Balance stud locating/fitting new balance

[tIB]

Any tips on fitting a new balance?

I've got a drop in replacement coming and thought I'd practice refitting the old one prior to attempting to fit the new one - Im really struggling to get the balance stud in place in the pallet fork when refitting it. 

Tbh I'm struggling to even see it well so perhaps better magnification will help... Is there a technique to locate it? I've removed, wound slightly and am manipulating the movement rather than balance spring but can't seem to get it right. 

Any pointers / ideas welcome. 

[SwissSeiko]

Do you mean installing the stud on the balance cock? There's 2 ways I do it. If there is a Breguet overcoil, I place the balance cock upside down on some rodico, and place the balance wheel pivot in its jewel, then install the stud. Its easier to screw in the stud screw this way. If its a normal hairspring, I install the balance wheel and balance cock in situ in the movement, and rotate the stud to align with the carrier, then screw it in.

[tIB]

32 minutes ago, SwissSeiko said:

Do you mean installing the stud on the balance cock? There's 2 ways I do it. If there is a Breguet overcoil, I place the balance cock upside down on some rodico, and place the balance wheel pivot in its jewel, then install the stud. Its easier to screw in the stud screw this way. If its a normal hairspring, I install the balance wheel and balance cock in situ in the movement, and rotate the stud to align with the carrier, then screw it in.

Sorry realise this probably isn't clear. What I'm doing is fitting a whole new balance bridge and hairspring with the stud already in place.

What I'm struggling with is placing this into the movement getting the impulse stud seated into the pallet fork - I think I've done it once in about 30 attempts with the old balance bridge assembly. 

 

(Hopefully that's all the right terminology.)

[HectorLooi]

Watch this video. Hope it helps.

[tIB]

22 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Watch this video. Hope it helps.

Great video, thanks. He makes it look very easy!

[Neverenoughwatches]

9 hours ago, tIB said:

What I'm struggling with is placing this into the movement getting the impulse stud seated into the pallet fork - 

Forgive me if i misunderstood your explanation...but you dont have to place the impulse pin directly into the fork slot, that would be quite difficult for most folk. The goal is to have the impulse pin on the correct side of the fork so that it can enter the fork slot as it swings around. Personally I think having some power wound into the movement can make the process a little more difficult, as it makes the pallet fork too reactive, it can jump to the wrong side if caught when the balance is manoeuvred into position. You could try a little trick here if you wish, i often do this when I want to halt the balance to work on it without powering down. Cut a piece of paper approx 1mm x 5mm, fold it in half, a tight fold and crease it quite hard but so that it still springs open slightly.  Now place it under the arm of the pallet fork. The spring is just enough to stop the fork from moving but not so that it can damage. Fit the balance then carefully remove the paper, I put the open end of the paper in first so that you can clamp it together with tweezers as it's pulled out. 

[tIB]

28 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Forgive me if i misunderstood your explanation...but you dont have to place the impulse pin directly into the fork slot, that would be quite difficult for most folk. The goal is to have the impulse pin on the correct side of the fork so that it can enter the fork slot as it swings around. Personally I think having some power wound into the movement can make the process a little more difficult, as it makes the pallet fork too reactive, it can jump to the wrong side if caught when the balance is manoeuvred into position. You could try a little trick here if you wish, i often do this when I want to halt the balance to work on it without powering down. Cut a piece of paper approx 1mm x 5mm, fold it in half, a tight fold and crease it quite hard but so that it still springs open slightly.  Now place it under the arm of the pallet fork. The spring is just enough to stop the fork from moving but not so that it can damage. Fit the balance then carefully remove the paper, I put the open end of the paper in first so that you can clamp it together with tweezers as it's pulled out. 

Ah that's interesting, thanks - I might try that. I'll have another fiddle this morning at refitting the old hairspring (now even more of a mess!) without any power wound... Thanks for the help. 

OK, so definitely found it easier with out power in there - managed it this morning with the help of the video posted above and the power advice, albeit that I'm installing a damaged/pretty mangled hairspring... hopefully when the replacement part arrives I can get it in safely without damaging the hairspring. 

