Help! Mainspring releasing power!

[rozcoeb]

I am partway through repairing a Seiko 7006A watch. Putting it back together again and having an issue with power. When I put power into the watch, it is suddenly released. The click is one piece, working by it bending, so theres nothing much I can do about the click so surely its something else? Please bear in mind I'm a beginner so dont roast me too hard! Train of wheels run free, pallet fork runs free, and balance runs free.

Here is a OneDrive link to a video of the issue. https://1drv.ms/v/c/d19df1b57085da7d/EfHB20218tBErJQh_SInxQ4Bb8DEdG33GNnprM2mxowWYg?e=efAnUc

Attached photos:

How the click is attached

Overview of movement

[caseback]

The clickspring is not the problem. When the power is released, the barrel turns. That should not happen. The pallet fork should be blocking the train of wheels while you're putting some wind in.

Try again and focus on how the pallet fork and the escape wheel interact.

 

[watchweasol]

If when you wind the watch the train wheels spin as @caseback mentioned check the escape wheel pallet engagement and also the engagement of the other train wheels, you may have one upside down .

Did it work ok before you worked on it.

[JohnR725]

2 hours ago, rozcoeb said:

Please bear in mind I'm a beginner so dont roast me too hard!

Just a reminder we have a section just for these sort of things.

https://www.watchrepairtalk.com/forum/74-new-to-watch-repair-safe-zone-for-learner-watch-repairers/

When reassembling a watch as others have pointed out it's wise to check the functionality of components as you go. So in other words before the pallet fork goes in or even the balance wheel you can attempt to wind the watch and make sure the gear train spins nicely. Then you can put the pallet fork in wind up the power and see that the pallet fork snaps each time you push it back and forth in other words things need to be done in steps not all assembled and then discover we have a problem. Although unfortunately sometimes that does happen and sometimes the problems do not show up instantaneously.

 

[rozcoeb]

5 hours ago, watchweasol said:

If when you wind the watch the train wheels spin as @caseback mentioned check the escape wheel pallet engagement and also the engagement of the other train wheels, you may have one upside down .

Did it work ok before you worked on it.

Yeah ok, probably is the escape wheel.

Yep, that part worked ok before I worked on it.

3 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

 

When reassembling a watch as others have pointed out it's wise to check the functionality of components as you go.

Yes I did do this, but something must have slipped past my eye, train of wheels was smooth, pallet fork snapped, and balance pivoted freely.

 

Thanks for your help everyone, hopefully this week I'll have time to sort it out.

[HectorLooi]

It might be the arbor of one of the train wheels slipping. Remove the balance wheel but leave the pallet fork in place and wind until there is slippage. Obseve which wheels turn and which wheels don't. 

And yes, the most obvious. Is the mainspring wound in the correct direction?

[Nucejoe]

 Slippage must be at a high torque point to be sudden. 

[rozcoeb]

Pallet fork and balance are 100% fine.

On 5/7/2025 at 12:30 AM, HectorLooi said:

It might be the arbor of one of the train wheels slipping. Remove the balance wheel but leave the pallet fork in place and wind until there is slippage. Obseve which wheels turn and which wheels don't. 

All wheels except escape turn.

 

Is my escape wheel pivot broken???

I cant see anything in jewels but i have no microscope, only a cheap 20x loupe.

[mbwatch]

The escape wheel pivots do not look broken, though the upper one (left) could be worn down short? How about the escape wheel's jewels? Are both intact and what is the end shake like on the escape wheel and pallet fork?

[rozcoeb]

3 minutes ago, mbwatch said:

The escape wheel pivots do not look broken, though the upper one (left) could be worn down short? How about the escape wheel's jewels? Are both intact and what is the end shake like on the escape wheel and pallet fork?

Phew thats a relief the pivots are more or less ok.

Apologies dont have the best camera setup for closeups.

 

I just tried putting train of wheels together without escape and it runs very nicely.

[HectorLooi]

1 hour ago, rozcoeb said:

All wheels except escape turn.

That means that the escape wheel's abor is loose. The wheel remains stationary while the pinion is spinning.

[RichardHarris123]

1 minute ago, HectorLooi said:

That means that the escape wheel's abor is loose. The wheel remains stationary while the pinion is spinning.

Of a pivot is broken and they are not engaging. 

[HectorLooi]

If you use your brass tweezers to hold the escape wheel by the pinion, can you turn the wheel with your fingers?

[rozcoeb]

17 hours ago, HectorLooi said:

If you use your brass tweezers to hold the escape wheel by the pinion, can you turn the wheel with your fingers?

Yes

[HectorLooi]

That sounds like the wheel is loose. You might need to source for a new escape wheel.

[rozcoeb]

11 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

That sounds like the wheel is loose. You might need to source for a new escape wheel.

Can I fix it?

[Neverenoughwatches]

21 hours ago, rozcoeb said:

Pallet fork and balance are 100% fine.

All wheels except escape turn.

 

Is my escape wheel pivot broken???

I cant see anything in jewels but i have no microscope, only a cheap 20x loupe.

The pinion side pivot looks light. How well can you inspect it ?  Does the end seem flat ? How is its cap jewel looking ?

1 hour ago, rozcoeb said:

Can I fix it?

You sure the pinion and the wheel of the escapewheel can turn independently of each other ?

[rozcoeb]

Ok so I'm certain about the escape wheel being the biggest issue here. I cannot get it into place, and if i do, it just pops out again. Jewels look fine. Pivots look fine, but I can't see them in detail. Maybe I order a new escape wheel?

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 hour ago, rozcoeb said:

Ok so I'm certain about the escape wheel being the biggest issue here. I cannot get it into place, and if i do, it just pops out again. Jewels look fine. Pivots look fine, but I can't see them in detail. Maybe I order a new escape wheel?

Have we determined that it's intact ?

[watchhammer]

1 hour ago, rozcoeb said:

Ok so I'm certain about the escape wheel being the biggest issue here. I cannot get it into place, and if i do, it just pops out again. Jewels look fine. Pivots look fine, but I can't see them in detail. Maybe I order a new escape wheel?

Try fitting the escape wheel without the rest of the train.

[RichardHarris123]

I think the top pivot is broken. 

[Neverenoughwatches]

If you think the escapewheel is the problem, then lets go with that. Put in just the escapewheel and nothing else, blow it with puffer.....what happens ?

[watchhammer]

On 5/6/2025 at 7:02 PM, rozcoeb said:

Yes I did do this, but something must have slipped past my eye, train of wheels was smooth, pallet fork snapped, and balance pivoted freely.

Weird the pallet fork snapped during assembly..

Edited 3 hours ago by watchhammer

[mbwatch]

4 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

blow it with puffer.....what happens ?

And test it in multiple positions.