Is the balance staff broken?

[Khan]

Hey guys

Im wondering why the balance gums up after running few seconds by rotating the watch. The balance staff on each side are triangular from a side view - do they look broken? When the watch is fully assembled, there is almost no shake in the balance. In image 2, it looks like a broken staff end in the centre top of the balance, but nothing pops out when pushing with something sharp there. 

And the train wheels runs freely without the pallet work and balance.

The watch is from 20s/30s. 

 

 

[nevenbekriev]

Hi there,

No, this is not the kind of balance staff that can break. They are shock resist and almost impossible to break. But they do wear, for 2-3 years of work, and need to be resharpened.

Edited April 1 by nevenbekriev

[Nucejoe]

The cup on mainplate might need a polish too. 

Pin pallet often refuse to run without oil. 

How does the balance run without the fork?   bent pins pallets can also stop the oscilator.

Usually 404 ben club gets folks into this mess.

 

[oldhippy]

The staff is worn it is blunt. Both ends should have a sharp point just as if you have sharpened a  pencil. The other problem you might have is after sharpening the staff you could end up with it being too short in which case you would need a replacement and that will be hard to find. If you have a watchmakers lathe and you feel you could undertake the task you could make one. 

[Khan]

6 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

The cup on mainplate might need a polish too. 

Pin pallet often refuse to run without oil. 

How does the balance run without the fork?   bent pins pallets can also stop the oscilator.

Usually 404 ben club gets folks into this mess.

 

I can't align the balance without the fork, so this might cause the worn staff. The pallet pins looks very straight though. 

I dont have a lathe tool, can things be sharpened other way?

[Nucejoe]

2 hours ago, Khan said:

I can't align the balance without the fork, 

I don't get the picture.

 You might end up with a shorter pivot/staff after sharpening the pivot, so the cup on mainplate would need to be moved for re-asjustment. 

Never heard of sharpening these without a lathe.

[Khan]

2 hours ago, Nucejoe said:

I don't get the picture.

 You might end up with a shorter pivot/staff after sharpening the pivot, so the cup on mainplate would need to be moved for re-asjustment. 

Never heard of sharpening these without a lathe.

The balance doesnt get in place when I install without the pallet fork. Its like that the fork holds the balance straight. But I wonder even how to get the balance wheel out from the balance bridge, since the spring looks to be fixed to the bridge. 

Edited April 1 by Khan

[nevenbekriev]

The things You write here just show You have no experience at all. Of course, the balance will get in place without the pallet fork. Just some patience and stubbornness needed. You first need to do the free oscillations test, for which exactly this is needed - to put the balance without the lever. Yes, sharpening is possible without lathe. But it is easier to do with one. Actually, almost everything is possible to be done without the specialized tools which are made for the purpose. Just imagination and creativity needed. But, is this important for You? I mean, this is cheap watch with no jewels movement, which will never be more than that.

Edited April 1 by nevenbekriev

[Nucejoe]

2 hours ago, Khan said:

Its like that the fork holds the balance straight. 

 Fork only engages with impulse pin ( not the balance staff ) during each swing of balance, any other contact between fork and roller table or balance or balance staff deters or stops oscialtion.

Pivot cone might rob on the cup, in case of too much pivot side shake. 

 

2 hours ago, Khan said:

But I wonder even how to get the balance wheel out from the balance bridge, since the spring looks to be fixed to the bridge. 

Your image No 1 . 

Unpin the hairspring from the stud.

Good luck