 

Incidentally there's a shim under the balance bridge which doesn't particularly help matters. 

 

[JohnR725]

16 hours ago, tIB said:

Any tips on fitting a new balance?

One of the things that would help a question like this is new balance for what? Wristwatch, pocket watch, clock yes some clocks have balance wheels. It would help to know what watch for dealing with here

[tIB]

1 hour ago, JohnR725 said:

One of the things that would help a question like this is new balance for what? Wristwatch, pocket watch, clock yes some clocks have balance wheels. It would help to know what watch for dealing with here

Cheers, sorry it's a Vostok 2214 watch movement. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

6 hours ago, tIB said:

Incidentally there's a shim under the balance bridge which doesn't particularly help matters. 

I don't think you said what the movement is, with a shim, brass? , then we'd guess at something Soviet. The shims for these have two slots in line with the screws. In this case slide the shim inbetween after the balance and screws are in position but not fastened down.

[tIB]

5 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

I don't think you said what the movement is, with a shim, brass? , then we'd guess at something Soviet. The shims for these have two slots in line with the screws. In this case slide the shim inbetween after the balance and screws are in position but not fastened down.

Good guess, yes - it's a Vostok 2214. That was the method I settled on after initially trying to seat it in place. Thanks. 

[tIB]

Balance arrived, except it didn't because the chancer selling it didn't bother to actually put it in the parcel. Ridiculous. Vent over!

[Neverenoughwatches]

34 minutes ago, tIB said:

Balance arrived, except it didn't because the chancer selling it didn't bother to actually put it in the parcel. Ridiculous. Vent over!

I've had a couple do this to me in the past. I now make a full uninterrupted video of every parcel I open. 

[tIB]

On 1/6/2025 at 1:26 PM, Neverenoughwatches said:

I've had a couple do this to me in the past. I now make a full uninterrupted video of every parcel I open. 

In fairness the seller refunded it right away.  No apology though (goes a long way in my book!) and since the seller seems to be the only supplier of these parts Im not sure of my next move, for what was essentially a donor buy. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

Keep looking one will turn up eventually . In the meantime I dont think we have seen the damaged hairspring.  Do you think it's beyond repair? 

[mikepilk]

2 hours ago, tIB said:

In fairness the seller refunded it right away.  No apology though (goes a long way in my book!) and since the seller seems to be the only supplier of these parts Im not sure of my next move, for what was essentially a donor buy. 

Where are you? I just did a search on ebay UK for "vostok watch balance" and there's lots available. It seems to be the same balance as the base movement 2409.   Here's one for less than £5 !

[tIB]

9 hours ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Keep looking one will turn up eventually . In the meantime I dont think we have seen the damaged hairspring.  Do you think it's beyond repair? 

I think it probably is by me - seems a bit beyond my reach really. I'll keep the watch somewhere to remind me periodically to keep an eye out...

9 hours ago, mikepilk said:

Where are you? I just did a search on ebay UK for "vostok watch balance" and there's lots available. It seems to be the same balance as the base movement 2409.   Here's one for less than £5 !

Yeah, the problem being the complete balance and hairspring, which seems like an easier fix for a novice like me, all seems to be sold by the guy who sold me the empty box one. Perhaps I'll get over myself at the lack of the word sorry alongside the refund eventually... Or forget the sellers name!

[mikepilk]

28 minutes ago, tIB said:

I think it probably is by me - seems a bit beyond my reach really. I'll keep the watch somewhere to remind me periodically to keep an eye out...

Yeah, the problem being the complete balance and hairspring, which seems like an easier fix for a novice like me, all seems to be sold by the guy who sold me the empty box one. Perhaps I'll get over myself at the lack of the word sorry alongside the refund eventually... Or forget the sellers name!

As the seller has 99.6% positive feedback, it sounds like it was a genuine error. So order another !

[tIB]

1 hour ago, mikepilk said:

As the seller has 99.6% positive feedback, it sounds like it was a genuine error. So order another !

Yeah, I know you're right but I'll need to get over myself first...