Smiths De Leluxe

[RichardHarris123]

Working on a Smiths De Leluxe. Filthy, cleaned, reassembled. Balance back in, running well, I've cracked it.  No, five minutes later not running. Mainspring OK. Any ideas?

Edited May 22, 2022 by RichardHarris123
Photos

[watchweasol]

So it was running then stopped , yes.    Remove balance and check the power to the pallet/fork, does it snap back and forth if not remove all power and remove pallet/fork  and put a turn on the spring, does the train run free and the escapewheel does a little reverse at the end of power.. If not re check the train and mainspring barrel. mat be a bit of dirt in the teeth, bent or broken tooth. once having attained the treedom of motion refit the pallet/fork and recheck the action if ok re fit the ballance and check the alignment of the impulse pin with the pallet/fork. At rest it should be in line with the impulse pin and central. a read of the attached will help in understanding the escapement.

EscMechanics.pdf

[Neverenoughwatches]

14 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Working on a Smiths De Leluxe. Filthy, cleaned, reassembled. Balance back in, running well, I've cracked it.  No, five minutes later not running. Mainspring OK. Any ideas?

Nice. I like Smiths. I'm  waiting to pick up an Everest at a good price.

16 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Working on a Smiths De Leluxe. Filthy, cleaned, reassembled. Balance back in, running well, I've cracked it.  No, five minutes later not running. Mainspring OK. Any ideas?

Rich you know the issue  could be lots of things right ? You also know you are going to have to at least take the balance out and check that there is power to the escapement when you have wind on and resistance at the barrel end.

[RichardHarris123]

5 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Nice. I like Smiths. I'm  waiting to pick up an Everest at a good price.

Rich you know the issue  could be lots of things right ? You also know you are going to have to at least take the balance out and check that there is power to the escapement when you have wind on and resistance at the barrel end.

Plenty of power, wheel train running smoothly, started again, going really well. Good amplitude, stopped again. 

[watchweasol]

Right  does it always stop in the same place.  mark a wheel with  DOT and observe it running abd check.

[Neverenoughwatches]

7 minutes ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Plenty of power, wheel train running smoothly, started again, going really well. Good amplitude, stopped again. 

Can you check what the amplitude is ?. It can look ok without a timegrapher 

[RichardHarris123]

Stops when a change in orientation happens. 

[watchweasol]

When you say it stops when you change the orientation , in what manner  PU  PD   PR  PL  ao  Du  Or DD..     you may have a cracked/chipped jewel .

[RichardHarris123]

21 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

When you say it stops when you change the orientation , in what manner  PU  PD   PR  PL  ao  Du  Or DD..     you may have a cracked/chipped jewel .

I think the pivots on the balance staff are broken, not enough to stop it running but enough to make it stop running when moved.

[Neverenoughwatches]

3 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

I think the pivots on the balance staff are broken, not enough to stop it running but enough to make it stop running when moved.

Could be Rich. Are you able to check them. Is there any sideshake on the bs ?

[RichardHarris123]

9 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Could be Rich. Are you able to check them. Is there any sideshake on the bs ?

I'll check them under the microscope tonight. 

[RichardHarris123]

Here's the hairspring, totally lopsided. Stuck together on one side.  Tried cleaning again and demagetfying. Still the same. 

[watchweasol]

Judging by the pictures the stud position is wrong or the terminal curve is compromised. Remove the balance from the balance cock and re  check the contcencicity of the spring. If the spring lays ok then re fit to the cock keeping the same profile.  also whilst the balance is removed check both pivots, one or the other/or both may be damaged.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Here's the hairspring, totally lopsided. Stuck together on one side.  Tried cleaning again and demagetfying. Still the same. 

Richy babes. It looks like someone has fitted a new hs without forming the end curve. There should be a bend on the spring back from the regulator arm, this is to extend the last curve further out and be kept parallel between the stud and the regulator arm pins. If there is a bend then its been taken out to some degree

4 minutes ago, watchweasol said:

Judging by the pictures the stud position is wrong or the terminal curve is compromised. Remove the balance from the balance cock and re  check the contcencicity of the spring. If the spring lays ok then re fit to the cock keeping the same profile.  also whilst the balance is removed check both pivots, one or the other/or both may be damaged.

 The stud doesn't look in line with the coils. 

[RichardHarris123]

11 hours ago, watchweasol said:

Judging by the pictures the stud position is wrong or the terminal curve is compromised. Remove the balance from the balance cock and re  check the contcencicity of the spring. If the spring lays ok then re fit to the cock keeping the same profile.  also whilst the balance is removed check both pivots, one or the other/or both may be damaged.

I'll give it a go. 

[RichardHarris123]

Ok, I've got it to about 180⁰ only another 100⁰ or so to go. I might not be a rank amateur anymore but as you all know servicing and repair are two different things.  I'm getting proficient at servicing but repair is a steep learning curve. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

2 hours ago, RichardHarris123 said:

Ok, I've got it to about 180⁰ only another 100⁰ or so to go. I might not be a rank amateur anymore but as you all know servicing and repair are two different things.  I'm getting proficient at servicing but repair is a steep learning curve. 

Did you manage to sort out the hs rich ?

[RichardHarris123]

27 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Did you manage to sort out the hs rich ?

 

27 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Did you manage to sort out the hs rich ?

Not yet but getting there.