Jump to content

How do you regulate a Breguet Hairspring...


Recommended Posts

Howzit ,..

 I just finished cleaning and lubing a vintage Elgin I have with a 680 movement , and when I put it on my timegrapher to regulate it , I got a surprise . It wasn't the normal hairspring with the first coil that comes off the stud entering the pins of the regulating arm and adjusting the arm to set the rate and beat . It took me a while to realize that this watch had a Breguet , over coil , terminal curve hairspring .

Normal Hairspring...

Screen shot 2016-10-01 at 2.34.23 AM.png

 

Breguet Hairspring...

Screen shot 2016-10-01 at 2.41.12 AM.png

 

Here's the info from Ranfft... Which actually shows an Elgin 685 movement . I have the 680 movement ,[same family ]...

Screen shot 2016-10-01 at 2.59.55 AM.png

Screen shot 2016-10-01 at 3.05.16 AM.png

 

So my question is....is the hairspring section that leaves the stud and runs under the coils ,[before becoming the first outer coil ],...is that the section of coil that passes through the regulating arm pins ? The pins are not really long enough to go over what looks like the first coil . 

When I first put he balance wheel on the movement the very tips of the pins were kind of over the first outer coil but the rate was super fast , and there was not enough adjustment with the arm to slow it down .  At first I thought the hairspring was magnetized or still dirty so I cleaned it again and de-magnetized it , re-installed it with no improvement ,...and that's when I saw that it was an over coil hairspring .

Cut me some slack for not realizing it had a different hairspring right away ,...it's 3 AM , Wayyy past my bedtime , but I was messing with trying to figure what was going on with this darn watch and the time got away from me .....Any info on how to regulate this puppy is appreciated ....Thanks .

Aloha and good night , Louis

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

38 minutes ago, DouglasSkinner said:

My instructor tells me never to do the delicate work when I'm tired.

Ah, you know, with two kids as a hobbyst i can only do some jobs after they are in bed, after 2100. In weekends however i have additional 2+2 hours :/ Its hard to resist if i am close to finish something. And if i get wrapped in something interesting repair the time goes much faster and getting to bed after midnight :) Sometimes i wake up earlier and sneak out to tinker a bit before the others wake up :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, StuartBaker104 said:

StuartBaker104 , 

Thank You for offering some info  . I went through the link but did not see anything about the over coil section and the regulating pins ,..or I missed it . I will look again . 

In the meantime I would still appreciate any info on this subject from any members .

1 hour ago, DouglasSkinner said:

My instructor tells me never to do the delicate work when I'm tired.

Your instructor knows what he's talking about....

 

45 minutes ago, szbalogh said:

Ah, you know, with two kids as a hobbyst i can only do some jobs after they are in bed, after 2100. In weekends however i have additional 2+2 hours :/ Its hard to resist if i am close to finish something. And if i get wrapped in something interesting repair the time goes much faster and getting to bed after midnight :) Sometimes i wake up earlier and sneak out to tinker a bit before the others wake up :) 

I was able to stay up late because I didn't have to work the next day .

I love working on watches in the wee hours with music playing and a Youtube video about watch repair , [such as the watch repair channel ] , with the sound muted , playing in the background .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Things are looking much better today with the Info that StuartBaker104 provided .  

This watch is a 1954 Lord Elgin Cranbrook , Movement 680 , serial # [capital I ]  I354276 . I picked it up in a pawn shop in Denver  last year for $10 .

The Image of the watch...

 

DSC00041.JPG

 

And Today's timegrapher results after properly setting the overcoil of the hairspring between the pins of the regulating arm...

 

DSC00058.JPG

 

The results are not as good when I flip the movement over ,.....but I'll take it .

Link to comment
Share on other sites



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • welcome, sounds like you are on your way so far, you also might be able to help with gold/plated case repair for some .....
    • Yes, I was referring to the (jewelled) gear train with HP (most of the time, I use 1300, but when Rolex says 1000, I'll use 1000).
    • did I miss the update of the message of something changing?      
    • I suppose it would depend upon what your lubricating with those? for instance what does the manufacturer say about those lubricants? I have a PDF from the manufacture and a rather peculiar statement found on the bottom of the chart. my suspicion is the reason the recommending would be without epilam the HP oils like the spread except when they're in Ruby jewel's with steel pivots. tableEN lubrication 2020.pdf
    • These types of hairsprings become weak with age and very fragile. Which I expect it is that giving you trouble, and that wheel is not the correct one, if it were not bent I don't think the movement would run as the teeth are not the correct height. The problem you have is price which depends on you. It can be repaired but is it worth it to you, because there is little value in the clock. A wheel can be made and hairspring replaced. Or hang on to it and keep looking on ebay which is your best bet for replacement parts or even a complete movement but it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. 
×
×
  • Create New...