am afraid i may already have messed up the hairspring trying.  of course on the lesson video it looks awfully easy.  any tips/tricks (besides practice a lot ).  the movement is the one recommended in the lesson: ST3620 6498 (Unitas 6498 clone or Seagull 3620).   thanks. arron.

 

I know where your coming from.

[arron]

Just wanted to say thanks for the replies.  i did manage to get it back in, although now the watch won't run.  i think i'll practice assembly a few more times before i try and figure out why it doesn't run.  enjoy your weekend where ever in the world you happen to be.  i'm just hoping the smoke from the wildfires clears out soon.