PALLET FORK INSTALLATION

nickelsilver · June 12, 2024

18 minutes ago, Nucejoe said:

Did you mean fork arbour?

How are forks made?

Forged?

Machines from scratch?

Thanks in advance.

I imagine in modern production they are stamped, then finished by machining.

For this one it was machined from scratch. It was distorted enough that I couldn't get a great measurement of it (using a profile projector), so using the escape wheel and roller dimensions, and the center distances between wheel/fork/balance, I drew it up. I did it in the lathe, using the milling attachment and dividing attachment. It was a lot of work! And it had a screwed on counterpoise weight, very small holes for locating pins and screw. As it was a really high-end piece, with the bankings machined in the mainplate (no adjustment), I adjusted the drop lock using a depthing tool, and filed the fork where it contacted the bankings for run to the banking and final lock. Pallet stones were fitted all the way to back of the slot and the faces lapped to bring it to correct drop lock, as the original was done.

More recently I did one for an old Patek, again split fork. That one was funny as the balance was off the line of centers of the escapement by 0.12mm, so the fork had to be made "skewed" to have correct function. You can see in the image- this would be the null point, in beat with balance at rest.

Davis · June 13, 2024

Thanks for all the comments. I think I'll go back to restoring BMW motorcycles and making model steam engines.

Dave

JohnR725 · June 13, 2024

18 minutes ago, Davis said:

I think I'll go back to restoring BMW motorcycles and making model steam engines.

giving up so soon?

then the feelings of frustrations is common for all of us. At work I've requested a cannon? To be technically correct I like to get a black powder cannon as I think I be quite enjoyable to fire some of the watch movements off into the distance never to be seen again unfortunately I don't think I'm going to get my request. So yes we all have frustrations

like I have a frustration with this discussion I don't suppose before you run away you could give us the size of the movement and a photograph of the dial side with the keyless parts. as I'm still rather curious about who made this watch.

Neverenoughwatches · June 13, 2024

22 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

At work I've requested a cannon? To be technically correct I like to get a black powder cannon as I think I be quite enjoyable to fire some of the watch movements off into the distance never to be seen again unfortunately I don't think I'm going to get my request

I'll go halves with them John , we can share it

rossjackson01 · June 13, 2024

Hello Davis.

This thread is interesting.

Thought I'd add my twopenneth worth. A short while ago I had a similar problem to you. Not a broken banking pin, but I did alter a banking pin. Much to the consternation of members. Rightly so. However I did as they suggested and obtained a complete donor movement and installed it into the watch. The client, who I did not charge but did the work as a project for myself, was as happy as Larry. Can you not look for watch of the same name? A Donor watch or movement.

Keep us posted on your result please.

Edited June 13, 2024 by rossjackson01
spelling

mbwatch · June 13, 2024

On 6/10/2024 at 11:27 AM, mikepilk said:

The pins may have been bent on purpose

A lesson I learned last month on a Junghans pocket watch where both pins were bent over like stalks of wheat in the wind. I bent them back straight, wondering what a shock the thing must have taken to somehow bend even the outside pin over. And then the escapement wouldn't unlock at all. Probably the pallet stones are too long but I'm not ready for that repair yet so I bent the pins back over and it runs 0/0.2

Davis · June 14, 2024

JohnR,

Not really giving up. I'ii set the Pandow aside while I finish installing a new balance on a Seiko 4206A a very small ladies automatic. I fully intend on finishing the Pandow, not for family reasons but I'm a glutton for finishing tasks.

I am enclosing the phots you requested. The movement is close to a A Schild 555 as looked up on the ranfft.de web site (site now down??) the size of the movement is 25mm high and 15.5 mm wide.

When I finish up some other projects, I'll fire up my Sherline lathe, purchase the collets I need and try to repivot the pallet fork. The smallest item I repaired was installing a new shaft on a balance wheel. I made the stakes myself as I don't have a staking set. Made a holder for my Sherline mill and pressed the parts together. It worked out fine. I enjoy "micro machining"

On another note I found some used A Schild 555 movements on E-Bay. I may try my luck on those to see if the pallet fork is the same. I also saw a mix of pallet forks for sale.

Enjoyed my business trips to Kilema via Seattle and a BMW Washington State rally in Menlo.

Dave

JohnR725 · June 16, 2024

On 6/14/2024 at 8:23 AM, Davis said:

The movement is close to a A Schild 555

https://ranfft.org/caliber/1004-AS-555

I think we have a minor problem with the 555 according to the specifications it measures Dimensions 12.8 mm x 19 mm. then there is the other problem banking pins how odd? the odd aspect was I didn't really look at the picture that carefully and before I closed out the page scrolling down to the bottom I saw the remark down below and that is a problem.

Remarks: cylinder escapement.

On 6/14/2024 at 8:23 AM, Davis said:

the size of the movement is 25mm high and 15.5 mm wide.

then the size is definitely helpful except seems to be an odd size? you to look at the PDF attached for what watch sizes are supposed to be so years doesn't quite fit the sizing and I have a sample image of something below. The picture isn't quite clear enough of the setting components. So in the sample you can see the setting components where the really easy to see versus yours that are not which would be helpful because as I said the size just doesn't seem to correspond anything I'm looking at and I can't see the setting components.

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