Balance Wheel Issues

[goldentalon34]

I am working on a 1912 Watham Pocket Watch, When I try and start the watch, the balance wheel will not move. It moves a slight amount, but not nearly what it is supposed to. It makes a slight scraping sound and it looks like there isn't much (if any) clearance between the wheel and the rest of the movement. This happens when the balance plate (the piece of metal that the balance wheel and hairspring are secured to). 

 

When the balance plate is unscrewed, it works a little better. When I placed a slight spacer (piece of brown paper) between the balance plate and the movement, the balance wheel and pallet fork tick normally about 3-4 times and then stop.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks!

[goldentalon34]

Update: I just placed a little bit of oil where the pallet and balance wheel interact, and now it runs for about 10 ticks until it slowly stops.this is when it is unscrewed. Still same problem with it screwed in.

[goldentalon34]

Balance wheel and pallet

[swordfish]

Goldentalon34, the part you are calling a plate is properly called a cock (even by its friends). It attaches to a plate.

Two major possibilities come to mind. One is that the balance wheel is not set "in beat." If a balance wheel is properly aligned, then when the watch has no power coming from the mainspring, the pallet fork will be in mid-point of its available range of motion. If a watch is badly out of beat, the pallet fork will be pushed to one side.

Another possibility is that the pivots of your balance arbor are bent or worn.

I suppose that a roller table jewel not fitting into the fork of the pallet could also give you this problem.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable than I will weigh in with advice. My advice is given sincerely but without expertise.

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[steven]

Looks like the balance staff pivot is too short.

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[goldentalon34]

Thank you for the advice! I think something is wrong with the balance staff pivot. It looks like the balance wheel is too far down. I'm a novice to watch  repair...is replacing the balance staff something i could do? Where would i find a new one?

[goldentalon34]

Is there a chance that there is a problem with the jewels?

[steven]

You'll need a staking set to replace the balance staff. To get the correct part, you'll have to find out the caliber of the movement and also the measurement of the staff. Recommended site to find the replacement staff is www.balancestaff.com

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[swordfish]

Can you post a better photo of the jewels, looking straight down on them when you think that the pivots are in place? Also, let us know which one is which. It's hard to unterpret the earlier photos.

[oldhippy]

From your picture it looks like the balance staff has broken the pivot is way to short.

[goldentalon34]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I dont have a staking set, so i had to take the balance staff to a jeweler to have it replaced. Hopefully, it won't be too expensive.