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Argh. Breaking pallet pivots

WpgRob
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WpgRob Member

WpgRob

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Beginner here. Of about 60 watches I’ve serviced and repaired, I’ve broken a pallet pivot on three, always during disassembly, and usually when the old oil has transformed to glue. Each watch was Swiss, in case that makes a difference. Here’s what happened in each case:
- unscrewed the pallet bridge or cock

- gently inserted a screwdriver in the  slot under the pallet bridge or cock

- gently but firmly rotated the screwdriver, avoiding a forwards force on the screwdriver. If alignment pins stick, the cam action is alternated back and forth between back corners of the plate.

- heard a small but horrible click.

Is there a special tool or technique for safely lifting the pallet bridge? Should everything be soaked in naphtha before beginning disassembly if there’s any sign of old oil gluing parts together?

Thanks!

Rob

HectorLooi Distinguished Member

HectorLooi

Posted
Posted
55 minutes ago, WpgRob said:

Of about 60 watches I’ve serviced and repaired,

60! Wow, that's a lot.

Can't say I understand the problem because disassembly is usually quite uneventful, except for springs launching into space. Most people break pivots during assembly.

I use a homemade brass pry tool to loosen parts. It's just a short length of hard brass wire sharpened to a chisel point. Don't pry at just one point and crowbar it out. Pry at the notch and when a crack opens up, slip the pry tool in and loosen it at a few more points until the bridge is free.

Nucejoe Distinguished Member

Nucejoe

Posted
Posted (edited)

 If a runner, I usually let the movement run in naphta for a minute, some movements need a bit of encouragement to run in liquids, so a quick dip of the movement in naphta then remove and encourage the oscilator with puffer, repeat several soaks. 

Or if you don't want to soak or dip the movement in cleaning solution ,   keep putting naphta on jewel holes as the movement runs on bench.

A pre-clean of some sort  helps.

 Avoid lifting out the fork with tweezers or any tool.

 Try blowing fork pivot out  with strong puff of air from jewels holes back side.

Good luck .

 

 

 

Edited by Nucejoe
caseback WRT Addict

caseback

Posted
Posted

Wiggle it back and forth, small steps, keeping the pallet cock as level as possible and take your time (!). You could also use an extra tool as a safeguard at the jewelled end to avoid pressure on the pallet fork.

You also mention lubrication... On the pallet fork pivots??

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